I think we all have a period, an epoque if you like, that we perhaps could have lived if not now. I have a few. I would loved to have been out and about in the late 1800's, still young and fabulous at the turn of the century and then of course retaining that youthfulness in the 20's. I would gladly have been around in the late 1700's if I could have been friends with Sarah Bernhadt. None of this in Australia though of course. In Europe.

Anyway, everyone can relate to the aesthetics of one time or another. Some girls who come to the studio look to me like they could easily channel a Jean Harlowe feel, while others would suit better Grace Kelly. I think it's good to think of that when deciding on a look for yourself. As a starting point anyway, obviously we want to modernise things and move along.

Which brings me to my bride Sarah who got married late last year. She wanted a 50's feel and she chose and bought the daisy fabric herself. I did the rest while she kept urging me to add more and more tulle. Sarah actually had one of the smallest waists that I've ever made a bridal dress for, not that I can remember it off the top of my head now, but it was little! So the fullness in the skirt only accentuated it, which is perfect.

The 50's was all about miniature measurements really, for things like waists at least and a style like this would not look as good if the waist were not significantly smaller than the rest of the bits.

Anyway, the underdress was made form a silk dupion. The bodice was boned and did up with buttons at the back.

There are two colours of tulle over the top (ivory and lemon) and then the top layer is a devore daisy pattern. There are tulle pleats and tutu like pieces underneath also to give it the swing.

This is my favourite photo. I love the swing of the skirt and the Combi. And also the fact that she had a look in mind and was obviously so particular about it all being just so.

Plus she was fun to work with. x

A New Year

I'm ashamed to discover how long it's been since I've posted anything. I think I must have been so caught up with all the Christmas brides and getting all our work done and unable to think of much else. Then the New Year. This is the year of being slim... and healthy and cultured and much more personally glamourous than usual.

Oh and I've discovered Twilight (a thousand years after everyone else I realise, which is usual for me and things that are popular culture) so that has kept me busy for the last 3 weeks. I've got all my girlfriends onto them as well. Just so we can share the burden of our shame and guilt and of course our love for Edward Cullen!

But enough of that.

Here is my bride Gillian, who got married last last year. She was a lovely girl, quite softly spoken but bossy in the nicest way. At our first fitting I could tell that she had a clear vision in her head of how she wanted to look and having just received her photos I'm impressed. She looks completely wonderful I think.

Her dress was made from heavy silk satin

With a French lace bodice

All the maids look good too

Her belt and bow was made from a pale gold satin

She also had a great hairdo...

and a great photographer.

x

Drapery

Here are some interesting offerings from the catwalks to inspire us to think of drapery. There are versions of these that would be fun to wear as wedding frocks. Longer and simpler perhaps.

Elie Saab

I do like this nude colour but it can make some girls look so pasty - like this girl. The same colour suits the one below much better. I think it's a blond versus brunette thing.

More Elie.

I noticed quite a few one shouldered dresses around.

Excellent. I love them.

This is Givenchy I think.

Again the pastiness, but it's still cool.

Lanvin.

Of course you'd lose the sleeve but I love the low slung kind of swing it has.

This is Givenchy again.

No bride would want to look this puffy but there's something nice about it that could be done.

Also this girl looks very cute and kooky

I have to get draping, obviously!

So a separate nod to Deadwood

Now I've never said I was trendy and my recent discovery of the HBO series Deadwood proves that I'm well behind the times. And maybe one shouldn't admit to a penchant for some of those American dramas. Six Feet Under, Madmen etc but really they can be just so good and perfect fodder for chilling out at night. Around the lunch table at the studio the other day we intellectualised Madmen for the entire repast before we realised what we were doing! Anyway, with most of them my attention usually wanes (Sopranos, Boston Legal) or I forget to watch a couple of episodes (United States of Tara) and that's that, but Deadwood I just adore.

You have to get beyond the constant use of expletives that they spit out at each other and of course the most horrid violence at times. It is the old West after all. Now I finally get the inspiration of the likes of Bonny Prince Billy, Tom Waits and the like. But anyway once you get over all of that then there is the dashing Seth Bullock to gawk at.

As I said perfect night viewing, ladies! He never smiles, see below. It's an illustration but it captures the moodiness of the man. Ha ha.

Where have these types of men gone eh?

Chiffon is a lovely fabric

I'm not sure if one can talk about the beauty of chiffon and how much I love the series Deadwood in the same blog post, but I'm watching the last episode of the first series as I write this so it's impossible to ignore. But as this is about bridal things after all, I will talk exclusively about chiffon.

Seeing as summer is coming up it's the perfect time for thinking of lovely light fabrics with lots of movement. Chiffon is in my opinion much nicer than georgette, it's lighter, more papery and much more diaphanous. And even though it's delicate it's not too precious, it survives the perils of travel and still looks great at the other end.

This is Alex in her silk chiffon dress. It has some tarnished gold lace around the neckline with an assortment of gold and pewter coloured beads for a little Bollywood effect (her description!) and she wears it with great aplomb I think.

See, a little wind swept action

Alex was very beautiful I thought

More movement which looks quite fun doesn't it?

So if anyone is thinking of chiffon, do it I say. It's so breezy and lovely to wear, you'll want to grab the skirt and just cha cha all night long.

It's time for some inspiration

Seeing as so many of my frocks are leaving me around this time of year, I thought I'd put up some ideas to inspire some wedding photography that has some style and whimsy to it. Again plundered from my favourite wedding site. Which I guess I should say is Once Wed for those who care to look. Why don't we have a site like this here I'd like to know.....

Anyway, I've collected a few fun pics to add to the thinking-outside-the-norm fund.

This only works if there are good legs involved of course

Is the photographer likening her skirt to those roots do you think?

I don't like her cardigan but I do like his blue scarf and of course the landscape

It's cute, but she should have shown more purple

This is just a nice hair piece

A nice colour selection

Again, nice colours

This sort of doesn't really work, but the idea is cool

I like her cape.... and why do those dogs always look obscene?

Inspired? ............ I hope so x

Real Brides - Wedding Pics

I think it's time for some real brides again. Seeing as this is the wedding season. 

This is my bride from earlier in the year - Miss Kim. She was a pretty cool chick who had managed to charm her way into a reservation at El Bulli in Spain. Which if you go to the site and can manage to navigate your way around, you will see that that was no mean feat! I think it was about this time in the year that she should be going, I'm not sure if she took it up. 

Anyway, her dress was made in a silk dupion in quite a lush colour with a jazzy name. I also made her a corset as a lingerie piece for her to wear underneath. The dress was very fitted around the waist and pleated over the bodice. She was a curvy girl and the shape we ended up with was perfect for someone with lush curves like that. A corset can be so good for nipping in the waist and getting the girls up high!

You can't really see all the detailing in the bodice from these pics but judging by that fur wrap it was a brisk evening in Melbourne. They make a stylish couple in my opinion....

 The fabric looks metallic, even though it wasn't 

this card is a good idea isn't it?

I hope everyone had a good long weekend. Mine was great. Two visits to the Opera House for the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, a massage, a great bottle of red with some mushrooms flown in especially from France and a walk through the Botanical Gardens in the rain under a huge umbrella. Very nice indeed....