When everyone else in the wedding party has custom made clothes it would be shame to not also make a bespoke page boy waistcoat. I was asked to design and make this little set for the four year old Barnaby. Official wedding photos by Sebastian Lomas Barnaby’s waistcoat matched the grown-up groomsmen. His bow-tie was...
I think every little girl’s dream is being a flower girl and wearing the dress of her dreams, perhaps a custom flower girl dress Surrey. I made this dress for Eleanor’s wedding, along with four bespoke dresses for the adult bridesmaids as well. The wedding colour theme was a spring palette or pinks, ivory and...
I made these each of these custom bridesmaid dress in Surrey. Eleanor’s five bridesmaids all wore the same style in a mix and matched range of four colours. I used rose pink, pale pink, ivory and gold to create a pretty and spring like colour scheme. Official Wedding pictures by Sebastian Lomas The style was...
What is more lovely than a winter blue bridesmaids dress? I made three bespoke dresses for Vicky’s wedding day. Each one is made in ice blue silk dupion with ivory sashes. I sewed them with boned bodices and a sweetheart necklines with a ‘ballet pinch’. I cut the knee length skirts full and supported them...
I feel as though bride Alex and I are birds of a feather. I also had a period-inspired, unusually coloured wedding dress for my wedding. Alex wanted to meld 1950’s and Tudor influences to create something unique. Taking inspiration from history, but not being limited by having to be completely accurate, is my ideal design...
Alice commissioned bespoke bridesmaids dresses surrey for her grown up bridesmaids, in gorgeous purple silk dupion. The simple strapless dresses have fitted and boned bodices, cut princess line with floor length a-line skirts. I gave them have silver silk-satin sashes that loop rather than tie at the back, finished with with diamante detailing. I was...
For real bride, Rae, I created this gorgeous green wedding dress coat to fit over her other wedding dress. That way she had a more dramatic look for her ceremony, and then a lighter option during the reception. I made the dress coat in a stunning shot silk dupion that colour shifted from green to...
This was the first styled shoot I ever organised – but certainly not the last. I live on the border between Sussex and Surrey and as a wedding dress designer, it only made sense that I gathered together some local wedding suppliers, chose a stunning location, made some dresses and had some fun! Hence this...
For her wedding day, Katie wanted a feminine and floaty dress in layers of tulle and floral lace. And what a dress it turned out to be! It’s such a romantic wedding look, fit for a fantasy princess.The dress was made from layered silk dupion (one of my favourite fabrics to work with), rose pink...
Rebecca wanted a Victorian-inspired wedding dress made in deep forest green and ivory silk dupion. We prioritised historical accuracy with this gown, from the custom-made corset underneath, to the embroidered bustle, all the way down to the layers of knife pleats around the skirt. Photography – Yuriy Nutsa Photograhy and Babb Photo Rebecca’s wedding was...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
If you`re living in the UK, even a lower income means you`re one of the wealthiest people on the planet. Even if you work full time on (the UK) minimum wage, you`re in roughly the top 4% of global earners. I know, it definitely doesn`t feel like it.
When we spend money on sites like Temu or Shein, that money doesn`t go to the workers making the clothes. It goes to a handful of billionaire owners and they don`t need more unearned money.
But there are simple things you can do, if that feels like something that doesn`t sit right with you.
Choosing a local maker, a small business, or even a second-hand piece keeps money circulating in real communities, going directly to the person who made it. It means sometimes being more selective about what you buy. Like buy fewer clothes, for example, but choosing things that are better quality and more likely to last anyway.
When life feels so hectic and stressful, it`s hard to give any thought to things like this, but every little thought that leads to action is a change that makes a difference.
What are some changes you`ve been making to try and combat this capitalist hellscape?
#rickandmorty #everythingsfine
It`s definitely the year of the dress coats!
Lizzie wanted the perfect outfit for her daughter`s wedding. Something that felt special but quiet in its elegance. So we went for a simple dress in a floral silk crepe paired with a coat made from silver-green silk mikado.
