Perfect Bridal Gowns from Down Under

In our recent online Look Book, The Brides Gown, we had pleasure in featuring the latest couture from Karen Willis Holmes, based here in Sydney.
It is great to have such talent on our doorstep! To see her passion and focus on creating the perfect gown for each bride. Just gorgeous!
As one of Australia's leading couture and ready to wear bridal gown designers, Karen creates inspired wedding dresses with a contemporary classic style.
The video below shows you the work and love involved in each gown, to demonstrate how special each gown is to her.
This is Karen’s story told in her own words.



Enjoy! If you want to see more of her talents then you can purchase The Bride's Gown Look Book from our website!

Click here to see The Brides Gown

The Tradition of a Trousseau

The tradition of a trousseau is age-old, when a woman began sewing clothesat an early age in anticipation of her marriage. 
The word ‘trousseau’ comes from the French word ‘trousse’ meaning ‘littlebundle’. 

While the concept of a trousseau is no longer practical, the idea ofshopping for your wedding night and honeymoon is still enduring and relevant.The implication is timeless! New clothes for a new life!

Depending on where your honeymoon is, you might be packing bikinis for thebeach or evening dresses for a European escape. Combine fabrics – cashmere,cotton, silk and lace – to create versatility.

Neutral-toned
Pashmina Shawl

For any trousseau and anydestination, a few pieces are essential; a lightweight cotton robe, a cashmeretwin set, a little black dress with high-heels and a neutral-toned pashminashawl and black leggings for comfort ease and practicality.


A trousseau encompasses the going away outfit, honeymoon attire and thosespecial pieces of lingerie you may have purchased for your wedding. 


Although it’s unseen by most, your lingerie is actually a very significantpart of your trousseau, and should be carefully chosen.

Lingere Shower Invitation
www.polkadotdesign.com

You may like to hold a “Lingerie Party” or “Lingerie Shower” with yourfriends in the lead up to your wedding. Many Lingerie companies will come toyou with a full range and create an evening of entertainment for you and yourfriends. This can be a fun way to browse lingerie and ensure correct sizing. Inmost cases the Lingerie company will give the host free goods in return forholding the party!

Have your lingerie fitted
by an expert

Working with experienced Lingerie fitters (plus your friend’s input) canensure that you find the right lingerie for you. Lingerie can flatter yourfigure or give you a cleavage that suits your wedding gown, smooth yourstomach, back or hips.



It is important to take into account if the lingerie can be seen throughyour wedding gown as some fabrics can be clingy so something plain but made ofsilky fabric is a good choice. You should take colour into consideration aswell. Neutral colours like apricot or flesh coloured lingerie are lessobtrusive under a white wedding gown.

Choose the right bra for your gown!

Depending on the bodice of your wedding gown your choice of bra will beimportant as you do not want to be adjusting straps all day. Strapped or straplessit is a good idea to wear the bra for a day prior to your wedding to make sureyou are comfortable. Taking it to all your fittings can also ensure you have theright lingerie for the day. Most Lingerie fitters are experienced with advisingyou on the right style for your dress.
 

Another part of your trousseau is the Going Away Outfit. Choose an outfitthat looks glamorous and can be worn again, plus matches jewellery andaccessories that you may already have. You won’t be able to wear your weddingdress again but your Going Away Outfit can be a reminder of the special day formonths or years to come. 

Pre Fall 2012 Collection
www.oscardelarenta.com

Purchasing your Going Away Outfit is a great opportunity to buy something from a designer range such as Oscar De La Renta. Check out all the great outfits from him in his Pre Fall 2012 Collection below:

Vera Wang Behind the Scenes 2012 Fall Collection

Vera Wang presents in this video her inspiration for the 2012 Fall Bridal Collection.

Her inspiration came from fashion, witches and covens and she tried to present a totally different perspective to normal bridal fashions by creating a sense of mystery and beauty using underwear colours of nude and black.

Really unique and potentially unusual designs!

Let us know what you think!
Comment here or on our Facebook.

Unveiled: 200 Years of Wedding Fashion

From the Victoria and Albert Museum
 London

Presented at The Museum

of New Zealand,

 Te Papa Tongarewa

Te Papa is situated in the heart of Wellington, New Zealand

Romance

Glamour

Extravagance

Dita Von Teese on her wedding day, 2005. Dress by Vivienne Westwood, hat by Stephen Jones. Photograph by and courtesy of Odessy Barbu.

On Now until 22 April 2012
Admission charges apply

If you are in New Zealand or visiting New Zealand before 22nd April 2012 taking a visit to this exhibition is well worth the effort.

Experience the evocative world of weddings through this extraordinary collection of wedding attire from the 19th century to today. See outfits inspired by tradition, practicality, fashion, fantasy – and, of course, love.

Wedding dress and coat designed by John Bates for his Jean Varon label, London, 1966. Cotton gabardine trimmed with silvered PVC. Worn by Marit Allen for her marriage to Sandy Lieberson in London on 10 June 1966. ©Victoria and Albert Museum

Embroidered silk satin wedding dress by Norman Hartnell, London, 1933. Commissioned by Margaret Whigham for her marriage to Charles Sweeny on 21 February 1933. Given and worn by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. ©Victoria and Albert Museum / V&A Images

Highlights include celebrity gowns by stellar international designers such as Norman Hartnell, Vivienne Westwood, and Christian Lacroix. Also on show are special commissions by New Zealand designers WORLD, Lindah Lepou, and Jane Yeh.

