Bridal Inspiration 2023

 

Brides often only hear a year later what is on trend. But in the world of fashion designers and manufacturers are deciding what direction they want to go in. I try to predict what folk are going to be looking for in the future. 

I'm lucky because I can design and make what we want there and then, it means I can help my brides to be ahead of the retailers.

Expert advice on the hottest trends withe photos and updates on the latest fabrics are thankfully at my fingertips. years of bring in the Bridal world means that I get up to date information from the top people in the wedding world. 

Icons and game changers help with the latest trends and inspiration.

However ultimately we can be influenced but it's what we do with what inspires us. 

 Vera Wang designs

So last night we had the Oscars' and this Vera Wang dress catch my eye. The diagonal pleats on the hip area are so flattering, even that bit of a break between the bodice and the skirt appeals to me. There is something with the black hair, black choker and the black bodice in contrast to the orange colour that makes a strong statement.
Personally the bodice isn't quite long enough for me, I think it would have been more elegant to be longer.
Fascinating for me, it seems that last night it was often Vera wang dresses that appealed to me. What was your favourite?

This dress I liked the back but not the front. Strong contrast colours seemed to dominate the night. Flowing trains and splits were evident. 

I have just finished a formal dress for one of my flower girls from a few years ago. 

Cody knew what she wanted so I just had to listen to her.

She wanted a cerise satin dress with a slit at her leg for freedom of movement and a cross over back to keep her dress secure as she enjoyed her night. Just goes to show Cody wasn't far from what we saw on the Oscars' red carpet tonight.

"Have a Heart"

Is it just the time of year or am I always thinking of hearts. I like to think of the idea that when you join three hearts it makes a shamrock, one of my favourite characters in my work. I think of it as the brides family and the grooms family coming together to make a new family.

It's that Time of Year for the London fashion Week, so it's good that I can follow the latest trends on social media.

It's also the week, a year ago, that Russia invaded Ukraine and our lives have been over shadowed with the doom of the war.

Thankfully following Ukrainian designers on the internet has been a way of keeping my spirits up. The people of Ukraine have so inspired me with their amazing resilience and bravery. 

I am in awe of their brilliance.

Fashion, design and creativity is the heartbeat in Ukraine. Fashion is a business but it can also be a powerful platform to communicate with people in All Parts of the World.

The Ukrainian people have made it their mission to show the Rest of the World the Truth about what happens there!!

"Together we can prevent this from having any more people loses and destruction. 

Ukrainian designers have Joined the War Efforts!!

Beyonce and Sam Smith have championed a Ukrainian designer who has caught my eye.

His name is Ivan Frolov from Kyiv and along with the Ukrainian mantra "we can go through anything we are strong and united" they are successfully fighting the wars news front line.

Frolov has a team of 35 employees and from the start of the invasion they have done their best to support each other mentally and financially.

Right now most of the team are in Paris working on projects to raise funds for their countries needs and to spread the Truth and narrative about Ukraine.

Frolov " I try to use every second of my life to do something useful"

" What helps me hold on is a deep faith in our victory and Hard work. Regarding the brand, we are focusing on two main things right now. First is taking care of each team member and keep our company afloat. Another is helping our country in winning this terrific battle."

" During the first weeks of the war, it was impossible for me to create at all, I just couldn't take a pencil into my hands. It was unrealistic to concentrate and it only got worse when the horrific facts of the Ukrainian genocide in Bucha and other cities were revealed"

So he started the FROLOV HEART. a limited collection of white and black sweatshirts and t-shirts embroidered with Hearts hand sewn and beadwork.

Each heart is hand sewn and unique, and a t- shirt or sweat shirt can be bought AND THE PROFITS FROM THE SALES ARE BUILDING MODULAR HOUSES within the nest project by Serhiy Prytula charity foundation while also providing jobs to crafts people!!!

Shop for your heart @frolovheart.com

The Latest from the Bridal industry on the newest trends for 2024

"Come fly with me"

I have always loved watching the birds in my garden. Every morning there is one there to say "Hello"

You will have seen some of my work with embroidered birds, from simple outline stitching to more intense elaborate embroidery.

Recently I noticed birds appearing on the couture catwalks, so I thought I would share the latest trends with you.

"Birds flying high you know how I feel" inspiration from a song maybe!

"Love is in the Air"

"Let your idea out of the bag"

"Dare to Dream"

"Icons in the Spotlight"

"Fresh Trends for 2023"

Short bridal dresses seem to be a thing for 2023.

What's on trend that the bridal shops are buying for 2024?

