This season my eyes were aghast at Valentino. I am normally the biggest Dior fan, but of course this season it was to take a different spirit. Valentino has literally taken me a back though. A breath of freshness, a lightness and the wonderful, charming and divine romantic spirit, yet delivered with a relaxed strength. Sheer beauty. Delicate soft lines, intricate detailing, a soft chalky sensitive palette of wonderful french pastels, from Vanilla to Rose. Organdies and sheer silks replaced the more usual stiffer Double Duchesse Silks and Gazars and the expected depth of sheen was brought about by chintz jacquard and moires. Again a very french country undertone. The prints where soft and delicate and considered. Beautifulsprig florals. Simply charming.  The most feminine and delicate couture collection I have ever seen. An inspiration of course, and a confirmation for experimenting with coloured pastels and opting for dryer, more matt surface textures and reverting to intricate sensitive detailing.
On the flipside was Chanel . Strong, clean and statement. A definite retro under currant with strong elegance. My eyes leapt out when the  show revealed our favourite tone of blue for this spring summer season. The perfect fifties retro blue. So fabulous to see this wonderfully energetic colour in chic formal clothing, and especially exciting in couture. Executed to perfection to keep a modern spirit and retro attitude with strong, simple perfect proportion.

Our dresses: the retro one shoulder tulip, and the Joanie shift are our take on 1950′s blue. Our Jubilee inspired pieces in fact. We dyed  matt cotton lace to exactly match a 1950s blouse which I have had for a few years now, and never known quite what to do with!.. I found its new moment.

So on that note they definitely need topping with the finest saucer shaped millinery from Gina Foster’s Jubilee collection. The oh so fabulously 1950s inspired piece below is called Alnatt

and will be available to order in a couple of weeks.

Just needing a chic pair of smart driving gloves I feel!

Mary, our gorgeous London bride was styled perfectly with a  sprinkling of vintage charm.

The brief was for an understated chic wedding dress, …which didn’t look too weddingy,  for a winter city church wedding and reception in London.

The understated 1940′s inspired wedding dress, the Astor  was chosen from our collection of  ’less formal wedding dresses’  because of its timeless appeal and vintage spirit.

The Astor  would be a beautiful piece which could perhaps be worn again,…and most certainly be treasured for years to come.

We styled the dress for this occasion with a vintage fur wrap  which we lined in silk satin to match the fluid scarf like ties on the dress, and then commissioned the most fabulous milliner  Edwina Ibbotsen who we work with on couture and bespoke pieces to make Mary one of her fabulous pillbox hats which had birdcage veiling. The millinery was a piece of art in itself, a beautiful lace covered pill box which was then custom hand beaded in rose gold bugle beads to subtely tie in with the rosey peach tones in the silk trim of the Astor and the most beautiful pair of Rupert Sanderson rose gold leather sandals which we had suggested to complete the look.

As Mary’s wedding ceremony was in a church with quite a long aisle , we adapted the back of the dress to taper down to the floor from an above ankle length at the front  to fall into a gentle puddle of silk, to give a nod to a train. With the millinery giving the illusion of a veil, the traditional aspects which
one would normally perhaps expect were certainly there.

Mary chose Nadira Persuad, who is a celebrity make up artist which we recommended on this occasion. Nad has the ability to create  more ‘red carpet’ looks and relevant understated fashion looks for our brides that would perhaps want to be a little more styled.

Here was Nadira’s inspiration for Mary

“The aim for the make up was for timeless feel with the effort to enhance Mary’s natural beauty and keep eyes defined with eyeliner and individual lashes. Hair inspiration taken from the demure beauty, Audrey Tatou and her understated hair with body and movement, carefully under-styled.”

Semi sheer organdie and vintage inspired silk twill are carefully tailored and immaculately cut and pieced together to

make a sharp and sculpted dress which has seasonless and timeless appeal.

The navy silk triple organza encases boning to give a shaped bodice and sculpted peplum. This really is a shape to give a fabulous waist and curvature

reminiscent of a 1940′s belle!

The skirt part falls into a nipped in pencil shape, below the knee with souring high back vent.

The perfectly tailored coat made in the UK with our signature sprinkling of vintage charm

http://newstylesfashion.com/pippa-middleton-work-day-stylish.html

The Signature Oyster cocktail dress is number one in 10 of the best Christmas party dresses

‘First Wives Club’ no less….x WOW!