Naturally... Natalie

So at last! I can share one of the many lovely weddings I've been a tiny part of this last spring.

The first bride this season to be wedded, is the gorgeous Natalie Staub. Nat married her fiance Andrew at the Boynton's Feathertop Winery in Porepunka, Victoria. Their wedding was a rustic relaxed affair and as you'll see from the photos, a very warm, family event.

Natalie came to me because she had seen photos in the window of my shop and felt some of the dresses had elements she wanted.

Her inspiration was fresh, modern and colourful: Strong, clean designs with modern details, but she also like the older silhouette with the wasp waist.

 

She loved coral, pink, watermelon, cream and wanted a dress that was really contemporary to suit her, and their spring, country wedding.

Nat also wanted a dress she could wear again. This is often a motivation for women who want a non-traditional gown for their wedding: they would like to get some extra value from what will probably be the most expensive garment they ever buy. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not. I like to suggest a few considerations:

1. Will this desire to re-use lead you to compromise the fabrics and design choices?

2. Will you be able to separate the association of your wedding day from the Dress? ie, will you actually want to wear it again, if it has become a very sentimental garment?

Neither of these considerations is difficult to overcome, but my feeling when I design for a bride, is that we aim for the best wedding dress possible and if you can wear it again, well, yay. And I think Nat will definitely get another wear out of this dress.

I did quite a lot of designing with this dress, because, really, there was so much scope for me: pretty much a blank slate, as far as wedding dresses go!

Preliminary Storyboard 1

© E. Christian

Preliminary storyboard 2
© E. Christian

There was a lot of chiffon and/or georgette, but ultimately we decided on a silk/cotton for the skirt, because it was a bit less cocktail-hour, and suited the bush setting more. I also found a beautiful printed silk dupion from one of my suppliers, designed by an Australian textile artist.

Final design concept, with layered watermelon
skirt and asymmetrical bodice
© E. Christian

We went with the two-toned design, though this seems to be very dramatic idea to some people, incredulously inquiring in the shop, that  surely "a bride shouldn't wear such colours?!"... what is this? 1906? 

Seriously. Open your mind.

Printed Silk Dupion from Silk Trader, with asymmetrical neckline, cap sleeve and
covered buttons

Silk/Cotton voile layered circle skirt in "Coral"

And here is the beautiful bride on her Wedding Day. I love how relaxed, modern, understated and genuine this wedding looks: everyone clearly had a fabulous time!

Thanks Nat, for being a wonderful client, and Nat and Andrew for sharing your photos and special with us. 

Photography by Shawn Smits.

Next time, more Spring weddings!

Thoroughly Modern Maude's Wedding Dress

This week we have the beautiful Maude as our feature bride. 

Maude came to me with a picture of a Celine gown, which she felt was the perfect style for her modern, urban wedding. Its the one below, on the left, in blue; fresh, contemporary and yet still romantic. 

From Aria Blog

Maude of course wanted hers to be a bit more "wedding", in ivory or cream.

Maude's setting was as follows:

1. Season - Late Autumn

2. Setting - Urban, warehouse reception

3. Style - modern and simple.

Maude loved the gathering around the bodice, and the delicate cap sleeves, as well the romantic flowing skirt.

She also loves Japanese prints and fabric, so I used that as a reference point for the aesthetic of the dress: simple, elegant, utilising the inherent beauty of the fabrics we chose

Design sketch

I decided that perhaps a more natural cotton and tulle effect would suit Maude and her wedding, removing any fussy satin, silk or shine from her look.

I really wanted a Japanese silk brocade, a matte white on white jacquard pattern that is usually for kimono, but instead Tessuti provided me with the beautiful option of a seersucker cotton Hana, which is very modern and not too elaborate. 

White Hana Web Seersucker 100% Cotton

This was for the dress proper. Then over the top, I layered silk tulle and some nylon net - a super find from The Fabric Store, in a fleshy colour, just to reduce the whiteness of the cotton; Maude wanted cream, not white. 

This is the first time I've used silk tulle, mostly because it's so gosh-darn expensive - it retails for about $170/m. And when the design is so drape-y and folded, thats an awful lot of money. But it was so very worthwhile this time. 

I made the top and bottom halves in the cotton, and fused the bodice, then gathered the tulle panels and machine tacked them over the cotton. Then sewed the bodice together, and the bodice to the skirt. 

The skirt layering was made by cutting oblique shapes from the tulle and layering and draping them until they looked pretty. Then I lined it with cream silk crepe,and finished the dress.

Maude bought me her chosen Japanese feature print, and I made her belt, her groom's hankercheif and a little purse for her things on the Big Day.

Layered tulle and net over cotton seersucker

Japanese cotton purse w/ strap

I was absolutely in love with this dress, I have to admit. It turned out to be so delicious and modern and restrained, but I'm a sucker for cotton and silk, so it was a joy to make.

As part of the Lissom Yarn Bridal service, all bridal clients receive a framed, original fashion sketch of their unique dress...for the wedding scrapbook, you know :)

And here is the Maude on her wedding day! Enjoy!

Next time, more real brides, and other nice-things-that-I-made-myself.