Illusion back wedding dress for dark skin

destination wedding confetti shot

Stunning illusion back wedding dress for dark skin in winter white duchess satin and bold guipure lace. The bodice was built on skin coloured illusion tulle netting with an open back and plunging front neckline. A simple fitted fishtail skirt with dramatic round train balanced the detail above.

Official photography by DSVisuals

Ayesha’s bodice had beaded guipure-lace hand appliquéd onto a skin colour base. A plunging front neckline is echoed at the back with a dipped skirt line to reveal as much back as possible. The lace comes round her shoulder line and arms to frame her neck and head. A stunning pearl button and loop fastening appears to float on her skin. The skirt is cut straight and slim at the front and flares into a dramatic circular train behind. The lace applique continues from the bodice onto the skirt and down Ayesha’s hips.

just married bride and groom guipure lace bodice
church door mermaid fishtail silhouette

The fishtail or mermaid silhouette of Ayesha’s figure with the dress to compliment makes for a dramatic look.

red carpet wedding dress vneck and train bespoke
low back illusion tulle wedding dress buttons and loops

Ayesha Wrote

I just wanted to thank you again for the dress. The wedding was yesterday and it was amazing. Soooooooo many compliments about my dress. So thank you for making such an incredible dress that was a huge part of my special day.

Every single person comments on how fabulous my dress is. 🙂 I love it!!

Thank you soooooo much for everything. I really love my dress. You were very patient with me and I appreciate that.

original design sketch by Felicity Westmacott wedding dress illusion back

Original design sketch – In the end Ayesha asked me to move the lace edge to the veil I made for her.

two tier winter white tulle veil custom
church wedding slim fit bridal gown and veil made to measure

I also made Ayesha’s veil. Two tiers, full length with beautiful guipure lace edging sewn to the bottom, to compliment the dress and add weight to the floaty tulle.

bride and groom tour the tables made to measure wedding dress
bride carrying her train and veil

The train came with a hook up for the evening and a wrist loop for ease of movement in the daytime. A tiny ‘something blue’ sewn next to the wrist loop is a finishing touch I add to all my dresses!

black bride with train wrist loop something blue
button back illusion net dark skin
plunge neckline with illusion tulle

A fitting picture detail of the bodice lace on the illusion back wedding dress for dark skin.

dressing the bride beaded lace wedding dress plunge neckline
bride lifting her train fishtail white satin wedding dress

Making Ayesha’s illusion back wedding dress for dark skin

guipure lace large flowers and leaves

The lace chosen for Ayesha’s dress was a large scale floral and scrolling leaf guipure lace with diamante and pearl detail. It had to be hand cut and sewn to the tulle bodice piece by piece to create the symmetrical neckline.

toile fitting bespoke wedding dress fit and flare

Pictures from the toile fitting (practice run) in cheap fabrics where we check style and fit before cutting the more costly materials.

ayesha6 making the dress fitting picture bust cups and tulle

Above: first fitting in the real fabrics while the illusion tulle bodice and skirt were still separate, so you can see below showing the difference the lace work makes to the final look.

fitting picture couture dressmaker wedding dress
fitting picture fishtail and lace wedding dress

To see more another design for a bride with a dark skin tone see Hannah’s waterfall skirt dress or Angela’s shell pink wedding suit.

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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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Curious about the steps to take towards getting your wedding dress altered? Here are my tips for making your alteration journey a smooth and pleasant one.

1. Finding options
The shop where you find your dress might have a list of recommendations, or have their own in-house seamstress. You can also ask friends who they have used (and more importantly, liked).

2. Choosing a seamstress you can trust
Check online reviews. You can get a good sense of their professionalism from the look of their website or when you visit their work space. Getting undressed and trusting someone with your wedding dress is an intimate process so it’s important to pick someone you feel comfortable with.

3. Book early
Ideally, as soon as you have bought you dress. Seamstresses usually get booked up months ahead, especially in the busy spring and summer months. I normally recommend alterations are started 6-8 weeks before your wedding day.

4. Have realistic budgets expectations
Most wedding dress alterations with me cost between £300-£500 total, though this depends on the work that needs doing. Don't assume that alteration costs will be proportional to the cost of your dress. Buying a cheap dress that needs a lot of work can end up costing as much or more than a more expensive dress that needs very little changing.

6. Buy a dress that is close to your size
Choosing a dress as close as possible to your actual size will give the best result. Making a dress smaller is much easier than expanding one.

If you have any more questions about the altering process, pop them in the comments!
Step 1: meet the bride-to-be, and discuss her vision. Shapes, fabrics, themes, colours, all of it!

Step 2: making! With regular fittings to make sure everything is perfect.

Step 3: the big day 💜

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Photographer - Corina Oghina

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#weddingdress #realbride #bespokeweddingdress #surreyseamstress #sussexbridal
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