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.

Botanical Floral Summer Dress

Grace Floral Tea Dance Dress

Janey Floral Playsuit

Janey Floral Tulle Playsuit and skirt

Jayne Floral Wiggle Dress

Introducing the new Botanicals collection using the most beautiful vintage floral rose print.

Each of the three dresses are designed with the 1950s in mind in keeping with the design of the print.
The Grace gown, a quintessential tea dance summer dress with hand pleated silk organza detailing and a sweeping full circle skirt.

The Janey two piece playsuit and skirt - inspired by those fabulous beach outfits of the 1950s which go from pin-up cutey to oh so elegant and vice-versa with the added tulle ballet skirt.

The Jayne Wiggle Dress - cut with Jayne Mansfield inspired curves to show off the bust, nip in the waist and accentuate those wiggling hips. One of our What Katie Did corsets or push up strapless bras are recommended.

Each of these three pieces are a one of a kind using original vintage fabrics.

What Katie Did Lingerie - What to wear on your wedding night

We are very excited to announce that we are now stocking a selection of What Katie Did lingerie. They are the only company making 'proper' vintage style lingerie and we were so impressed we think all our brides should be wearing this underwear underneath their dresses.

Over the past few years we have seen far too many badly fitting bras and very ugly spanx knickers. The What Katie Did lingerie eliminates these passion killers and make you feel super supported and sexy when you take off your dress. The last thing you're newly wed wants to see is a pair of sausage spanx!

We did a photoshoot to show off the new lingerie with our 1920s style garters and sheer tulle robe. Included in our selection are bras for our 1950s dresses, 1930s corselettes to smooth a Hollywood gown and a fabulous merry widow basque to make anyone weak at the knees.  All in a pretty peach to make you a proper vintage pin-up.

At the studio we really like to be able to style you head to toe using all our expertise and vintage obsessive know how. We can recommend the right lingerie, advise on hair style and our favourite part shoes. This can all help to make sure your dress and you are looking incredible head to toe and underneath for your all important event.

Photography by Alexandra King.

Real Bride Gill in Just Weddings Magazine

Cairistiona Vintage Portraits

Late last year I had the opportunity to photograph our very lovely customer Cairistiona in a few of our gowns. Its always fabulous when we meet someone who is as excited about our dresses as we are and just loves trying everything on!

Cairistiona has a wonderfully elegant vintage look just like a old movie star from the 1940s where they all had personality and intelligence included. The gold sequinned gown was modeled along with a bespoke piece and vintage headpiece. 

Happy Birthday Gloria Swanson

Gloria Swanson by Edward Steichen

Sunset Boulevard

On the set of Sunset Boulevard, costume by Edith Head

Today is Gloria Sawnson's birthday. She played my favorite character of all time, Norma Desmond in the fabulous film Sunset Boulevard 1950.
She claimed six husbands, had a long standing with a Kennedy and was dressed by Coco Chanel herself. Later she became a fashion designer with her own 'Gloria Swanson' label.
She aged beautifully and gracefully looking at what I thought as her peak in Sunset Boulevard at the age of 51.

Happy Birthday to the style star that was Gloria Swanson.

Town and Country Bride Kim at Penard House, Somerset

Bespoke Wedding Dress for Kim

Laura Power Photography

Back in September Kim and Jon got married in Wells, Somerset. It was a beautiful day with a little rain but that didn't dampen the spirit of their gorgeous wedding.

Anna worked with Kim on her bespoke wedding dress to get the design and fabrics just how Kim wanted for the big day. Something soft, feminine and simply beautiful with great style.

Anna sourced a fine beaded lace from Berwick Street, Soho on a shopping trip with Kim and the full floaty skirt was made in a complimenting matte silk chiffon. The dress had a 1930s feel to it with a open cut back and beaded straps making a perfect Summer wedding design. The skirt just skimmed the floor allowing for a lot of dancing into the late night.

Kim opted for a soft hair style with plait detail that was in keeping with her style and a bespoke head piece was made to match the dress.

The bridesmaids dresses were made to measure a in a blue Liberty London print with a 1950s full skirted style. To finish blue suede shoes by Rachel Simpson were styled to match. Anna also made all 12 of hand sewn ties for the ushers and added some lovely finishing touches with centre pieces for the tables, a garter for Kim and a ring pouch all in Kim's chosen blue Liberty print. .

The wedding was held at Wells Town Hall, a low key venue that again came in to consideration when designing the dress. Demure was very much the order of the day. Then the wedding couple squeezed into the cutest blue mini and made their way to Penard House for the reception

This is a fantastic venue ideal for wedding parties with a grand, but not ostentatious house and converted stable block beautifully finished with a bar.

The couple then danced late into the evening to a two piece band ......  Congratulations Kim and Jon!

Happy Birthday to Joan Crawford

It was the great Joan Crawford's birthday yesterday. Born Lucille Fay LeSueur she worked her way up to become one of Hollywood's greatest goddesses. She's right at the top of my list.

I love how different Joan is from her early dancing days where she's all pretty and big eyed. She became the sensational typist in Grand Hotel, the bitchy 'other woman' in The Women, the FABULOUS Mildred Pierce and my absolute favorite as Blanche opposite her arch rival Bette Davis in Baby Jane.
Joan Crawford was powerful on screen and always came across so strongly with her head held very high. Her style was impeccable, dressed by Adrian and photographed by the great George Hurrell.
Such a style muse.

Ask Alexandra - Tweeds at the races?

This weeks Ask Alexandra question is great for planning your ladies day outfits. 

It's Cheltenham race season this week, being still quite cold, what can I wear and not have my skin go pimply and turn blue? Are tweeds OK and what colours please?

