Cardiff Life Awards: Style Guide
The Cardiff Life Awards are rapidly approaching…but what will you wear? This year, the awards are being held at the National Museum Cardiff. Such an iconic,...
“Founders, creatives, decision-makers. This night is yours. How will you style it? ”
The Cardiff Life Awards are rapidly approaching…but what will you wear? This year, the awards are being held at the National Museum Cardiff. Such an iconic, elevated destination deserves a look to match. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Dress Code: Black Tie
Simple, right? Black tie is the formal evening dress code we’ve all encountered… traditionally built around floor-length gowns. But in 2026, it comes with a little more flexibility.
Cocktail dresses, tailored suits and modern eveningwear all sit comfortably within it, as long as the overall look feels elevated and appropriate for the setting.
What defines it is how it’s finished. Fabrics are more refined — silk, satin, velvet, chiffon — and everything should feel polished.
Because it’s such a step away from day to day styling, finding your black-tie style can feel slightly unclear. The challenge is to find something that feels right for the occasion and like you. Our best piece of advice?
Choose Your Direction
Before you create your look…pick a lane and build from there. Here’s what we recommend:
Classic → CBK Minimalism. Simple, minimal, effortless.
Colour → Let colour lead with bold palettes and clear styling choices.
Structure → play with shapes, tailoring and sillouette to make a statement
And the good news is, 2026 trends give you plenty to work with.
Classic: CBK Minimalism
If you want something easy that you know will work, go minimal.
You’ll see a lot of this right now — clean, simple looks with no extra detail. That’s what’s coming through from current collections and red carpets.
In practice, that means:
A black or neutral dress A clean, straight or column shape No embellishment, no fuss
Appearing across both collections and red carpets alike: lighter shades, minimal styling, and simple silhouettes are doing the work.
Soft & Minimal
Cloud Dancer, butter yellow, and lighter tones have been a standout this year — a shift towards cleaner, softer dressing.
Cloud Dancer
#F0EEE9
Butter Yellow
#F6E58D
Powder Blue
#D6E6F2
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Colour Creations
Looking for something bolder? Let colour carry the look. 2026 is the perfect time to do it — bright tones, cleaner shapes, and more experimental colour styling are everywhere right now.
Bringing the heat
Hot...hot...HOT! Reds, pinks and burnt oranges are some of the most visible colours across recent collections and red carpets. They’re being used as the entire look, not styled with extra detail or distraction. This colour carries everything. If you go this route, keep the shape clean and the styling minimal.
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Cool, not cold
Sky blue, teal and turquoise are coming through as a fresher take on eveningwear. They’re lighter than the usual dark tones, but still feel right for the setting — especially in clean, simple silhouettes. If you want colour without going too bold, this is an easy win.
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Greeny goodness
Green works because it sits between neutral and statement.
Olive has emerged as the go-to for 2026 - appearing almost as a new neutral.
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3 Ways to Approach Colour Stylings
Colour Drenching
Wear one colour shade head-to-toe.
Tonal Dressing
Use different shades of the same colour.
Colour blocking
Choose two bold colours and let the contrast lead.
Structure: Shape as the Statement
If you want the shape of your outfit to do the work, this is your lane.
Structure is key to this style — dresses, tailoring, corsetry — where the impact comes from the cut, rather than the colour or detail.
Here are some ways structural statements come into play:
strong shoulders defined waists corset structure sculpted or draped silhouettes wide-leg trousers
How to wear it
Let the shape lead
If the cut is strong, keep everything else simple. No need for bold colour contrasts or heavy detail.
Choose your focus
Decide what you want the outfit to emphasise: shoulders → sharper, more powerful waist → more defined, more classic drape → softer, but still controlled
Keep styling minimal
simple heels structured bag minimal jewellery Nothing should compete with the silhouette.
Commit to it
Tailoring works best when it feels deliberate. A structured dress or a full tailored look will always land better than something half-done.
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Where to Look
We hope this helps you on your style journey!
Hi! We're Connie & Molly, two sisters from Cardiff on a mission to simplify online shopping. Our platform is here to help you on every step of your style journey - allowing you to shop new and pre-loved options from multiple sites in one place. We can't wait to offer you rental options too...but until we do...here are some fantastic local options:
Minnie May Closet
Minnie May Closet is a UK-based, hybrid fashion brand founded by Hannah Jones in 2019. Originating in Wales as a small clothes rental business, it has grown into a sustainable fashion destination offering designer outfit rentals (Hire UK), a boutique for wardrobe staples, and waterproof jewelery.
Revaya
Revaya is a luxury dress and occasion-wear rental boutique serving South Wales. Opened in March 2026, it allows women to rent high-end, designer outfits for special events instead of purchasing them.
See you at the awards! Connie & Molly x