Today’s Reader Request comes from the lovely Beth who is looking for advice on what to wear for her upcoming engagement shoot.
Like me she’s a big fan of black, faux fur and a dash of leopard print so I’m happy to get stuck in and suggest a few ideas. Over to the bride-to-be…

I was wondering whether the style gurus at Rock My Style can help me. Me and my lovely husband-to-be are having our engagement shoot imminently and despite protests from myself it is happening in a muddy woodland in Bucks. My other half is convinced there will be no other member of the public there and therefore is not as embarrassed by the entire thing. However, I have no idea what to wear, my hopes of looking retro and chic in London have vanished. I am very good at dog walking attire but don’t quite want to look back on it in the years to come and wish I hadn’t worn my granddad’s old sweater. Wellies are a must and a bit of colour so any suggestions would be wonderful! Thanks x

I have to admit until I planned my own wedding I struggled to get my head round the idea of an engagement shoot. Now I think they’re a flipping marvellous idea. They are such a good opportunity to get to know your photographer, understand what poses do and don’t work for you and are a whole lot of fun. You’re going to have a fab time Beth.

Let’s be honest here, it’s unlikely to be more than ten degrees so a cute and flippy dress is out. I’m very inclined to suggest getting your hands on a stylish bright coat with a killer cut. The rather annoying thing about this time of year is it’s freezing but the shops stop selling winter wear. ASOS still have a good selection of coats available such as this Drop Collar Berry one which would look great paired with a leopard scarf to get an animal print kick.

If you’re not too fond of colour (it scares me too) then how about a neutral deviation away from the black with a camel or grey coat? Missguided have a waterfall style in a great shade of camel.
No-one rocks the neutral engagement look quite like our very own Lolly. With leathers, furs, muted tones and heaps of texture please have a quick gander in the deepest RMW archives to see her stunning shoot.
If you’d prefer to be more casual then a friend of mine wore a fab Barbour style jacket with a nipped in waist on her engagement shoot to show off her figure. I’ve also seen lots of shoots with the fiancée donning a quilted well-fitting bodywarmer or fur gilet paired with a muted shirt. Zara have a rather snazzy fitted number which has just come into stock.
Whatever coat you choose just make sure it pleasantly contrasts with your other half’s jacket so you complement each other rather than clash. If I were you I’d stay away from matching colours completely but each to their own! Down a similar line decide the style you’re both going to go for so one of you doesn’t look more overdressed than the other. Do you fancy ultra posh or smart casual, retro or modern?

I searched the internet high and low for a suitable image of his and hers wellies to use in the header but couldn’t find one. Obviously wellingtons are an absolute given for a park shoot. It may be muddy (or hopefully snowy) underfoot so it might not be possible to don your favourite shoes but do consider taking them along for a couple of shots.

Bring along a couple of accessories; your favourite hat and a selection of scarves so you can change your look half way through the shoot and add a bit of variety to your photos.

Speaking of adding variety then by the time you’ve relaxed and got into the swing of things you might feel inclined to whip off your coat to reveal another outfit underneath. Perhaps a cute plain jumper, a long sleeved dress or your favourite black skinnies. Best to avoid anything too busy as it can end up being quite distracting in the final images.

From a personal opinion I’d suggest going for a timeless style rather than anything mega fashionable and opt for well-fitting garments rather than oversized. Obviously go for something you feel really comfortable in and something that feels really ‘you’ so you can relax and enjoy the fun.

One thing I completely forgot to ask for on my own engagement shoot was a ring shot so don’t forget to mention to your photographer the images you’d really like to capture.

Enough from me, please feel free to chime in with your own suggestions and links for Beth’s winter engagement shoot. Have you seen winter wear on your shopping trips you think would be ideal? And advice you’d like to put forward from your own e-shoot experience?