New Studio, New Adventure, and New Creations…
Oh My Goodness! I haven’t written for absolutely ages… I’ve been completely flummoxed, trying to squeeze everything I accumulated at Chelsea into a smaller space, and without having time for a necessary clear out. We all feel far more cosy at Parsons Green. Alfie is very happy to have carpet under his feet, and I’m keeping exercised by climbing over and around boxes and bags of fabric ends, packaging, etc, and by remembering what’s in them!
Inevitably, my move made me feel a little insecure, having had a shop window to attract those who appreciated my designs and accessories since 2002. Now however, we’re working on the first floor, and at last, I’ve been forced to catch up with my online, virtual window. Next month will see the launch of a new website, new logo, and better use of social media to promote my designs. This is really exciting, and I’m sharing a few snippets from what we’ve achieved so far.
Keep Cosy………
Party Essentials
I have to say the biggest “Thank you”, to my dear friend, and favourite photographer, Les Wilson, for arranging a day’s shoot, so that at last I have a catalogue of images of my favourite designs. They are primarily for the forthcoming website, but I’ve also wanted to produce a new Look Book, and here it is: Look Book. Thank you to Nayana for assisting with the shoot, and for creating the Look Book – I love it!
Main image above: Lottie dress, in silk marocain crepe, and French tweed coat, with stunning beaded collar detail (detachable).
Left: Alexa jacket – I just love this tweed, with it’s sumptuous border design used at the hems. It’s a statement piece, yet so comfortable to wear, and looks especially special with a detachable fox collar.
Right: Swing back jacket and shift dress. A classic, elegant shape, made in wool/cashmere herringbone.
Here are a few party pieces:
Left: The tiered dress in wool crepe is ultra feminine, and lovely to wear, and with a beaded French lace beaded crop jacket, guarantees a sparkly entrance.
Right: The beaded French lace trapeze is so light and easy to wear, over a slip in any colour.
Above: Sparkly, beaded dresses are the fashion statement of the season, and here’s my favourite, style Mela. Bias cut beaded silk georgette, in the most lovely deep aquamarine, with a low back and asymmetric front drape.
Above: I love the pewter beaded lace shift dress, and it’s separate cover up with dramatic cowl back.
For winter brides, here are a few cover – up ideas:
From left to right: Amy Shrug, of ivory beaded French lace, Silk velvet draped cape, Beaded French lace cape
Above: Although she’s been in my life for a few years, ‘Kylie’ is still the winner at every bridal event I attend……the glamorous bias cut champagne silk satin, teamed with stunning beaded French lace, and the dramatic train, consistently has the WOW factor.
Winter Warmers, and Special Treats
This autumn has been beautiful, with stunning sunlight brightening the shortening days, and the most amazing collages of multi-coloured leaves. The chilly mornings and nights have brought my favourite winter warmers out from their summer storage. I absolutely love my Warm&Co Swing back cashmere sweater, and my toscana gilet is a most faithful friend. I know that everyone who’s invested in these pieces has loved them equally.
Above from left to right: Toscana Gilet, Camel Breezer, Size 8, £475 and Swing Back Sweater, Chervil, £225.00.
Perfect for a treat, or a very special gift, choose from a selection of cosy cashmere knits, toscana gilets and mittens, hats and scarves. Here are images showing a few of the pieces, with the full range shown on my new Instagram sale pages.
Above (from left to right):
Natural brown, knitted Sable Snood, 1.65m circumference, made in Russia. Was £960 Sale £700.
Grey taupe fox collar, shown with one end passed through slit opening. Was £400 Sale £320.
Natural dark sable Muffler, has a knot detail and fur hook to fasten, length 90cm, made in Russia. Was £780.00 Sale £550.
Above: Toscana and Sheepskin mittens in various colours. £55.
Above (from left to right):
Classic Scarf, Brown Sugar. Was £99 Sale £75.
Classic Scarf, Toast. Was £99 Sale £75.
Above (from left to right):
Magaschoni Feather Cashmere Poncho, colour Stone. Was £175 Sale £145.
Magaschoni Feather Cashmere Poncho, colour Tango. Was £175 Sale £145.
Magaschoni Feather Cashmere Poncho, colour Apple Mouline. Was £175 Sale £145.
Above (from left to right):
Ribbed Beanies with Saga Fox pompoms in black, taupe, ivory & chocolate. Was £85 Sale £65.
Ribbed Cashmere and Saga Fox hats in chocolate, black & navy. Was £400.00 Sale £320.
Bride of the month – Sophie and Mike
Thank you so much for everything you did for our wedding. I have never seen us all looking so incredibly glamorous. Mummy’s dresses were gorgeous…… everyone commented, and she felt fabulous, which shone through on the day.
Sarah’s Grecian bridesmaids dress was just stunning, and she looked amazing too.
Now, what can I say about my dress….. From the very beginning, I knew I was in the only place in the world that could bring to life the vision that Mum, Sarah and I had created in our heads.
My corset was just stunning, and pulled in all those naughty parts, as well as being comfortable, and making me feel a billion dollars. Changing Mum’s wedding dress, so that I could use the skirt, is now going to be a tradition – and I can’t wait for Sarah to wear it too.
In the evening, my change of skirt was such a surprise to everyone, and the long, slim bias cut made my legs look extra long!
I am not one of those girls who had thought about their wedding dress a lot before getting engaged, but Allison fulfilled all my dreams and went beyond them. I felt so comfortable, and so myself the whole day. Thank you for everything. You made all three of us feel amazing, and for that I will never be able to thank you enough.
I was introduced to Sophie through her involvement with the Belgravia Wedding Quarter, and felt so flattered to be chosen to create her wedding dress. The aim was to use her Mother, Caroline’s wedding dress, of silk taffeta, very 1980’s, with puffy sleeves, and meringue skirt!
To flatter Sophie, and engineer the dress to it’s new contemporary look, the key points to change were the silhouette, and length. We decided to create a new, separate corset, with an off-the-shoulder band, made from matching ivory silk taffeta. We re-shaped the netting on the original petticoat, creating a flat front, and a bustle at the back. We removed the gather from the meringue-shape taffeta skirt, and created a long, slim silhouette, pleated at the back to control the volume of silk into it’s fabulous long train. To gain the extra length, we made three bands all around the hem, in proportion with the band on the corset, and waist sash.
As chief bridesmaid, Sarah aspired to a Grecian style, which in fluid ivory silk crepe and georgette complemented Sophie’s dress. Sophie’s favourite colour, sapphire blue, was an important colour through the wedding theme, and was introduced in Sarah’s sash.
Caroline loves clothes, and is ultra stylish. We had already made a beautiful coat and dress for Sophie and Mike’s civil wedding ceremony, and now the challenge was to create a completely different look for both the wedding day, and evening reception and party. Caroline had a length of shot silk chiffon, turquoise with reddish-brown, from which we created a coat, worn over a duck egg silk crepe off-the-shoulder shift dress. I absolutely love how Caroline’s elegance, and the dramatic hat is so her.
For the evening, we used a silk from Caroline’s collection, a bold Thai silk check. To make the checks flattering, and interesting over the body, I draped the wrap-over long skirt, and bodice. A shot chiffon wrap completed the ensemble perfectly.
Sophie’s friend, Henrietta McCausland, designed the beautiful wedding stationery, with it’s special sapphire blue translucent print.
Fabulous photography, by John Nassari and his team captured Sophie and Mike’s wedding day so perfectly.
Alfie’s thought of the day
All great changes are preceded by chaos.
– Deepak Chopra