I Just Entered My Bridal Era—Here Are 13 Chic Things I'm Buying First
A 2026 fiancé has spoken. Add these items to your wish list if you, too, are in your bridal era, or make them the perfect gift to give.
Jennifer Atilémile is the definition of a woman who does it all. A true multi-hyphenate, she is a model, writer, creative, activist, and intellectual. As an editor in residence, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry.
I'm a holiday-romance girly, and it wasn't on my bingo card to get engaged in NYC over the holidays, but you know they're the one when they know you well enough to make it happen! The plan was to get engaged in Central Park, but he ended up popping the question in the lounge room of the apartment we were staying in. It was just the two of us in a beautiful, intimate moment. We made our way through New York, celebrating with lunch at Palma in the West Village and then taking a stroll through Central Park, where it had just snowed. Any person who has just been proposed to knows the feeling, but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It truly was the best day of my life.
While I'm thoroughly enjoying my fiancé life and trying to savor the moment, I'm also dreaming of my bridal era. Nobody really talks about how quickly everyone starts asking if you've set a date. We haven't yet, but in the back of my mind, I'm preparing for a wedding, so I'm starting by making an epic shopping list.
I want to look the best on my big day—whatever we end up deciding on—so that work has to start now. Because I'm a model, I already have a beauty routine down, but maybe I'll invest a little extra and up my game.
I will be splurging on looking good because I'm only planning to get married once and want to look and feel my absolute best. Starting with my face, I'm probably going to get some monthly beauty treatments, like microneedling and body contouring, similar to what I did in the lead-up to my Sports Illustrated shoot and red carpet preparation.
The Skincare Prep
For the day-to-day, I'm going to be buying the Chanel Le Lift eye patches. They're apparently the best ones out there.
The Nails
I've always been into nude nails and want to give my nails a break from gel polish. I have my favorite nail spot, but most salons in L.A. use a drill to remove gel polish. Because of my job, I'm getting my nails refilled every two weeks, and it's taken a toll. Short nude nails are so chic and go with everything. This set from Celisse is in my cart. Plus, I love the idea of bringing back "me" time by watching reruns of Sex and the City and Girls while painting my nails.
The Coffee Table Gift
It's currently wait-listed, but this Bridal Book Box from Heaven Mayhem is on my list to purchase. I'm not sure if I'll have a bridal party, but I know I'll have wedding jewelry, and having a cute little box to organize it all in for the big day is essential. I love the idea of personalized notes and a gift to give my girlfriends if I do decide to have a bridal party. Who knows? Maybe I'll gift my girls anyway. I am a Taurus, and one of my love languages is gift giving (and receiving—emphasis on the receiving).
The Lingerie
It wouldn't be a bridal era without leaning into being a bride. I know I'm going to want a nice robe for my bachelorette party, and day-of, and a few of these ones have caught my eye. I love to get ready in a robe, even if it's not my wedding day! I have a couple of vintage Dior silk robes I've come across while thrifting around the world, but these ones are just as fun and chic.
I'm a massive fan of anything Fleur du Mal. The brand actually has beautiful lace bras in my size, so I'd probably invest in a gorgeous set for my wedding day as well as this embroidered robe.
I'm wanting to really lean into my feminine in this era and want to have a nice silk pajama set to get ready in or just wear around the house because I can and will. Maybe even for something blue on the day, I love this set from Petite Plume.
I also like these pajamas from Eberjay. They could double as a great gift for my girlfriends on my bachelorette as well, and I love the idea of monogramming. It would make them super special.
The Accessories
I'm on the hunt for some more jewelry. My ring isn't enough. I've always been a massive fan of Elsa Peretti, and maybe I can treat myself to some of her Bone Cuff jewelry—either purchasing it vintage (for a something old) or just getting brand-new cuffs from Tiffany Co.
French impressionism is one of my favorite styles of art. On the day I got engaged, my fiancé had booked us in to go to the Brooklyn Museum to see a Monet exhibition. The Water Lilies are some of my favorite paintings of his. I also love Degas's ballerinas. So when I saw this Olympia Le-Tan Book bag, I added it to my list. There are so many bags of hers I could choose from, including creating a custom design. I'm already custom-designing my dress, but a wedding seems like the perfect excuse to splurge, no? The mother-of-pearl Tommy Bag from Staud is also on my list. It's so gorgeous.
I've been obsessing over shoes for ages. I've always wanted to wear Manolo Blahniks (or Roger Vivier) for my wedding. I think it's the Sex and the City obsession. I love these Manolos with the blue jewel detail on the front. In an ideal world, I will acquire the white feathered shoes with ladybug details from the Chanel Métiers d'Art collection. Ladybugs are my good luck charm, and I always say that I'll have a good day if I see a Volkswagen Beetle, so naturally, incorporating beetles into my bridal era is a given. If not, I'll probably enlist the help of Julia Rabinowitsch aka The Millennial Decorator to source a pair of vintage Chanel ladybug heels.
The Fashion
I need some new outfits to wear to all my engagement celebrations that I'll be having with my friends all around the world. I will be changing multiple times, as fashion is in my DNA. It's my time to shine, so I will be doing what I want. Last year, I acquired this matching set from Posse and think it's such a feminine cut to wear to a celebratory brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
My bachelorette is going to be one giant party. I'm low-key hoping for a Spice Girls reunion with them reuniting at the Sphere, where I can subsequently have a Vegas bachelorette. Hear me out. I'm convinced a reunion is coming. It'll be 30 years since "Wannabe" (I can't believe I was 5 years old when it came out), and Victoria Beckham, who has notoriously distanced herself from her band era and never posts anything remotely Spice Girls related, uploaded a video of her singing "Viva Forever" last year. Anyway, I'm going to need epic outfits for a bachelorette anyway. When I think of party dresses, I automatically think of Annie's, and this sheer cobweb dress is the epitome of chic.
I also love this Christopher Esber sequin minidress. As an Australian, it's super important to have designers from home in the mix for my bridal celebrations.
I've told my fiancé that my fashion budget is separate from our overall wedding and party budget, and I figure what he doesn't know won't hurt him. That being said, I love nice things, and I have expensive taste (I'm a Taurus), but I also love a sale and a bargain. If I can get any of these items secondhand, that's the option I will be choosing because I definitely don't want to exit my bridal era in a mountain of debt. Not in this economy! But I can't wait to start adding these to my cart. This time of my life only comes around once, so I'm going to enjoy it!
