With Caroline Oates’s designs, you can be at the pinnacle of style without breaking the bank. Emma Pinch reports

WEDDING season is fast marching towards us and again there’s the vexed question of what to wear.

You want something dressy and special but, in these credit zapped times, an outfit you can slip into again (and again).

Caroline Oates is a Liverpool-born designer and dress-maker based in a studio off Bold Street and her classic designs span the requirements of most special occasions. Her clothes are hand-made, deliciously feminine and, unlike some brands, her designs don’t just cater to the waiflike.

Not only will you get to the church on time, but in some style, too.

THIS week’s shoot took place at Alma de Cuba, on Seel Street. This 18th-century former Catholic church has been lavishly transformed into a Cuban-themed bar and restaurant, and its unique interior and pulsing Latin rhythms make for a spirited night out.

It also offers Latin and Spanish style food, private dining rooms and a packed calendar of lively events all year round.

emma.pinch