Purple silk wedding coat: styled shoot

summer city wedding bridal style crossover coat with collar

Creating a purple silk wedding coat and a burlesque wedding dress for this fabulous shoot showcases everything I love most about my job. From time to time I collaborate with other wedding professionals on styled wedding photoshoots. This one took place in August 2016 in London with the theme ‘City Burlesque’. Our locations including the Duke of York steps on The Mall, Admiralty Arch, Horse Guards Parade and Brick Lane reflected the breadth of style wonderful London offers.

I designed a knee wiggle length dress in ivory duchess silk satin and an elegant dress-coat in Cadbury purple. You can see photos of the making process and behind the scenes pictures from the shoot in my blog entry about this shoot.

Photography: Jessica Jill Partridge,
Dresses made & designed by Felicity Westmacott
Styling by Jessica of www.foxandpartridge.com
Model Vanessa Assare
Hair styling by Very Bettie
Make up by www.charlottemuapro.com,
Bespoke Shoes by Marsha Hall
Hat and headpieces by Jen Levet
Bouquet by Michelle Knibbs of Muscari Whites

Burlesque Wedding Dress Design

Both dress and coat were inspired by a 1950’s design style which is characterised by a nipped in waist and contrasting drape and flow elsewhere. This is perfect for the burlesque inspired wedding dress with it’s own associations of the same era.

I made the purple silk wedding coat in Cadbury purple dupion and lined in lustrous gold silk satin. The picture collar was draped ‘on the stand’ meaning that I made no flat-pattern first but created the shape on a mannequin allowing the natural properties of the silk to dictate the lie and flow of the style. Asymmetric detailing on the hip of petal like tucks was, as far as I know, a unique creation on this garment alone. I added black lace beaded details on the hip, back waist and cuffs. 

I made the burlesque wedding dress in opulent silk duchess satin, a rich dark ivory. The dress has a classic sweetheart neckline, corset style bodice and feature button and loop closure. I designed the wiggle skirt to closely hug my beautiful model’s curves and be a high contrast to the wide flowing skirt and train of the coat. The fit and flare skirt has petticoats that peek from beneath the high-low hemline, purple netting edged with gleaming teal satin ribbon.I finished the burlesque wedding dress with hand applique to the bodice in pale gold lace with sparkling Swarovksi crystals to catch the light.

I love layering and changes of look for a wedding day and this ensemble perfectly takes a bride from elegant ceremony to an evening of dancing. I wanted the opportunity for a ‘reveal’ without it being too risque for a wedding day. The coat can be removed in public with as much decorum or raunchy come hither eye as is your preference!

statement wedding coat bespoke purple and gold silk
purple silk dupion wedding dress coat elegant bride and pearl necklace

The pearl rondel necklace and drop earrings were also made by me.

coloured wedding dress alt bride purple teal gold petticoat

Bespoke Shoes by www.marshahall.com

black bride 1950's vintage style wedding coat and dress
vneck wedding dress full skirt cadbury purple silk

Beautiful Flowers by www.muscariwhites.co.uk

ivory silk satin wiggle dress with peplum
London bride wedding purple silk coat

Our wonderful model was Vanessa Asare

elegant town wedding bride bouquet
petal waist detail black lace applique purple silk

Detail of the black beaded lace applique and petal pleat detail on the coat hip

purple alt wedding dress with bouquet and top hat
cadbury purple wedding dress with train bridal detail
swirling coat dress horse guards parade
horse guards parade long sleeve wedding coat dress with collar
city sunlight bride in the park
bride against the dress with bouquet
elegant bride tea length skirt city wedding
Horse guards parade London wedding mini top hat and off the shoulder collar

Gorgeous mini top-hat to compliment the purple silk wedding coat by www.jenniferlevethats.co.uk

admiralty arch blue sky london summer
brick lace photoshoot wedding dress graffiti alternative

Brick Lane with the Purple silk wedding coat

Our second location was Brick Lane with lots of amazing graffiti murals

sweetheart neckline wedding dress calla lily headband
black african skin tone wedding makeup beauty
london bride brick lane alternative teal petticoat
made with love leather shoe soles made to measure
bouquet against graffiti london wedding
paper flower and peacock wedding corsage
sunlight and shadow three quater short wedding dress ivory silk
city wedding ivory silk dress graffiti bridge

The purple silk wedding coat had a contrast gold silk lining. I made the bodice with a detachable off the shoulder piece

brick lane photoshoot wedding dress city bride

Black lace details on the purple silk wedding coat

To book a time to come and chat with me in person on or zoom about your burlesque wedding dress ideas visit my contact page and get in touch!

