Dresses…… Perfect for a Princess
Dear All,
This issue is highly dominated by weddings – beautiful weddings, of course, and dresses perfectly suited to a Princess!
Congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! News of their engagement is happy and uplifting and will keep us in anticipation about who’s doing what, and inspired with everything related to weddings through to next Spring.
I love it! The interest in occasion wear, suitable for such a celebration, with hats, shoes and accessories is fun, and I know that designers and milliners will be pulling out all the stops for attention, and delighted to be busy with commissions.
There’s a buzz in the New Kings Road too, with passers by eager to know what the new shop will be selling…….
Happy shopping,
Allison
Shooting at The Chesterfield in Mayfair
I was lucky to meet Austeja, when she was a perfect model for a weekend, wearing a few of my wedding dresses at a bridal showcase event. Now holding the position of Events Sales Executive, at The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair, Austeja invited me to provide a selection of my slinky, glamorous wedding dresses that she had spied and admired for a publicity shoot, to promote weddings at the hotel.
I had no idea about the fabulously talented team, also collaborating in the day’s shoot, but we were all blown away with the results, a credit to Austeja’s discerning eye.
The beautiful Emilija, who had just jetted into London from filming in Milan, was my model for the day, and her acting talent, combined with her striking looks and figure couldn’t have been more perfect for showing my bias dress designs.
Rytis was the handsome, charming and romantic Groom for the day, and I have to compliment this absolutely gorgeous couple, who genuinely appear to be made for one another!
Attention to detail is key to Svitlana, who created THE most perfect hair and make up for the day. Keeping with the glamour theme, she created soft curls, in which sat the Swan Lake headdress, by Victoria Fergusson, followed by a contemporary bun for Emilia’s hair, worn with stunning tulle headdress by Edwina Ibbotson.
Laura Kuy’s floristry is really special as seen with the pretty bouquet, buttonhole, and glimpses of floral decorations in the images.
Lastly, and by far the star of the day was Olga Fuller, without whom, we wouldn’t have this legacy of stunning images. Olga is such a professional, working with a lot of laughs and great humour throughout the day – I couldn’t recommend a photographer more highly. Her use of light is sublime, and the images she’s captured remind me of the sensual scenes in the film Atonement, combined with a touch of Hitchcock mystery.
Thank you Austeja, for including me in this fabulous creative collaboration, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The Chesterfield is a very English, traditional hotel, rich with soft furnishings, and antiques, and is warmly welcoming. This is a perfect venue for a Mayfair wedding, or if you prefer, a quintessential afternoon tea…….. all service is provided with utmost care.
Bride of the Month – Anna and James
Anna and James
I’m a girl who has never fantasied about her wedding dress. So when my fiancé James and I decided on a short four-month engagement, the countdown had begun. I immediately started trawling through Pinterest and after exploring a number of bridal shops across London, my heart grew heavy knowing I didn’t really like anything on offer. It was then that I remembered Allison Rodger. We had met seven years before when she made the dress I wore to be my sister’s maid of honour. Not only was it fabulous (I still get complimented on it to this day), Allison had been patient, kind, good-humoured and incredibly attentive. I made an appointment to see her at once.
Later that week, I arrived at her studio in Parsons Green straight from another disappointing wedding dress fitting, feeling blue, wet and bedraggled after travelling through London in a monsoon. A cup of coffee, a cuddle with her dog Alfie and a chat later, we dove in. As the rain bucketed outside, I spied a beautiful lace hem creeping out from under a row of gowns hanging on a rail. Trying it on, we pieced together the first and only wedding dress that felt like me. Four months of further fittings, alterations and patient discussions, the final result was wrapped and packed into the back of a cab. With that, Allison gave me a warm hug goodbye and in three days, I found James waiting for me at the end of the aisle. ‘Your dress is wonderful.’ he whispered in my ear and he was right. Allison had produced a bespoke wedding dress that was beautiful, comfortable and classic. It isn’t just a dress now. It’s a family heirloom.
Anna and I met a few years ago, when we made a beautiful, elegant long bias silk dress for her sister Zoe’s wedding. I really enjoyed the fittings, as we always had lots to talk about! Anna is an artist and writer, and we just clicked.
Occasionally, I would think about the lovely Anna, and one day an image of a child popped up on FB, so I imagined that she must be married, and a mother. Therefore, it was a complete surprise when I received a call from her, asking for an appointment to try wedding dresses.
When we met, we just clicked right back, and I couldn’t be more delighted that Anna chose me and my team to create the dress for her most special day.
We decided on a fitted corset bodice, with bias cut skirt of ivory silk marocain crepe as the base. There was to be an over layer of my favourite French lace, beaded with antiqued beads and sequins. The lace skirt is dense in it’s design and beading at the hem, graduating to the finest gossamer part of the lace, covering the bodice and shoulders, and finished with cap sleeves. We loosely appliquéd small delicate lace motifs covering the skirt seam, and beaded a fine edging of seed pearls on the neckline – simplicity defined.
The statement piece for Anna’s entrance was the stunning detachable beaded French lace train, which looked equally beautiful in the more relaxed photographs featured here.
As I had designed Anna’s dress when her sister Zoe was married, so I designed Zoe’s dress for Anna’s wedding, using a rich deep sapphire blue silk crepe, with flowing bias skirt. The neckline was framed with a cowl at the front, and an asymmetric cross-over back drape, and deep pleats for a stunning back detail.
As with so many weddings, the little ones stole the show, and were clearly providing great entertainment, whilst Anna and James were completely wrapped up and oblivious!
Alfie’s Thought of the Day
“Style is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside”
Coco Chanel