Tweeds are the fabric of the equestrian world and a tailored look on a chilly race day at Cheltenham Festival will be far more chic that trying to pretend its Spring in florals. 

Take inspiration from the great French labels, Chanel does tweeds to perfection with her classic suits and teamed with a Hermes scarf would be divine.
For an androgynous look, Biba did it perfectly in the 1970s with fitted waistcoats and wide leg trousers with a neat shirt and tie 1920s style. There are so many ways to make tweed look beautiful. 

I've had a look through the ladies day galleries of the past few years and have devised a few rules that should help you avoid looking like horsey trollop. 

1. No super short skirts for Cheltenham. Its not summer, not a night club and the hooker look doesn't quite work for day events. 

2. Make sure you can walk in your heels!  Try a pair of heeled brogues, laced boots or take inspiration from the 1920s with a firm heel. Wobbling on stilettos in a field just makes you look dumb.

3. no boot - skirt gap as this just makes you look like an elephant in wellies with thick knees. Horrible.

4. Fascinators are wrong at the races. Wear a proper hat, tipped back on a tilt to show off your face.

5. Don't go mad. It's great fun dressing up but remember races are a day event. Subtlety and matching goes a long way. 

Have a fabulous time at the races, we'll answer your summer questions in a few weeks on the run up to Ascot ladies day. 

This lady took inspiration from Chanel for the 2015 Cheltenham Festival. Take away the fussyness of the necklace and ponytail and its gorgeous.

Chanel 1950s

Marion Cotillard in a perfect hat

1950s elegant tweed and veiled hat

1940s ladies in tweeds

Dita Von Teese

Biba Tweeds.

1970s does 1920s tailoring - Image from Barefoot Vintage

Vintage Dress Collection - 1960s Mods and Bohemians

New 1960s arrivals to the vintage section ....

1. A perfectly formed grey wool mod dress with white collar and cuffs complete with a velvet bow.

2. Late 1960s cream lace boho maxi dress that would be beautiful for a summer festival wedding. 

3. A fabulous pale blue lambskin suede 1960s princess coat with cream shearling trim and lining. Super soft and snug. 

Ask Alexandra - How to Wear the Tulle Ballerina Skirt

 This weeks question was one I've heard and read so many times.

How do I wear those tulle ballerina skirts without looking like a fairy or a ballerina? 

Firstly, If you're not comfortable with the idea of wearing a ballerina skirt then maybe just walk away. You don't have to wear anything you don't want to.

Secondly, NO you don't want to look like a fairy, but not wanting to look like a ballerina? The most beautiful of all creatures in the world? Really?

The ballet skirt is now a wardrobe staple and can be worn so many ways on so many days.

The tulle ballet skirt is designed to be all about femininity. The design is taken from classical ballets like Giselle which is all about romance and ethereal beauty.

Take style inspiration from the world of ballet. Think strong, lean and elegance. You don't need to go full bubblegum and it's all about balancing the proportions. If you're more curvy in figure try a full circle tulle skirt instead of the bell shape to smooth the line or a sheer tulle skirt with a pencil skirt underneath creating illusions.

Teaming it with strong contrasts like a black crop top, bralet or bodysuit work well.  I love wearing mine with a plaid shirt and it looks great for day with a belted knit sweater (this can be a little tricky).
Think about proportions, the skirt is very full so wear a tightly fitted top making sure the smallest part of your waist is defined so you don't turn into a ball.

You can find our tulle ballet skirts and tops here.

Here are a few looks to get you started .....

Movie of the Week - Grey Gardens

The Movie of the week is 'Grey Gardens' 1975 

Where to start? I had heard the words 'Grey Gardens' used a lot and always thought it was a softly spoken, Edwardian drama with Meryl Streep. Oh how wrong I was. 

I can't remember why it hit my radar recently but we rented it and watched it last week. It also happens to be the 40th Anniversary this year of the documentary being made. 

I have been missing Grey Gardens for all of my life, the missing reference has finally clicked into place! 

I don't know how to describe it or what to say about the film other than you have to watch it. It's not great cinematography or even a great documentary quality wise. But if this documentary hadn't been made we would not have met the two Edith Bouvier Beale's. If you are interested in crumbling grandeur and old socialites then this is for you. 

And don't you dare mock them, it's worse than blasphemy. 

Edith Beale aka Little Edie is a real hero and an inspiration. A style icon, a draping queen and the most entertaining would have been star that the world never met. Her story is tragically unfair.

I haven't stopped thinking about Grey Gardens since I watched it. I'm fascinated and obsessed. 

The house, how it was, what it became and what it now is, is all fabulous. Could Little Edie have been 1st Lady? A huge star? Of course. 

Best quote and why I love Little Edith Bouvier Beale ....  "This is the best thing to wear for today, you understand. Because I don't like women in skirts and the best thing is to wear pantyhose or some pants under a short skirt, I think. Then you have the pants under the skirt and then you can pull the stockings up over the pants underneath the skirt. And you can always take off the skirt and use it as a cape. So I think this is the best costume for today."

Heartbreakingly brilliant and a reminder to never EVER, EVER get a cat. 

Get the masters of cinema dvd version here

Little Edie got her chance to shine in the end. 

Filmed by Albert and David Maysles. 

Everything else - Little Edie and Big Edie. 

She Loves Dresses - Red Lace Cocktail Dress

The gorgeous Jenny from She Loves Dresses in our bespoke Sophie dress. I love the red and pink together. Take a look at her post and her gorgeous photos here.

Visit The Studio

We are open! The next private appointment spaces at the studio are April 11th, give us a call on 07841 71887 to come and see the dresses!