Another great collaboration with loyal customer who has inspired me hugely over the past year. This is our latest creation with a  40s silhouette, ruffles peplums, jabot collar and the detachable sleeve bolero lets the design take on a few different persona's.
Made in our favourite heavy viscose wool jersey with tulle plumped shoulders and satin trim.

Something Blue 50s Wedding Dress

 Another version of our classic 50s prom dress in the palest blush blue tulle. This dress has an extra full skirt inspired by the Audrey Hepburn classics and a finely pleated, hand stitched bodice lined silk.

I have been asked a few times for this pale blue recently and it's a great alternative to the ivory and white without loosing the bridal feel. It's a great tone if you're more porcelain skinned as it doesn't wash you out so much and also works beautifully in pinks and greens. Available made to order here.

Red Lace Bubble Dress

As always I'm way behind on the updates. I've been inundated with orders and enquiries since the Perfect Wedding feature. (of which I have only just managed to pick up in smiths and was again angered at the fact that now there is no longer a Borders, you can only buy the mainstream magazines, missing out on the gorgeousness of  Lula and the like!) 

Orders and busyness (business!)  is great, super wonderful and it all comes at once and then goes and then comes and then goes, the life of an independent designer is never orderly. Just as I thought I had some free time to read my new books too! 

This little red lace dress was finished by Anna a few weeks ago and I have just go round to photographing this gorgeously chic cocktail number. The bodice is layered with soft lace tulle over red rustling taffeta and trimmed in a satin binding. The skirt has a great structured bubble shape sculpted with nets underneath and gathers from the waist. 

Just imagine with a 1950s satin swing coat and lace peep toes. Available as a one off in our etsy shop. 

A new grey plaid check picnic dress made with a full circle skirt and ribbon detailing at the hem. As we worked on this dress the skirt reminded me of the skirts we used to wear in ballet for character dances with swirling ribbons at the hem.
Nets give support to the full circle and a velvet bow finished the dress at the empire line.

I've been busy working on stripe designs from vintage fabrics I've collected together. 1950s sun dresses and 1940s deco chevrons have been springing to mind. Plus an order of fashion books (Vera Wang, Prada, OrlaKeily Pattern and some great technical skills books) have arrived for me to study away over the evenings. 
Anna has been creating some stunning full length bridesmaids dresses that look fit for Grecian goddesses. Watching her work in the studio is fascinating with her attention to detail and precision and fine craftsmanship. I always learn something new!

Polkadot Wiggle Dress Number Two

The second of these polka dot bridesmaids dresses (the first a voluptuous 'Mad Men' inspired lady) in a crisp cotton with a fine silk bias trim and piping detail. We cut this bias trim ourselves to achieve the finer edging and matched the metal covered buttons that embellish the cuffs and hem of the skirt. 

We've started focusing more on the internals of our dresses with boned waists and stays to cinch in the waist.  

Apparently the stays (a grosgrain ribbon that fastens inside the waist and often found in vintage couture dresses) help with posture too!

This dress was a custom order, for more details please contact us via email.

Perfect Wedding Magazine Feature

 Happy New Year! We have lots of amazing things coming up in the new year, new designs, wedding dresses and features.
We've been wonderfully privileged to be featured in Perfect Wedding magazine with Esther's gorgeous rock n' roll polka dot tulle, wedding dress we created for her last year. Her wedding photo's are amazing, full of swinging skirts and her fabulous styling which worked perfectly with her dress.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Silk Party Dresses

Two of the last party dresses for the holidays so far. The choice of royal blue was excellent as this silk has a slight green shimmer to it and is beautifully rich in pigment. The Royal blue has really inspired, it's a colour I have avoided in the past (quite unnecessarily!) and this looks to be a perfectly gorgeous colour, especially for full skirts. 

The little black dress is our classic and this time with a sultry low cut back to the waist which works well to balance the high neckline at the front of the bodice. Trimmed with a vintage rhinestone brooch and velvet ribbon. Both dresses are available made to order and can purchased from our etsy shop or our direct shop

I'm thinking these are the last of the Christmas Holiday dresses as my head is full of Spring designs and wedding gowns waiting to be worked on. Florals and organdy blushes coming soon.

We're off the London for a few days to the theatre and a pre-Christmas break, no doubt I will find myself amongst fabrics as soon as I arrive.

Knot Back Dresses

This design was originally Anna's from her final collection which was simply stunning and over the years this dress has developed (for a very elegant customer of ours) into many variations. 

The main focus is the knot at the back so simple yet beautifully striking and sophisticated. I recently made them in leopard and lace and are two of my very favourites created this year.

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.

Red Leopard Bombshell Dress

At last the red and leopard wiggle dress complete with peter pan collar and matching cuffs in a gorgeous wool crepe. Available here

Golden Blue Cocktail Dress

I found this vintage piece of Japanese fabric a few years ago and have used it for tiny bits of trimming, Christmas wrapping, bags etc and have finally used it to it's full potential in a glittering 50's silhouetted cocktail dress complete with nets. Luckily I saved just enough.
The seams have all been bound in satin, as the fabric looks so sparkling inside I didn't want to hide it under a lining. Trimmed with a metallic grosgrain ribbon bow to finish.
Available to buy here

Scarlet Red Dress

Our super rich scarlet red, taffeta cocktail dress, just in time to warm up those Winter chills. Once again inspired by the 50's cocktail dresses I drool over and this time with a slimmed longer line bodice and full gathered skirt.  Available to be made to order here ......

New Dresses

I'm still working on the red and leopard print dress but in the meantime here are some new dresses we've created for party season from vintage fabrics.

Fabulous Leopard

 Sorry I have been so slack at posting this week. I've been dyeing things (my hands look like a zombie witch's) making collars, making dresses, ordering fabric, having a general clear out to make more space for fabrics (of which I have quite an unhealthy addiction to) and at last sitting down to make sure this bridal collection is wonderfully designed. I now have a line up of nine dresses that I can't wait to get working on!

The leopard thing started last week and these are two dresses I worked on this week. I have been quickly converted to the thought of red and leopard together after posting on facebook that it won't work. I was directed to 'bell book and candle' where I have been assured that red and leopard not only go together but look amazing! Especially on the oh so beautiful Kim Novak.

This second dress is a dark red velvet with leopard cuffs. Gorgeous.