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Felicity Westmacott

I write about all aspects of weddings, dressmaking, fashion history, and the human relation to clothing. I welcome comments and debate.

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Since 1753, when the Marriage Act first came into existence, UK marriage law has come a long way. Some things have taken much longer than they should have (I'm looking at you, 1991 and 2013, 2023). But there's still more than can be done. The association of @independentcelebrants is campaigning for the UK government to follow the recommendations of the 2022 wedding law reform report.

"At least 10,000 wedding ceremonies a year in England and Wales are led by independent celebrants. These ceremonies are perfectly legal to hold, but as it stands a celebrant cannot perform a legally binding marriage – that part must be done separately, meaning added inconvenience and cost for couples."

I'm all about supporting couples to have the wedding day of their dream, and that rarely includes having to find time and money to go to the registry office.

If you want to help with this, then you can spread awareness! Share this post, or make your own. Talk about it with friends and family. And once you've done that, you can always get in touch with your local MP. The Independent Celebrants website has a PDF guide to help you with how to go about doing that.

Is this an issue you're aware of? Is there anything I've missed out?

#ChangeWeddingLaw #SpeakUpForCelebrants #LegaliseCelebrantWeddings
I created this Regency-inspired wedding dress for a Bridgerton themed wedding shoot. I used modern fabrics like tulle, beaded lace and shantung, but with period accurate details like the empire line waist, square neckline and boned stays (corset). ⁠
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I love to work with versality when it comes to my creations, so the dress was designed with multiple layers; the main dress has an embroidered tulle bodice and asymmetric beaded lace skirt. A lilac and pink dip-dyed tulle skirt can be added over the floral train of the main dress for some dreamy ombre magic. A lilac silk dupion 'spencer jacket' with hand appliqued beaded lace completes the ensemble. ⁠

 All these options make it possible to have lots of different looks throughout your wedding day. ⁠

Which Bridgerton character can you imagine wearing this outfit?

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#regencyweddingdress #bridgerton #historicalweddingdress #periodwedding #colouredweddingdress #dipdyeweddingdress #surreydressmaker #londondressmaker #vintagebride #romanticbride #weddingveil #purpleweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #fantasyballgown
Now and again I'll take one of the wedding dresses I've made, and break down some of the elements. So, if there's something you love about a dress, but you don't know the 'proper words' to reference them, hopefully this will help you out.⁠
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This beautiful 1950’s style wedding dress with delicate cream lace over golden-orange silk has lots of really scrummy details:⁠
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🧡 the opening at the back of the dress is called a keyhole (or you could call this a slit opening). This one is closed at the top with three covered buttons.⁠
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🧡 the base dress is made of a beautiful russet orange silk dupion, with dark ivory lace layered on top.⁠
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🧡 the base dress is essentially a halter neck, with a turn over collar at the front, with the ivory layer providing semi-sheer, full length sleeves.⁠
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🧡 the edges of the ivory layer are cut along the floral pattern of the lace, making a pretty scalloped edge.⁠
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🧡 this length of skirt is called 'ballet' or 'ballerina'.⁠
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🧡 the front of the dress has a line of false buttons (buttons that are just there for decoration), that match the buttons at the back.⁠
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Those are just some of the details of this dress. If you have any questions about anything else, just leave a comment. I could talk dress making all day!⁠
On my birthday, 43 years ago, I was gifted a beautiful name...does it suit me?

Felicity means "happiness", from the Latin word meaning "good luck" or "fortune". Shortening to Fliss is good, but never Flick!

What about your name? Does it have a meaning?
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in
from design to completionbespoke wedding dressesFelicity Westmacott
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
Dorking, RH4 1RT241 High Street• Visit the Studio •
emailme@felicitywestmacott.co.ukTEL 07762 543230TOUCHGet in