Golden Lace Bodice

This gold lace bodice was another piece designed for the What Katy Did Next Golden Reign collection.
Designed for opulence with a delicacy in the bodice that can be worn as part of a bridal or evening ensemble. The French corded lace was hand dyed a mottled antique gold tone and embellished with fine matte gold seed beads. Matching gold buttons fasten in loops at the back down to the waist which is cropped high.
There is something of the Elizabethan armor to this design in the dark golds giving a powerful regal romance to the look.
The fitted princess line cut of the bodice looks beautiful with the full tulle skirts and it would be interesting to see the bodice toned right down with indigo denims and leather.

Available as a one of a kind piece in the online boutique here. 

Photography by Sally T Photography


Photo with model by Sally T Photography, styled by What Katy Did Next

Sally T Photography
What Katy Did Next 

Ivory Lace Dress: Fifties Style Nicole

Today I'm sharing this simply chic and beautifully understated ivory lace dress, The Nicole. Worn for a wedding earlier this year, the dress was made with Elizabeth Taylor in mind, an event set in the Hollywood hills or an intimate gathering in Vegas with a blue tuxedo and Cadillac to go.

The dress has a sweeping just tipping off the shoulder neckline in a corded lace that I love using every time for its gorgeously tactile patterning and texture. Lined with a silk under-dress and nipped at the waist with a pleated silk belt to enhance the smallest part of the feminine curves. The fullness of the skirt finishes the silhouette in a bell with fine pleats from the waistband and a deep sheer scalloped hem.

With it's fitted sleeves to the elbow I would most definitely be styling this dress with a pearl bracelet, pearl tipped nails and matching pearl, pointed toe stilletoe's. No necklace as the collarbone should be shown off bare, but round pearl earrings and a simple fifties shoulder length veil swept away from the face. Oh and to finish off our new pearly queen glitter clutch. The pink silk of the bow lining adds just the right hint of colour.

All very chic, a little chocolate box fifties but oh so devastatingly gorgeous. Goodnight x

 The Nicole dress and Pearly Queen bag will be coming to the shop soon!

The Week That Was ..........

A very exciting pile of fabrics from Millie Moon

 My new bag found in Fromes brilliant St Catherine Hill in Poot vintage. There are so many excellent vintage shops in Frome, well worth a trip. This was a bargainous £28 and I've been looking for the perfect bag forever!

The tulle underskirt for a brides incredibly twirly dress.

More Millie Moon fabrics coming up as a dress soon.

Another brides pink and ivory lace, this dress is drop dead Hollywood starlet looking, I can't wait to share this!

Liberty Claire-Aude Tana lawn bridesmaids dress, we love working in Liberty prints.  

And an effortlessly chic silver silk. This is for a mother of the bride and the look is bang on vintage Dior, beautifully elegant and sassy. No ruffles or 'matchy matchy' typical MOB nonsense. 

Em's Wedding Photos

Emma has very kindly shared her photos with me of her wedding in August for which we made her tea length gown.. The wedding was held at Huntstile Organic Farm complete with chickens and goats and makes a gorgeous location.
The bouquet looks beautiful and bright against the ivory and the huge bow Emma requested looks fabulous in the photos.  I just adore Emma's MASSIVE smile, it's the best advert I could imagine!
 Here is the post about her dress with more images.

Photography by Graham Morgan  
Location at Huntstile Organic Farm

The Black lace Prom Dress

Here is the customer photo from one of my all time favourite dresses the black lace cocktail dress. The lace was an amazing find and had the most gorgeous vintage texture to it with hand corded detailing. 

I love the way she has styled her whole look complete with Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes, Audrey bun and pearl earrings. Super gorgeous and glam and again I am really amazed by the styling talents of school leavers to look so incredibly chic.This was a custom order with added lace to our classic little black silk cocktail dress. 

Blue Wedding Dress

 

This little blue lace, fifties inspired wedding dress was just gorgeous, gorgeous, and more gorgeous to work on. Designed and created for a customer who took one look in a bridal shop and was immediately terrified and put off by the overwhelming nature of such places. Me thinks this may have been an all you can eat wedding dress factory style store where they get you all worked up with their hundred of options on big big dresses, satin shoes, tiaras and the whole shebang! It can be a little too much sometimes. 

So she sent me some lovely pictures of herself, had colours in mind and a clear sense of styles that suited her best. I did a few sketches, sourced fabrics and laces and we came up with this beauty of a dress complete with optional covered buttons for the back. I chose slightly larger buttons than usual to give the dress a slightly less delicate look with a bit more punch to the back of required. The underskirt was removable so that it could be worn to parties afterwards getting more use from the dress instead of it staying hidden in the wardrobe to gather dust as so many do.

I know I say this about all of my dresses but this really is a favourite. I am always happy to work on bespoke dresses and if you would like more info on ordering please take a look at our ordering page.

A day at the Races

This custom dress has just been posted off on it's way to Ireland ready for the races and ladies day. When I received the photo of the lady in question I instantly knew what style to get in my head and wonderfully it was Audrey, Parisian Chic and Fifties all the way.
Navy was chosen and in the flesh it's a vibrant indigo navy with a fine, bright white Guipure lace to contrast at the waist, neckline and cuffs. This was tricky to fit as there is no give in Guipure lace so it very carefully had to be hand stitched with notches that were cut and restitched binding together at the curve. The two colours work perfectly as a classic combination and should keep the fashion spectators happy at the races.
This is just a little preview and I can't wait to see the finished look.

New Customer Pics

Thuy's pre wedding photographs looking incredible in the little lace gown we created for her. Photographs by Liebehuman Nguyen www.liebestudio.com or facebook.com/liebehuman

 Sarah's pleated chiffon all American graduation gown (the most gorgeous and well dressed couple at the very front)

I love to see customer pictures of the dresses we have made them being worn at their events, it's usually the first time we get to see the person wearing the dress and it's so exciting to see.
These two came in recently and are just gorgeous photographs.

19th May Wedding Dress

Just finished today, this has taken a long time to create and I must say that it is one of my very favourite dresses I have made so far.

The initial inspiration for the dress was a host of 50's cocktail and wedding dress chosen by the bride, all with different details that she wanted in her dress. It was a really great way to design the dress and a way for her to have everything she wanted in one perfect dress for her day. I'm especially pleased with the pleated sweetheart and the tiny line of piping at the waist that adds the all important finishing touches.

The dress will be worn with an underskirt edged in the shocking pink binding to match and maybe some little lace gloves.