Bodices with a straight across line rather than the sweetheart line?

Sleeves still a Big thing in some form or another.

Bows?

Do you ever see a dress in a picture and think well I like a notion of this but not quite the same as that. Or maybe you have been to a wedding dress shop and liked a part of an idea but need someone like me to make it the way you want. Well then why not come and meet me to discuss your ideas to see if its possible. 

History is being made today in London as Zelensky visits the capital. He thanked us the Northern Irish for our support and help so far with the invasion of the Russians into their country, jeopardising freedom and democracy. He appealed for "Wings of Freedom" While recently Miss Ukrainian Universe sold her wings to raise funds for the crisis.

Who needs a needless war when we have a natural disaster to cope with since the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria?

Let us All sew the seeds of Love and "Give Peace a Chance!!"

"Spread Peace and Love"

"Love can Conquer All"

Inspiration for St Valentine's day 2023

 

I try my best to keep up with posts and everything that is going on that interests me in the creative world and the wedding world, but there never seems to be enough hours to my days.

I enjoy learning new things and being creative, its probably why I live and breath my work 24/7

You have to be more than enthusiastic to be self employed.But where would I be without the love I get from All my clients.

So with Love being in the air I thought let's make something which would be of use to any of my clients.

So if you would like a red felt heart shaped cushion, either to give to someone you Love or you could use it as a pin cushion then all you have to do is FOLLOW me on FaceBook or Instagram and SHARE this idea with your friends and Loved 1's

LIKEand You are in with a chance of me sending you one.

Let me know what you think and don't be frightened to Comment on this my Blog or any of my Posts as it encourages me to keep doing this social media.

The ring my bride's groom made

My Bride & Groom

My idea of a ring cushion or a pin cushion.

Help me Grow & Flourish

thanks Joanne

“Battle of the Bridesmaids” spare us!!

What was it really all about, ‘Battle of the bridesmaid dresses tells us everything we need to know about ‘mean’ Kate’!

I was fascinated to learn more about the bespoke MOB outfits for Kate's wedding, this time I wanted to learn more about the flower girls dress debacle!! 

Everyone has known for years that there was a disagreement between Meghan and Kate about Meghan’s bridesmaids, which included Princess Charlotte, but it was all guesswork. Was it to do with tights? Or maybe it was the dresses themselves: the design, the fabric?

We definitely knew – or thought we did – that Meghan had made Kate cry about this, which was when things got real.

Kate, stoic Kate, who for years dealt magnanimously with hassle and teasing (remember “Waity Katie”?) of not just her but also her various relatives. 

We liked Meghan, she was modern and glamorous, but we didn’t know her like we knew Kate. Someone we didn’t know making Kate cry was just, like, the end. And now, finally, Harry has revealed a potent text exchange between his sister-in-law and his fiancée that takes it all to a new level.

So here we go: the bridesmaid dresses were handmade in France because, to an American, French couture is the apex of all things. But because of this, they were made based on measurements only, without a fitting. The garments arrived back in the UK rather close to the wedding and, four days before the event, Kate told Meghan that the dress did not fit Princess Charlotte. It was, says Kate in a text, “too big, too long, too baggy. She cried when she tried it on at home.”

Meghan replies, a day later, that a tailor at Kensington Palace is waiting to re-fit the dresses. Kate drops the bombshell that she, and her own wedding organiser, think that all the dresses need to be remade. There is no time for this and it freaks Meghan out. Meanwhile, her father, Thomas, is cutting up rough. It’s all a mess. “I’m not sure what else to say,” Meghan texts back. “If the dress doesn’t fit then please take Charlotte to see Ajay. He’s been waiting all day.” Then Kate delivers the frankly killer, “Fine.”

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking “Kate sounds mean.” And it’s true that Kate does sound a bit curt,but I suggest she herself is hugely freaked by how chaotic things are. If she would later be triggered by Meghan telling her she had “baby brain” she must have hit the roof when Meghan instructed her to take Charlotte to the tailor “as the other mums are doing”.

Kate is not a “mum”, like “others”; Kate is going to be the queen of United Kingdom.  This is not Kate being up herself, this is Kate understanding that she is no longer a person, she is an institution. 

She is also a Middleton, and they plan events. It’s their whole thing. They would never in hell send kids’ clothes to be made blind in France. A contact, who has some inside knowledge, said she suspects Meghan was advised not to send the dresses to France precisely because they would arrive late and not fit.

