Black Lace Classical Cocktail dress

We tend to take the little black dress for granted. It's reliable, gorgeous and always pretty much perfect but doesn't always push you as a designer. It may be why we haven't had so many reaching the shop recently or maybe we keep adding them to our wardrobes before they get there.

The 'Vasla' (a reference to the Diaghilev group) little black dress was designed with the corded lace in mind. Layered over a soft bronze nude satin it evoked the 1950s dresses we coveted and combined with a thick black tulle hem has flourished as a prom dress. The asymmetric neckline was hand draped over the fitted sweetheart bodice and finished with long satin ties to position the shoulder.

We suggest styling with black lace courts, a jet bracelet or cuff and jet dropped earrings allowing the sweep of the asymmetric neckline bring the eye to the face. Hair up in a soft ballet style bun.

We're glad to say this little black dress made it to the shop, in all it's classical cocktail beauty.

Lupita Pink Silk Dress

Introducing the Lupita dress in a blushing pale ice pink.

The dress was designed with red carpets in mind (of course!) the dress that makes an entrance and has interest from all angles. The bodice features sculpted, razor sharp pleats over the bust, a smooth fitted bodice and a hugging hourglass cut.
The skirt is midi length, that certain 1940's just a little longer cut that teamed with a pair of open fronted courts elongates the line. And glorious drapes falling all the way to the floor to finish at the back.

Style with an optional bead encrusted belt and golden spiked courts and off you go to the ball looking by far the best dressed. Of course!

For more info take a look at the dress in the online boutique here. This is the only one of it's kind. 

The Hera Dress

Adorned in beads, the birds and the bees crawl over the bodice of the Hera dress in golds and silvers as the symbols of love and nature. The ladybirds glisten in crystal amongst gilded bugle hearts adding detail at every angle to produce an exquisite opulence to the bodice design. Reminders of the bead work delicately trim the hem of the peplums as the matte silk skirt falls to the ground contrasting against the decadence.

This dress was designed as a beautiful statement piece, a labour of love that carries a certain demure elegance without showiness.
The bare beauty of the skin next to the highly polished decoration works as the right balance when wearing this dress. We styled it for the shoot with up-most simplicity, soft hair swept up with nothing to distract from the face, the eyes or the dress.

A one of a kind piece this dress took over a month to embellish with the tiny seed beads that make up the pattern. Produced at the Somerset studio in the UK with silks sourced locally in Gloucestershire.

For more information on the Hera dress please visit the online boutique here. 

The Fortuna Dress

The Fortuna dress is patterned in fine embroidered lace and trimmed with covered buttons all along the spine that plunges towards the softer tulle hem. Hand appliqued lace blooms encrusted with blush Swarovski gems add dimension over the bodice and continues in hiding throughout the tulle skirt. Finished with a glass bugle bead and Swarovski crystal belt.

This dress was designed for the stage and screen. A gown surrounded by singing gentlemen, revolving on pedestals and dancing the quickstep. 

Available online here. 

The Freya Dress

The Freya dress is for the Follies girl dancing through the night with curls in her hair and feathers fluffing everywhere.

The key detail in the Freya dress is the huge plume of Ostrich feathers that weigh down the hem and tickle the sequins hidden underneath. Ostrich never fails to insight the imagination and in the making of this dress were delicately dipped in tea and blow-dried to get the right tone. The feathers tended to look a little too new and unnatural when they first arrived so needed calming.

On designing, this needed to be a dress that really moved. Tiny pearlescent seed beads were used to tassel each Swarovski crystal that patterns the dress to catch the light with every step.
The same beads trim the neckline and cuffs of the silk Georgette with fine feather motifs that were carefully beaded by hand here at the studio. Underneath a silk slip is sequined over the hem and bodice which adds another secret dimension to the sheer dress above.

The dresses all have a character to play and the Freya dress is all caught up in fantasies of the Ziegfeld Follies, Boardwalk Empire Molls and the original fearless flappers. It's cute with the fluff and prettiness but it also packs a hell of a sexy punch when worn.

Available exclusively online here. 

Divine Creatures 2014 Collection

Aphrodite

Fortuna

Freya

Hera

Juno

Pandora

Venus

Divine Creatures Collection

Here is the collection we have been passionately working away on over the past few months. Our very own goddess Nicole captured the mood of each dress beautifully during the shoot which took place at our dress cabin.  

Here's what it's all about............. 

Seven exquisite exhibition gowns make up the latest 2014 collection from Alexandra King, each piece an individual idea crossing the lines of fashion and art. Heavenly beaded stars encrust the cinched waist of a goddess gown, there is a 'birds and the bees' gown a literal symbol and labour of love whilst big blushing feather plumes flirt with hems on dresses fit only for the most vampish of starlets.

Colours are the classics in ivory, marbles and whites with precious metal embellishments in golds, coppers silvers and pearls.

The collection was designed for that dream goddess or starlet character that fills our secret imaginary fantasies. Be it Marylin backstage with Bobby and Jack, a divine icon on the silver screen or simply sat upon a pedestal, a beauty amongst the gods swathed in one of these gowns. It's pure indulgent fantasy.

• The gowns are available exclusively online direct from Alexandra-King.com
• Prices from £1,200
• The Juno and Fortuna dresses are available made to order
• contact alexandra@alexandra-king.com for more details

Black Tulle Dotted Cocktail Dress - Matte

Black Polka dot Tulle Prom Dress 

This black version of our classic tulle prom dress was made earlier this year for a bespoke client. When she suggested the idea of black sequins on the black tulle, I just loved the idea of using matte black penny paillette's to make the dots.

This subtle detail really changes the mood of the dress, a little less Prom Queen and a lot more Black Swan. 

N.B Please excuse the slightly blurred images, getting the dots to show up was a little tricky when photographing.

Sparkling Cocktail Purses

We've been very busy here at the studio prepping for our Pop-Up shop at the end of the month in the beautiful city of Bath.
Here are a few of the sparkling glitter purses that will be available over the weekend from the 29th November to the 1st December. 

You will be able to pick up these little luxuries (they are all lined in sumptuous silks) along with our favourite accessories ..... belts, key fobs and our classic velvet hair bows. Great for special stocking fillers.

Of course, if you are not visiting Bath that weekend all of these gifts are available to buy in our online shop HERE. 

Bespoke Gown for the Barbican

This dress was made for a wedding at the Barbican Arts Centre this September and was commissioned as a bespoke piece for a bride looking for something to fit perfectly with the venue and her style.

Based on our Christy dress the French corded lace used was a deep champagne colour to match the dark ivory of the silk duchess satin. Once again we turned the silk on it's back to give the lustrous depth of sheen without the high shine.
This fitted design with its dramatic low back, smoothed hips and feminine sweetheart illusion over the bust gave a beautiful balletic quality. Contrasting with this delicate fit the double full circle skirt drapes in dramatic curls to the hand bound hem made from the matching silk satin.

The bride chose a fabulous pair of spectator shoes from Chie Mihara with a lemon yellow bow which we picked up in stripes over the finely beaded belt.
Each of the covered lace buttons was hand beaded with Japanese foil lined glass beads in a mix of champagne and cream tones. This design matched the edging of the neckline also adorned in subtle beads.

It has been an honor to design a dress to be worn at the Barbican surrounded by so much inspiration and style.