How is it that the traditional western European white wedding dress has become the garment of choice for brides in many countries and cultures? And what do wedding dress styles say about the social and economic conditions of their day? You'll learn some of the answers from this magnificent display.

Embroidered silk wedding dress by Christian Lacroix, Paris, Autumn/Winter 1992-93 Haute Couture. Given by Christian Lacroix. Photograph by Guy Marineau © 1992

Silk brocade shoes purchased from Peter Robinson, London, 1914. Worn by Phyllis Blaiberg for her marriage to Bertie Mayer Stone at the Bayswater Synagogue, London on 9 September 1914. Given by Mrs B. Rackow ©Victoria and Albert Museum / V&A Images

Francis Hooper, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, and Benny Castles discuss their inspiration for the outfits that appear in Unveiled. Plus, we peek backstage as the dress is prepared for its debut at New Zealand Fashion Week. 

More pictures, videos of interviews with designers, recordings by the curator of the museum and much more is available on their website. Even if you can't make it to Wellington to see this exhibition it is definitely worth a visit to their website:

http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/WeddingDress/Pages/default.aspx

Wedding Style Guide Latest Poll

In November we presented a selection of RED wedding gowns for you to decide which you like the most. The poll ended up a DRAW with two clear winners!	Dress 4
Dress 8	You can see all of the dresses and full results of the Red Wedding Dress Poll by clicking here.
Wedding Style Guide is pleased to annouce the winner of the Red Wedding Dress Poll that closed on 15th December. Lauren Pool of Victoria has won a dozen South Australian wines! Congratulations!
Today we have released the latest POLL You can vote on THE BRIDE'S GOWN We have taken a small selection of gowns that feature in our Latest Look Book, The Bride's Gown and put them in a Poll for you to choose which one you like the most! Vote and go into the draw to win a VALENTINE'S DAY BASKET for the one you love! Below are the gowns you can vote on! Included are new release Bridal Gowns from the 2012 collections by Angela Marcuccio Haute Couture, Karen Willis Holmes, and Romance is Born to mention just a few ! 174 pages of bridal gowns for your inspiration: The Bride's Gown Look Book.

Feather Weather

It's a fair call saying it's freezing here in Australia. Winter has well and truly settled in and if you're having a winter wedding and still have your heart set on a strapless or more revealing gown consider this gorgeous Miu Miu feather collar. There's nothing worse than being cold so it's important to still keep yourself a little rugged up. Why not do it in absolute style?! Available to purchase at www.net-a-porter.com.


Feather collar £412.50

Posted by Emilie Harrison

Sale Time!

If you're after some simply huge discounts on some simply gorgeous designer wedding gowns be sure to check out Net-A-Porter's huge end of season sale. With savings of around 60% on Alexander McQueen, Azzaro, Australia's Rachel Gilbert and many more you could very well score for yourself a super-duper deal and yes, they do ship to Australia. Visit their website at www.net-a-porter.com.


Azzaro Jess crystal-embellished silk-crepe gown was £4,358 NOW £1,525


Alexander McQueen embroidered duchess-satin gown was £9,330 NOW £1,959

Posted by Emilie Harrison

Scarlett Fever - Haute Couture A/W 2011/12

The Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2011/12 shows saw a few key trends emerge for the coming season. Elaborate fabrics and embellishments are always forefront however key accessories and colour trends burst onto the scene. This season the standout colours, thanks to Giambattista Valli and Valentino, were the richest of reds and vibrant peach. Gowns with capes, drapes and billowing hems stood out like sore thumbs, red is the hottest of commidities right now. Mixed with a palette of stark white and the jet black it's a colour combination worthy of a fabulous party. Bridal fashion will most definitley take a cue from the autumn/winter's Haute Couture Collections. Here's hoping a feminine cape in the most gorgeous of laces makes a trip down the isle. Visit www.vogue.com.au for all the collection details and pictures.


Valentino






Giambattista Valli




Photos courtesy of vogue.com.au

Posted by Emilie Harrison

Milliner Magic

Western Australia's premier bridal destination, Bride + Groom Store, is excited to offer their lovely brides the opportunity to come into the store and have a one on one with their milliner. On Saturday 23rd July you can visit the store and have the opportunity to try on oodles of gorgeous headpieces and veils as well as talk to an expert about the best piece for you for your big day. If you're not finding what you want why not design your own! This fabulous opportunity is by appointment only so if you fancy making a time please email mail@brideandgroomstore.com.au or call 08 9388 3221. Be sure to visit their online store at www.brideandgroomstore.com.au.







Posted by Emilie Harrison

Soft & Sweet

As promised here are some of the images from Collette Dinnigan's new Autumn/Winter 2011 Bridal Collection. As expected they are absolutley swoon worthy. Again, embellishements play a key role in the collection with injections of soft silver and of course gorgeous lace and the softest of tulles. Visit www.collettedinnigan.com.au for collection and drop details.









Posted by Emilie Harrison