Tuesday 29 September 2015

Black Swan Styled Shoot




Earlier this year, together with a crew of amazingly talented people, we styled this shoot with our dresses. Set in the house and grounds of the beautiful Elmore Court, Gloucestershire, UK

Some pieces, the tutus, were custom made for this shoot and without Laura's inspiration our Dove tulle gown wouldn't have been designed.
I am so happy to share these stunning images from the Black Swan shoot directed by Laura Power and Maria Wilcox. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard!

The gowns featured are ...

Ivory Juno Tulle Gown 
Dove Grey Tulle Ballgown
Lace Long Sleeve Ballet Top 
Ivory Embellished Silk Bustier
Bra: Vintage 1950s
Tulle Over Skirt : custom made
Tutu's: custom made





















Enjoy this beautiful film of the shoot from Vogue Wedding Films. 



The crew were ...

Photographer - Laura Power
Florist - Sorori Design - Maria Wilcox
Stylist - Lauren Grey
Models - May Moore 

Felicity Jowett, Ballet Dancer and founder of Winchcombe Dance Academy
Effects - Every Event Hire
Film Crew - Vogue wedding films

Hair: Fordham Hair Design
Make up Artist: Jessica Mills

A huge thank you to everyone at Elmore Court for letting us use the stunning house and grounds.

Monday 28 September 2015

She Loves Dresses - Tulle Saffron Dress



The stunning Jennifer Baquing modelling our Saffron wiggle dress earlier this year. I still love the tulle overskirt, will come back to this design again soon ....
In the meantime head over to shelovesdresses.com for more style inspiration.

Our Ladies


An instagram round up of our beautiful customers in their Alexandra King dresses.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Online Appointment Booking


We will be back open for appointments on the 10th October and every Saturday until Christmas.

You can now book easily online and choose from a consultation, fitting, collection, viewing or alterations.
Each appointment slot is 90 minutes giving you plenty of time to discuss your order and have a good look through all our dresses and accessories.

Book online here or click the link at the bottom of the main site page. x

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Alexandra King Hudson Dress Giveaway on Instagram


Instagram competition to win an Alexandra King Dress. @alexandraking

As a birthday thank you, we are giving away our Hudson smocked 1950s style sun dress in a competition in instagram!  
CLICK  the images to go to our instagram and follow us @alexandraking

The dress is made in a gorgeous Laura Ashley printed cotton with a hand smocked, boned bodice and fabulous full skirt in a 1950s style.
Size: Small Bust: 34" Waist: 28"

The competition runs until the 21st September when with winner will be selected at random.

Good Luck!






Monday 7 September 2015

Trying on the Vintage 1950s Ballgown




Alexandra King Vintage dress



alexandra king vintage dress collection

alexandra king vintage dress collection

alexandra king vintage dress collection

alexandra king vintage dress collection

1959 Frank Usher Vintage Ball Gown.

This is one of the most fabulous dresses I have tried on. When I was first offered this stunning gown by another collector I didn't quite see what the fuss was about. It just looked like a big old ballgown with hoops, hanging there.

I have had a fear of hooped skirts since being in a crit at Uni where I was told the dress, I had stupidly put with a hooped underskirt, was vile. I was mortified! Yes the dress was better without the big old bridal hoop but little did I (or my tutor) know was how amazing a real crinolined gown can feel!
I wish I could go back in time with this beauty and show them how great it can be. They'll still say it's vile. This was the time of Levi twist jeans and clever but oh so dull cutting. Gowns weren't cool.

Anyway, back to the dress. It's rare you get the dress from the magazine advert but this is an original 1959 Frank Usher ballgown using the newly invented Bri-Nylon as seen in the Vogue ad above.
I'm not sure how many of these were made. The internal workings are complicated being made from steel hoops and boning built into heavy muslin foundations. There are the two layers of tulle and then the Bri-Nylon.
My favourite part is the corsages encased in tulle at the neckline, it's so pretty and delicate.

Once I put the gown I felt a real transformation. it felt so incredible and elegant. I couldn't quite fit anywhere with the big hoop so I just stood and posed feeling terribly glamourous.

The dress is really fun to wear and surprisingly comfortable.  It would make a stunning wedding gown. See the dress in more detail and for sale here in the vintage section. 

Saturday 5 September 2015

Nicole's Grace Kelly Wedding Dress









Hitchcock Grace Kelly Dress




Yesterday our lovely customer Nicole was wed at the Thames Rowing Club, London. I had worked with Nicole before on a fabulous leopard print dress and was very excited when she came back to me asking for the Grace Kelly Rear Window dress.*

I adore Edith Head, she is one of the greatest costume designers ever to grace the screen and Rear Window 1954 is up there with the best fashion in film. Grace Kelly's dress is one of the most famous gowns of Hollywood and I leaped at the chance to work on my version of it.

There is another very elegant little black dress in the film, one with a sheer organza bodice. Nicole was looking for a sweetheart bodice with a sheer overlay, and using reference from the film I designed the dress as a combination of the two. This was Nicole's dress was hers and not just a copy of Grace's.

The final dress was made in a sheer silk organza with silk bodice and covered buttons detailing the back. The full circle skirt was made up of two full circles and hand appliqued with hand clipped corded lace.

After many, many, many hours of hand stitching, the dress was complete with it's beautiful full skirt floating on top of a tulle underskirt.

Congratulations to Nicole and Parker! The official photos will be coming x

*Just to get this straight. This is a homage to Edith Head's design. 
I usually HATE it when people send me a picture of another designers dress, asking if I can make 'something' like it, oh and cheaper. Sadly I get this a lot. It's an insult to me, down right disrespectful to the original designer and illegal IP theft. Please don't do it. 


Wednesday 2 September 2015

Kim's Grecian Wedding Dress

Kim wedding dress by anna vickery








Kim's bespoke designed wedding dress made by Anna Vickery.

Around this time last year Kim was getting married in beautiful Somerset, you can see her wedding photos here. Congratulations to Kim and Jon on 1 year!

Anna worked closely with Kim on her bridal gown from initial design, a shopping trip for fabrics to the wedding day.
The dress was made by Anna with a silk bias cut bodice covered in a beautiful beaded tulle. The scalloped edge was used the hem the bodice and create the cross over straps making the wedding dress backless. Silk chiffon was then used for the full draped skirt of the dress that gave a stunning Grecian feel to the design.

Kim looked stunning on the day in her dress, Congratulations for their first Anniversary!

To book a bespoke consultation with Anna Vickery at our studio or if you have any questions you would like to ask please email anna@alexandra-king.com