Red Feather Masquerade Wedding Dress

Red Feather Masquerade Wedding Dress gothic vampy bridesmaids cloaks masks black bouquet

Catherine wanted a flamboyant and theatrical two-piece bridal ensemble in red and white, with feathers, sparkle and a lot of tulle. This red feather masquerade wedding dress is the result.

The drama of this dress is so exciting to me, and as someone who’s educational background is in theatre design, this one couldn’t have been more up my street.⁠

Photography: Georgina Piper Photography

The day after her wedding, Catherine sent me this gorgeous message:

“I wanted you to know today, straight after the wedding yesterday, that the dress was unanimously described as the most awesome, original, magical, dreamlike wedding dress anyone had ever seen.
Thank you. It was just perfection.”

The Wedding Dress Design

I love making dresses that tell a story, and this one tells everyone that Catherine is imaginative, confident and not afraid to stand out in a crowd (whilst looking utterly captivating).

Let’s get into some technical details. The outfit is actually two pieces, starting with a fully boned bodice covered in red feathers. I design a wide, square, neckline that curved upward in the centre to cover any cleavage.

The shoulders featured longer feathers reaching out in wings, and the waistline of the dress was highlighted with rich hand beading in mixed red beads and crystals. More beads were added to a few select feathers in other areas, and I also made a matching necklace and bracelet with the same beads.

The second part of the outfit was the skirt. It was made of two pieces, each many layers of tulle. I used 16m of tulle in total! The structure was supported over a mini crinoline frame to hold the skirt out in a dramatic ‘tutu’ shape. The bottom layers were a removable underskirt to allow a shorter look for the evening.

As always, a wrist loop and bustle buttons for the train were also added.

The Making of The Red Feather Masquerade Wedding Dress

The first fitting, where we tried on the toile. It’s always important to use low-cost materials to make sure that everything fits correctly before cutting into the more expensive stuff.

The second fitting, where I’m beginning to work on that huge train, and the many many layers of tulle.

Before the final two fittings, I had a lot of work to do. I hand-sewed around 600 goose feathers onto the bodice and around the shoulders, and about 1kg glass beads and crystals. It took a while, to say the least, but it was absolutely worth it.⁠

And then it was time for the final fitting. You can see what the dress looks like with the long underskirt removed, leaving just the shorter top layers, ready for the evening ball.

When I talk about a bride knowing herself and her style, Catherine is exactly what I’m talking about. This dress is just so her. And because of that, there was no way she was going to be able to find something even close ‘off the rack’. ⁠I’m so happy Catherine trusted me to create this red feather masquerade wedding dress for her.

Catherine was also featured on Rock n Roll Bride, if you want to find out more about the inspiration for this amazing wedding. And if you’re looking for more red and black wedding inspiration, have a look at this classic goth wedding and the gown I made for it.

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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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It’s the night before you’re wedding day. You have your dream bridal outfit ready to go for the morning. But there are a few things you should do before you go to sleep, to make sure your wedding dress is looking its best for the big day.

First up, make sure to hang your dress up high. A curtain rail or a wardrobe door are good choices. And make sure to hang it in a pet and fiancé secure room.

When unzipping the bag, put your finger behind the zip to stop it catching on any delicate fabric.

Your main priority is to get the train out, so it has time to flatten out overnight. Hang the dress in the bag so it’s facing inwards. Leave the shoulders of the bag on the dress to keep protecting the dress from dust.

You’ll want to lay a clean towel or sheet on the floor to protect the train when you pull it out.

Check to make sure the dress is hanging from its dress loops, not straps or sleeves. This prevents any delicate fabrics being stretched out by the weight of the dress. As you can see from the one I’ve chosen, that’s a lot of (heavy) dress!

On the wedding day, your dress can be taken completely out of the bag. To prep it for the photographer, turn it round so it’s facing the front, and pop any straps or sleeves, back onto the hanger so it looks its best..

And that’s about it. It isn’t very much, but it can make all the difference, and avoids any unwanted wrinkles, especially on your dress’ train.

Let me know if you have any other tips and tricks!

(Shout out to @engaged_bridal_studio for inspiring this post 🙌🏻)

#wedding dress #customwedding dress #weddingdressinspiration #bespokeweddingdress #bridalboutique #surreywedding #sussexwedding #londonwedding #weddingdaytips #weddingdresstips #bridaltips
This wedding dress is inspired by the same era that Titanic and Downton Abbey (well, some of it) are based on; the Edwardian Period.

The corseted bodice fits close to the body, and is made of panels of silk chiffon over luxurious duchess satin. Trimmed with satin ribbon and embellished with hand sewn lace appliqué and tiny glass beads. 

I love the tiered skirt so much. With three layers of gathered chiffon and trimmed with more intricate lace, giving it a perfect vintage feel.

There is something so timeless and elegant about this wedding dress, don’t you think? If you love this design, you can either head to my Etsy shop, or drop me a message if you'd like it made entirely to your measurements and preferences.

#weddingdress #edwardianfashion #edwardianbride #edwardianweddingdress #periodweddingdress #vintageweddingdress #seamstress #bespokeweddingdress #customweddingdress
If you're curious about what I get up to in my breaks at the shop...now you know!

Inspired by @theadhdpersonaltrainer 🥰

#handstand #handstandpractice #upsidedown #handstandprogress #handstandshapes #feetuptrainer
With spring finally appearing, it was time to update my bridal shop display window.
(If you're curious what it was last month, you can look at my previous post...if you're a fan of dip dye, I think you'll really like it)

I wanted to create something that was full of verdant texture. I feel really strongly about single use plastics, so I always try to either re-use elements from previous window displays, or gather things from nature. This time I used a floral garland by @muscariwhites and added dried flowers from the hydrangea bush in my garden, as well as ivy, and anything else I found that I thought would look pretty.

For this display, I featured two dresses. Usually it's three, but when one of them takes up so much space, I had to make sacrifices! I chose the sumptuous pink Evil Queen dress, as well as the lilac dip dye Bridgeton dress. Both of them are historically inspired (the former by Elizabethan fashion and the latter by Regency), but also have fantasy elements to them. Completely my style as a wedding dress designer.

Which dress in this display is your favourite?
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