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. 

Reflections || An Elmore Swan Inspired Shoot from Vogue Wedding Films on Vimeo.

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.

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.

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

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!

Trying on the Vintage 1950s Ballgown

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. 

Nicole's Grace Kelly Wedding 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. 

Kim's Grecian Wedding Dress

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

Ethereal 1920s Dresses

1920s Swiss dot tulle lingerie dress with pin tuck pleats and delicate lace edging. Layer over pastel slips. 

Fine champagne lace 1920s wedding gown made in America with goday hemmed flapper skirt and silk chiffon edged cape back. Layer over a nude silk slip and add antique gold accessories and shoes. 

1920s embroidered white cotton voile French dress with clown collar and fitted waist. Matching embroidered hem and collar detailing. Style with a wax flower crown and 'A Room with a View' bohemian hair. 

1910s embroidered white cotton voile double layer dress with delicate bobble trims and beautiful embroidered hem. Style with hair in a tousled plait, ballet flats and wild flowers. 

1920s champagne lace wedding dress with silk chiffon trims and fine tulle sleeves. Layer over a nude silk slip and style with antique metal accessories in old gold and silver and lilacs. 

Our latest collection of delicate early 20th century dresses in ultra fine laces and cottons with the most exquisite detailing. Ethereal beauty in fashion at it's best. Click here to shop. 

Old Hollywood Photoshoot

Old Hollywood Socialite Photoshoot 

A few months ago our lovely customer Cairistiona agreed to model for portraits in our gowns. These are some of the first portraits I have shot and am really pleased with the style and the look of the dresses. The aim was a 1930s Old Hollywood / Socialite style and Cairistiona had just the right look of intelligence and elegance. Thank you to Cairistiona for modelling, looking beautiful and for putting on so many dresses.

Learning to take my own photographs is really important especially when I am looking for a very specific image of the dress.
I have worked with incredible photographers who as you can see in the journal have produced the most stunning images of the dresses. However it isn't always possible to have a photographer on tap nor is ever fair to ask a photographer to change their style to suit your specific whim. Hopefully over time I can refine my photography skills and add another string to my bow.

Student Work Experience Project - Poppy Youde

Last Summer, A-level student Poppy Youde joined me at the studio for a work experience project.

It is so important when accepting students for work experience or internships that they are getting experience and go away with something wonderful for their portfolios. Simply using them as free labour to do menial tasks is not ok. 

I asked Poppy to think what she would like from the week and we set a project that would be a complete portfolio piece covering basic aspects of research, design, pattern cutting, making and finally styling. All images are the work of Poppy Youde.

Poppy showed great enthusiasm arriving with initial ideas and sketches along with her chosen fabric, pink gingham. She continued with further research into gingham and created an inspiration layout/mood board in a magazine style. 

Poppy the finalized her designs and together we the went on to draw out patterns and cut the fabric. Throughout the making process Poppy gave input and worked hard on the finishing which is an essential part of the garment make. It is essential that all fashion students understand the make and cut of garments, however much they may dislike the sewing process. It is impossible to be good designer without these basics. 

Once the garments were made and fitted Poppy went away to research her styling and was ready to model and style her designed outfit. 

Poppy really excelled at her research, design and styling. She is going on to study a Foundation diploma in Bristol and then aims to study fashion at degree level. View her blog Princess Seam here.