Emerald Green Satin 1930s Inspired Gown

This green emerald gown was a private commission and made a beautiful start to the year. The green is very similar to 'the atonement dress' and set against black is the most gorgeous saturated emerald.

The dress was designed for a Spring Ball and was made in a silk chiffon and satin. The bodice was to have a 1930s cut with a low revealing back, small covered buttons to fasten and a slightly dropped waist to lengthen the line. The chiffon was hand pleated and stitched in place with a plunging neckline. The chiffon then gradated into the skirt with drapes that blended with the full satin skirt.

A small train featured at the back of the dress to make it appropriate for a Ball and the hems were hand rolled to finish with perfection.

Red Satin 1930s Wrap Dress

This red dress was commissioned a few years ago and I recently designed another dress for this same client. I adored the red silk satin that was such beautiful quality and wonderful to work with.
The dress had a draped wrap design to the bodice with a Chantilly lace slip that peeked from beneath at the decolletage. The skirt was cut on the bias and the fabric bellowed gorgeously as it moved with a swish. An elegant art deco dress clip finished the waist.

Photoshoot by Vicky Wheeler

Last year I was lucky enough to have some dresses photographed by Vicki Wheeler an up and coming international fashion photographer.
These are a few of my favourite images she took in Bradford on Avon with stunning model Casey Jefferies. The dresses are the Juno tulle wedding dress and the Sandee lace prom dress.

Thanks Vicki for these great images! x

Credits:
Photography- Vicky Wheeler
Hair and make-up - Roxie Cotter
Model - Casey Jefferies

The Pavo Peacock Dress

The Pavo dress is inspired by The Ballet Russe and early ballet dresses of the 1920s. Made with the famous vintage Liberty London Hera print in a heavy cotton. The Art Nouveau peacock print is matched in a self belt fastened with a vintage leather bound buckle.

We designed the dress to drop at the waist. This is a cut taken from the world of ballet as it lengthens the body, allows for waist definition and creates a more elegant line when used with a full bell style skirt. The skirt features layers, upon layers of french blue tulle with delicate peacock feathers trapped beneath the first layer.

This dress is a one of a kind and is the third dress of three in the Liberty London Hera print collection. Available to purchase in the shop here.

Country Bride Alice

Last year we had the wonderful experience of working with Alice, a bride planning a rustic country style wedding in October.

Alice was pure English Rose and was looking for wedding dress that reflected her style and that of her big day. After sketching out designs and lots of pinterest a final design was confirmed. A full length gown with huge skirt and draped Victorian style bow.
A blush pink in a textured hand woven silk was picked from the huge array of colours and a fine French lace in ivory to layer the bodice. It's sounds fancy but as you can see from the photos, the dress was simply beautiful and just right for Alice.

Anna worked with Alice through the fittings making sure the bodice was fitting perfectly and the straps hit just the right point on the shoulder. Once the final stitches were placed in the hem, a bespoke chapel length veil was made to finish. Alice was ready to be a bride.

It's lovely to see such gorgeous natural photos of the wedding, Congratulations and thank you to Alice!

*We also designed and made the mother of the bride dress in matching silk and lace to Alice's dress just in different colours. We thought this was a really lovely touch to link the two. Sue was a wonderful model and that hat is just fabulous!

The Best Red Carpet Dresses 2015 - Golden Globes and SAG Awards

A round up of my favourite looks from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and SAG Awards. Sadly there were quite a few turkeys on the red carpet early this year but here are some (which I think are) beautiful looks. Perfect styling head to toe.

Accessories, fit and faces seemed to be a problem with many gorgeous ladies getting snapped mid scowl : / Clip on earrings that just added age instead of elegance and awkward high necks and columns. Cuts were decidedly nineties and modern which can be tricky even on the most beautiful women, of which they all are. Some just needed a good stylist or a simple skinny belt.

If in doubt, skinny belt it! And never will a stiff turtle neck make a beautiful gown, not this year anyway.

Versace were on fire turning out consistently elegant goddess like creatures in beautiful draping. Old style Hollywood will always be a favourite with me but it just looks so gorgeous with Veronica Lake waves and red lipstick. It's all the details that make a look, the right shoes, the right hair and lipstick. I have seen too many stunning dresses on beautiful women just not put together properly.

 Amy Adams in Versace - image from Vogue.com

 Angelina Jolie in Versace - image from Vogue.com

Resse Witherspoon in Giorgio Armani - image from Vogue.com

Old Hollywood ...... These classic statuesque looks always seem to look perfect to me. Big waves, red lipstick and a beautifully draped gown. Amy and Angelina's Versace gowns are exquisitely draped in 1930s style slipper satin and crepe.

 Gwendoline Christie in Giles - image from Vogue.com

 Heidi Klum in Versace - image from Vogue.com

 Rita Ora in Dior? -image from Vogue.com

Red Dresses ... Va Va Voom red is a winner on the red carpet. Rita Ora is just divine with matching red lips, sleek bleached hair in a centre parting and those eyes ... just beautiful in every detail. This look has been the winner of the red carpet this year, hands down.

Rosamund Pike in Dior - image from Vogue.com

 Amelia Warner in Huisha Zhang - image from Vogue.com

 Kerry Washington in Prabul Gurung - image from Vogue.com

Kiera Knightly in Chanel - image from Vogue.com

Waistlines ..... There were a few odd waistlines on the red carpet this year a few that made waists look a little thick. These above however worked. Rosamund Pike's Dior trapeze dress is daring but she has paired the right hair and makeup along with a sharp pointed toe to make it look sophisticated and elegant. The Huisha Zhang feathered hem is gorgeous and so modern flapper.

The two empire line cuts, which I am usually not a fan of but again the centre parting of the hair makes everything exquisite and elegant, even when pregnant. Kerry Washington has chosen some great looks this season.

 Leslie Mann image from Vogue.com

 Naomi Watts in Gucci image from Vogue.com

 Taylor Swift in Jenny Packham - image from Vogue.com

Jenna Dewan image from Vogue.com 

Yellow ...  And I though this was a difficult colour to wear with pale skin but these are so pretty. Note the red lips which I think is essential with yellow. Leslie Mann definitely wins this look, check the matching clutch and earrings.

 Salma Hayek image from Vogue.com 

 Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad - image from Vogue.com

 Emma Stone in Dior  -  image from Vogue.com

Camilla Alves in Donna Karen - image from Vogue.com

Wow Factor ...  These four are just fabulous all over. Proper couture, with trains and capes. Selma Hayek is just sensational in the blue chiffon and J-Lo is definitely channeling a 1930s Ziegfeld girl.

Note to self: if I am ever, ever lucky enough to have one of my dresses grace the red carpet I must insist on styling it too. Then if it turns turkey it's my own fault.

The Helena Lace Dress - Real Wedding

Beautiful images of our Helena dress on our real bride Sonja. This is just as we designed the Helena dress and I love how Sonja styled her hair and accessories classically to match.

Hera Peacock Print Dress

The Hera Peacock Dress 

This beautiful print is a Liberty London design classic. I first used this print whilst at University for my final collection and was so pleased when I found a few metres of this again at a vintage sale a few years ago. Its my favourite print of all time.  

The design is currently not in print with Liberty making this a real treasure of a dress. The colours and peacock feather design are so decadent making this print perfect for a cocktail dress. Read more about the print here on the V&A website.

The dress features a hand draped strapless bodice using the sculpted fold of the fabric to create detail and form, I wanted to use the print fully not in cut sections and the skirt shows the print fully in a peacock flare. 

A party dress with Art Nouveau opulence and a one of a kind piece. 

Available to buy in the shop here.