I`m in love with this shimmering sage colour, and the matching cord I used to trim everything with. Not to mention those beautiful frog fastenings (I love making a frog fastening 🐸).
It`s kind of niche, but I want to know if you`re a fan of the frog fastenings too? Drop a 🐸 in the comments, let`s find out how many of us there are!
The heat from this season of Bridgerton is really bringing to the forefront the beauty and chemistry of an older romance.
There`s something extra special about finding someone later on in life, as Lady Violet is showing us all. Someone who has lived a whole life before meeting you, who has their own baggage and their own wisdom. Combining all that with all your own experiences to make something truly profound.
It`s always a joy to hear from older brides who have found their own Lord (or Lady) Marcus. So of course I had to celebrate all the gorgeous mature brides who have chosen me to help them look exactly the way they want to when their love stories took centre stage.
Are you watching Lady Violet`s storyline? 💜
Photography:
Adventurous - @t.frost.photography
Vibrant - @lucysugdensmith
Dramatic - @georginapiperphoto_
Unique - @smilingtigerstudiosuk
Stylish - @greggbrownphotography
Elegant - @christellephoto
Colourful - n/a
Romantic - @duncanireland
Beautiful - @duck_photo
Orange, teal and forest green. Bold? Absolutely. Perfect? Without a doubt.
Jane knew exactly what she wanted. She was very sure about her colour palette; orange, copper, teal and green. Such a bold combination, but they work brilliantly together.
Jane had a strong vision for what she wanted, but still changed her mind as we went along, as she refined how she wanted to achieve that vision.
In the end I made an elegant four-piece ensemble in jewel tones, including a wedding coat, two pairs of trousers, and a corset top. Jane originally considered a skirt, but eventually listened to her gut and went for trousers, since she said, she never wears skirts in her usual life anyway. That`s the kind of authenticity to self that I love to see - making the design choices that make sense for you.
If you`ve got big ideas for your big day, drop me a message and let`s make something marvellous!
Photography - @lucysugdensmith
#bespokeweddingdress #maturebride #bridalboutique #bridalseparates #alternativebride
"Your talent, creativity and attention to detail made this piece so much more than just part of a dress – it became a beautiful expression of who I am. We were completely overwhelmed and deeply impressed."
For this dip dye overskirt, Marina and I went through a few different colour combinations before we landed on something she felt was perfect. I`m always happy to create as many samples as a bride needs to feel really sure about her choice. Originally Marina wanted the gradient to start at yellow, but after I sent her the first sample, and seeing it in real life, she decided the yellow was a little too yellow, and we went for a lime green instead. That way, she still got the brightness she wanted, but staying within a more restricted colour palette.
Then I get to begin layering all the colours. From that chartreuse, finishing on a deep, forest green, and then adding a layer of fine silver glitter on top. I think the sparkle is a beautiful touch. After that, I packaged it up carefully and sent to Switzerland, where Marina lives. And finally, her dip dye overskirt got to do its job - adding colour, style and personality to her wedding dress.
If you`re a bride who wants to bring dopamine dressing to your wedding day, drop me a DM! There are so many fabulous ways of adding colour to your day, and I would love to help.
When I made this wedding dress in 2017, I wasn`t expecting it to be such a success. It`s been featured in so many bridal photoshoots (I think four or five so far), and every time the styling has been completely different.
It`s so interesting to me how versatile a dress like this can be. All you need is a little imagination. Even though the dress itself was originally designed as a period-inspired piece, it`s been used for an Edwardian Downton Abbey inspired photoshoot, a Victorian gypsy photoshoot and a modern outdoor shoot.
Which version do you prefer?
I`m currently have a sample sale on my Etsy, where this beauty is less than £700. So if you love this dress, grab her whilst you can!
Photography:
1: @bristy_fairytales
2: @neliprahova
3: @charlymaephotography & @dam.ute
