There’s no denying your dress is the most important element of your wedding day ensemble.
It sets the tone for your look and may be the centerpiece of the entire day, but it’s not the only element. No bride is complete without the right jewels to accent her radiance and a perfect pair of statement shoes to carry her down the aisle. Once you’ve scored your dream dress, turn to this guide to Black jewelry and shoe designers to complete your ensemble with a custom look from head to toe.
Fine Jewelry
Vanleles
Vania Leles brings fine jewels to London, sourcing ethical African stones whenever possible for the showstopping pieces offered at Vanleles. Beyond an incredible selection of engagement rings, the Vanleles bridal collection offers an array of wedding-day diamonds, ranging from traditional white to vibrant yellow, with earrings, necklaces and eternity rings to complete any classic look.
Chris Aire
Celebrity jeweler Chris Aire is no stranger to showstoppers. As the first jeweler to show in New York Fashion Week and creator of a $41 million bejeweled dress, you can expect his bespoke designs to keep all eyes on you on the Big Day. From a black diamond wedding band to the diamond, citrine and amethyst Hollywood Royalty necklace, there’s a dazzling piece for every look.
Diaboli Kill
Egyptian-Dominican designer Angie Marei created Diaboli Kill to bring a seductive edge to fine jewelry. Inspired by the intrigue and mystery of exotic artifacts and international art, the Brooklyn-based designer’s wedding-day collection ranges from garnet and gold spiked earrings to diamond-studded sterling chokers.
JNCY Jewelers
JNCY Jewelers is the newest venture from creator Natacha Metayer, who set out to improve the minority bridal space with her collections of sustainably and ethically sourced gems. If you’re planning your Big Day already, it may be too late to take advantage of her custom engagement ring design program, but the wedding-day bridal collection ranges from subtle cultured pearls to dripping diamonds for ears, wrists and neck.
Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry
Inspired by classic styles, Valerie Madison takes an environmental approach to fine jewelry with recycled metals that frame the natural world’s most elegant gems. The extensive collection of wedding bands includes a rare variety of both men’s and unisex designs with an impressive array of diamonds to match.
ALMASIKA
For sculptural pieces influenced by global cultures, turn to Catherine Sarr’s ALMASIKA. Inspired by styles and traditions from throughout the world and throughout history, these designs bring a deep unity that transcends the special bond of your Big Day. The signature soft curves of ALMASIKA jewelry will accentuate your natural beauty, keeping the focus on you.
Auvere
Designer and cofounder Gina Love brings an extensive collection of fine jewelry with a common theme: It’s all about the gold. With a name that combines the Italian word for “to have,” avere, and the elemental symbol for gold, AU, you should expect nothing less from Auvere. If your Big Day will be glimmering with gold, complete your look with pieces from this luxe line.
Mateo
Matthew Harris’ Mateo may have begun as a collection for men, but its current success comes from a savvy switch to a focus on fine jewelry for women. For brides who don’t want to upstage their dresses or themselves, the minimalist design of many of Mateo’s pieces bring an understated elegance that completes a look without stealing the spotlight.
Shoes
Salone Monet
Salone Monet focuses exclusively on hand-dyed nudes for a timeless look that upgrades both casual and formal ensembles, but the color-inclusive line recognizes the wide range of what “nude” can mean. With six diverse shades available and custom matching consultations to help you find your best tone, join the likes of Beyoncé and Keke Palmer when you nab a pair for your special day.
Tiannia Barnes
Crafted from Italian leather and suede, the shoes of Tiannia Barnes are specifically designed to make women feel bold and confident—exactly what you want on your wedding day. Make a statement with looks like the Naomi, from the Freedom Collection, a taupe open-toe heel with a dramatic burst of fur.
Aminah Abdul Jillil
Alaska-born designer Aminah Abdul Jillil knows how to entertain. The former dancer, who has worked with stars like Janet Jackson, brings the same level of excitement and innovation to luxury footwear with dramatic collections that earned her the title of 2019 Accessory Designer of the Year from Essence. The bridal collection includes nearly 50 bold designs for the Big Day.
Chelsea Paris
Named for the daughters of designer and founder Theresa Ebagua, Chelsea Paris combines Nigerian design influence with the traditions of European craftsmanship for a line of statement-worthy luxury footwear for all occasions. The latest collection includes a few Big-Day-perfect styles, like a metallic gold cage-toe heel.
Kendall Miles
Expect opulence and quality from Kendall Miles, the LA footwear designer whose shoes are fabricated in Florence, Italy. Feathers, fur and gleaming metals adorn the intricate designs from the forward-thinking Chicago native. Try the Warrior gold calf pump or white Posh pump for extra wedding-day wow.
Stella Hues
Stella Hues blends Virgin Islands sensibility with British tradition and Italian craftsmanship for a footwear line that oozes sophistication without sacrificing personality. Bold brides will love the current collection’s Marsala pump and the Kerrie sandal’s blend of metallic and suede with peep toe and slim heel.
LFLS Shoes
Grooms deserve fashionable footwear on the Big Day, too, and LA brand LFLS Shoes by Eric Jones has them covered. While a women’s collection is coming, the current collection of men’s designs offers oxfords and loafers packed with personality and produced in Brazil from hand-selected leathers and raw materials for complete quality to give your groom his fair share of the spotlight.
