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. 

Vintage Gold Lame Marilyn Dress

Above is the original Travilla sketch for Marilyn Monroe's iconic gold dress. The dress has just a few seconds screen time in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes but has gone down in history as one of Miss Monroe's most famous garments. 

It was lovely to discover this gold lame dress below that looked so similar to the Monroe dress but from the 1930s. 

The dress ooozes silver screen Jean Harlow glamour and is made from a stunningly beautiful metallic 1930s real lame. At last I understand the beauty of this most fine of fabrics. No superlative is too much for this gown.

The dress is backless with a ruched centre from and delicate side fastening in poppers and hooks.
Inside is a grosgrain waist stay with the label Chiara. I have never seen this label, the dress was purchased in the UK but could be French? Or Italian?  

This dress is now part of our vintage collection which you can find for sale here. 

Lady of the Lake Photoshoot with Photographer Laura Power

Images all by Laura Power Photography 

Back in the early Spring a group of us - designers, photographers, film crew, stylists and models and more arrived at Elmore Court in the Cotswolds for a two day photoshoot.

These images are from the first day with model Laura who was an absolute gem and tough as nails for standing in the freezing cold lake, simply swathed in a sheer lace dress of mine.

The look was Lady of the Lake emerging from the waters to take her place in the grand house at the ball. She transcends from bohemian beauty of nature in sheer lace, to divine goddess in couture draped tulle.

The gowns featured were the Dove Tulle Ballgown and The Bohemian Blue Lace Gown. 

The crew were ...

Photographer - Laura Power
Florist - Sorori Design - Maria Wilcox
Stylist - Lauren Grey
Model - Laura
Effects - Every Event Hire
Film Crew - Vogue wedding films

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

Silver Lace Gown for Laura

This bespoke gown was made a couple of years ago for our photographer friend Laura Power and we recently had it back to photograph all the details. 

The dress was made with a polkadot tulle layered under metallic Chantilly lace and then hand appliqued with a corded lace trim to add texture and detail. 

The cut was a classic Edwardian style hourglass with a sweetheart neckline underneath the sheer lace and three quarter length sleeves. A small chapel length train finished the flared skirt with a border of the heavy corded lace. 

Laura looked stunning in her gown on the day. 

Happy Birthday Marilyn

Happy Birthday to the wonder woman Norma Jean and her iconic creation Marilyn Monroe.
It's very easy to get obsessed with this lady and I have recently read books upon books on her, trying to find one that is non salacious. The best books with the best images are Marilyn - Metamorphosis by David Wills and Marilyn in Fashion by Christopher Nickens as they simply celebrate instead of titillate.
Marilyn's dresses all seem iconic, simple, bold and tighter than clingfilm she must have been a real pleasure to dress and work with as a costumer.

Met Gala Best Dresses - China Through the Looking Glass

Bee Schaffer in Alexander McQueen - this dress is my overall favourite. The train, the kimono neckline, the cut, the embroidery.

The Met Gala was held last night for the opening of the China Through the looking Glass exhibition

This is going to be such an inspirational exhibition that should set the brain ticking for designers across the world. I recently missed out on a stunning 19th Century Chinese embroidered coat at auction, inside the cuffs was the MOST incredible, fine embroidery. I'm glad to say it went for thousands.

Embroidery was key to my favourite dresses on the red carpet last night. There were some attention seeking monsters and some equally attention seeking stroppy refusals to dress properly.
Some say that dressing for the occasion and the exhibition is a cliche. I don't agree. Subtle, intelligent design with beautiful craftsmanship teamed with classic Old Hollywood style can't ever be knocked. x

Dianna Argon in Tory Burch - a classic Grecian chiffon dress with embroidered cranes in orange pink. It reminds me of the Schiaparelli Lobster dress.

Emily Blunt in Prada - two tone blue silk satin embroidered in silvers keeping tight to the colours head to toe. Very slick.

Fan Bing Bing is a glorious cape. Designer unknown. This cape looks stunning, everything you could want like a Cecil B Demille movie costume. Must find more photos of this.

Lizzy Caplan in Chanel - this has a more subtle Chinese influence, the strappy sandals are key to finishing the look. I love the veil and the ballerina length femininity.

Wendi Murdoch in Oscar De La Renta. -  Just what you would want from Oscar De La Renta in blush pink satin drapes and gold embroidery.

Rita Ora in Tom Ford - Lucky red this design is so perfectly executed taking Mandarin influences in cut and trim. Can't wait to see what Rita wears next.

Shupei Qin in Tommy Hilfiger - simply stunning. Great hair and styling and a beautiful low key gown, that is still a real gown. Those cuffs! Winner for the most beautiful lady.

Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren - Gold lame formed into a Hollywood classic. I adore the hood making this futuristic modern and very 1930s at the same time.

Zhang Ziyi in a Carolina Herrera gown with the designer. - Like a perfect piece of porcelain China, that dress is just divine. I'm hoping those are real orchids to finish.

Images from Vogue and New York Times.