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 Allesandro Della Savia

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 wearing a hat

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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One of the pleasures of having my own shop, is I also get some alone time.
If you have a busy life you know the rare joy of getting to hang out with just yourself sometimes.

Which isn't to say I don't love welcoming brides into my shop - I absolutely do.
But I don't think I could ever have a colleague in the shop with me (not full time, anyway). 
Not after working for myself for 25 years, and being used to how I like to to do things. 

Isn't that the difference between being alone and lonely. I am alone, but very much not lonely.

Hands up all my introverts! 🙌🏻
"I am so grateful for your contribution to my dress. Everybody loved it."⁠
⁠
This custom dip dye overskirt was the perfect pop of colour for Tanja's wedding dress. ⁠And with autumn well and truly here, I wanted to celebrate those beautiful colours.⁠
⁠
Her floor length skirt included:⁠
💛a graduated hi-low hem to match the dress underneath⁠
🧡two layers of soft tulle⁠
🩷hand dyed with four vibrant colours; yellow, orange, red and burgundy⁠
❤️snaps along the waist for easy attachment and removal to the wedding dress⁠
⁠
My bespoke ombre overskirts have so many other customisation options as well. From extra layers of tulle or lining fabric, to finishing off the waistband with ribbon or a pretty beaded belt. And I have over 30 colours to choose from, so there are almost limitless options.⁠
⁠
There are so many other customisation options as well. From extra layers of tulle or lining fabric, to finishing off the waistband with ribbon or a pretty beaded belt. And I have over 30 colours to choose from, so there are almost limitless options!⁠
⁠
You can find more examples of my dip dye work on my website.⁠
Or drop me a DM, and let's talk colour!
l've always wanted to see inside this chapel, ever since I was a child. So getting to be on set for this gothic romance wedding shoot and seeing my dress amongst the old stonework was a dream come true 🖤 

Planner/stylist @the_luxury_wedding_co⁠
Photographer ⁠
@sarah.lauren.photography⁠
Photographer @forrestwildejpg 
Content Creators @thesocialsocketweddings⁠
Table draping @foldandflowstudio⁠
Table decor @sparkleeventstyling⁠
Glassware @milliemileseventhire⁠
Ribbon @norfolksilk⁠
Stationary @two.hearts.club⁠
Florists @baileyandblossom ⁠
MUA and Hair stylist @abbigailrichardsstudio⁠
Wedding dress designer @felicitywestmacott⁠
Celebrant @pitchperfectceremonies⁠
Wedding cake designer @gwynethjohnsoncakedesign⁠
Models @allie.and.max⁠
Jewellery @coralie.jewellery⁠
Venue @maverickprojects⁠

#alternativebride #weddingdress
#bespokeweddingdress #wutheringheights
#gothicwedding
I love autumn 🍂🍁

And this custom dip dye wedding skirt feels perfect for the changing of the seasons. All those beautiful colours of falling leaves, from bright yellow, through to deep burgundy.

As always, nature provides such a perfect source of inspiration 🍁

If you're looking to capture the colours you love on your wedding day, my custom dip dye skirts are such a lovely touch. You can choose up to five shades, and there are a whole bunch of customisation options. Just check out my shop (link in bio).
For this elegant, forest green wedding dress, I spent a lot of hours working on the main focus of the dress; the beaded collar. 

Sometimes doing things over and over again can be strangely peaceful, and sometimes it can be utterly mind-numbing. And sometimes it's a bit of column A and a bit of column B! 😂

The rest of the dress was kept classic and simple, so this design element would really shine (literally)! I used a whole range of beads in peacock colours - blood red, deep garnet, teal, vibrant purple and sparkling gold. I played with design ideas, taking inspiration from the art deco era, using a lot of symmetry and geometry. 

It's always a relief when I'm finally finished with a project like this, to be able to step back and see the result and think "ah, that was completely worth it." 😌

If you want to see what this dress looked like on the day of the wedding, have a look at my previous post 🌿

#weddingdress #greenweddingdress #bespokeweddingdress #weddinginspiration #2027bride 2026bride
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