Meghan didn’t understand why this mattered, why the damn dresses couldn’t be taken to the damn tailor. Kate’s reaction to this, surely, was exasperation at this lack of sense: why refuse advice, only for the dresses to come back wastefully late and wrong, then demand that Kate, on her own time, correct this. They could have been made perfectly first time round by some nice lady on the Fulham Road!

Meghan, already on the edge, is now aghast at all these mean British people being so mean to her. Harry arrives home to find Meghan “on the floor crying”. My heart goes out to her – I’m serious! I do think she was trying to fit in, but couldn’t fathom that being a British princess means eating cereal out of Tupperware and having clothes made in Fulham.

It’s just so clear to me now that all this was a classic case of an Elsa versus Anna personality-plus-culture clash. Meghan is exuberant, romantic, emotional. Kate is organised, dutiful, practical. Throw in a wedding, which turns most people into their worst selves and you have a row about bridesmaid’s dresses that lasts fully five years in which, and I can’t believe how disappointed I am to say this, absolutely no one is to blame.

So what can you learn from all this? 

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. You put a lot of thought and effort into it. You can listen to advice and then decide what suits you best. Expert advice is vitally important, well worth taking into consideration. Planning is essential and you need to understand that fit is one of the most important things. You can choose a wonderful style but if the fit is not perfect it can totally soul the look. 

Even a flower girl knows whether she is happy to with her dress. 

A Wedding Dress in Weeks!

I have been creating wedding dresses for over 30 years, with passion, knowledge and skill. Whether a bride has a year to create her dress or as little as a number of weeks , with a will and a way , whatever the time frame it has to be ensured.

During these unprecedented and somewhat constrained times, I have been working with a number of brides who's plans have changed, but for who I will deliver. Brides who decide to get married in a matter of weeks, some who have not even started their search, are being carefully swept up, carried through the process and guided with the best practise.

"Though I usually ask brides to plan ahead approximately 9-12 months in advance to complete a bespoke bridal dress, I have always said that I would would never turn away a frockless bride. Now more than ever this is absolutely true. I love to put every ounce of energy and love into making a brides dress for her special day. If I say I can do it, and I'm not fazed you are in safe hands and you should trust that you can enjoy the experience."

You can start your journey with an online chat or a telephone call so that we can workout what is involved and what the timeframe is. This can speed things up and even as I work I can send photos of the stages of the dress and how it is coming along.

My sewing doesn't stop at wedding dresses. I can also make you a bespoke bridal veil, you can have your new initials or the wedding date monogrammed on. Also a headband or foundation wear can be made for you.

Please contact us on my mobile 07736069692 

Princess Beatrice chooses vintage, Norman Hartnell, for her wedding dress

For those of you who want to know more about the designer Hartnell here are some facts. 

Norman Hartnell was born in London on June 12, 1901. His parents owned a pub, the Crown & Sceptre, but he never much talked about that as an adult—pubs weren't exactly popular among his well-to-do clients. He caught the fashion bug while studying at Cambridge, first creating costumes for the Footlights Dramatic Club.

Having found his calling, he dropped out of university to pursue it, leveraging the connections he made at the elite university to find upper-class clients. At the beginning of his career, he quickly found his footing as a society designer. It wasn't long before he'd found international success, catering to both silver screen stars and high-society ladies.

In 1935, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester asked Hartnell to create her wedding dress, as well as looks for her bridesmaids. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were among those bridesmaids, and their mother took a particular liking to Hartnell's designs. From then on, Hartnell would be a favorite of the Queen Mother's; she awarded him a Royal warrant in 1940, signifying his importance.

The Queen chose Hartnell two create the two most memorable designs she's ever worn, in 1947 and her 1953 coronation gown. In 1957, he was awarded his second Royal Warrant, this time as a dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth.

Hartnell didn't just design dresses for the monarch's biggest moments; he created many of the garments she wore to the more ordinary formal events on her royal calendar. The dress that Princess Beatrice would eventually wear to her own wedding has been worn by the Queen on at least three occasions, ending in the mid-1960s: a state dinner in Rome, the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia, and the 1966 State Opening of Parliament.

The Queen wasn't the only Windsor besides the Queen Mother who became a devoted client. Princess Margaret enlisted him to design, her royal wedding dress too.

Below are some photos of him at work and his designs.

I think my favourite part of the story is that years later Beatrice decided to re vape the dress.

My understanding is that the designer Stewart Parvin and the Queens dressmaker Angela Kelly restyled the dress for Beatrice.  You can see in this last photo that a band of satin was used to make it longer.  They added organza sleeves for Beatrices look on her special day. For me the sentiment means more than anything. What are your views on  her 

choice of dress?