Just before lockdowns began in 2020 I created an Indian Fusion wedding dress for a photoshoot with a London team of suppliers. We wanted to create inspiration for the many mixed culture weddings being planned in the UK. I showcased my fusion wedding dress design skills with an ensemble of ivory silk top, skirt and...
Neli and Neiko asked me for a dress for their rustic, Italian styled photoshoot. This silver wedding dress was designed with country weddings in mind. I used boho, elegant styling with a modern vintage vibe in mind when I designed in the dress. Silver Wedding Dress Design I made the dress from delicate antique silver,...
Butterfly wing dress with pale blue green edging and hand beading. Official Wedding pictures by Kate Bellinger Photography I made Katie a simple ivory satin dress with sweetheart neckline and halter strap. The bias-cut skirt flows from the underbust line with silk georgette ‘wing’ panels laid over the top. I created the wings to extend...
Vicki commissioned a chiffon cowl back wedding dress in ivory soft satin and Georgette with hand appliquéd lace. Official photographs by Vivien Woods A short video of Vikki’s dress being worn here: Vicki’s Dress The dress has and empire line bodice, lightly boned with a sweetheart neckline and shaped straps. The skirt was made of...
This off the shoulder long sleeve wedding dress was a delight to make. Alison commissioned a soft floaty gown in silk satin and tulle for her wedding in 2008. The dress was cut with simple princess seams and a fitted, lightly boned bodice with invisible zip back closure. I created the soft look through the...
Clare wanted something pretty but informal and not too ‘wedding’ for her special day. She knew from the start that a rose pink informal wedding dress was the way forward. She brought a skirt she loved to her design consultation with gorgeous little godet flare inserts at the back which we used as a basis...
I made this bespoke wedding dress Guildford for beautiful Nicola. I made a simple and elegant dress in pale gold and buttermilk coloured soft silk satin and ivory beaded lace. The dress has a fitted and softly boned bodice in layered silk and lace with the pretty scalloped edging used to soften the line of...
Being an older bride does not mean you have to conform to anyone’s idea of how a ‘mature lady’ should dress and I love that Barbara lived her dream! I made an Edwardian lace wedding dress made from duchess satin and beaded Guipure lace. The dress is trimmed with gathered lace flounces and groups of...
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...
I created a blush illusion back wedding dress in palest blush satin with ivory organza and tulle layered on top. This commission was lots of fun as the bride is a designer herself and really only wanted me for the labour, all the design was her own! Alexandra also did all the lace and beading...
Posts from Felicity Westmacott
When you have two bespoke wedding dresses on your sample rail that are perfect for both Elphaba and Glinda, and with Wicked For Good having come out, it felt rude not to!
Wicked has done an amazing job of bringing bright, bold fashion back to our attention, which is so exciting. But I`ve had many Elphaba and Glinda brides way before they came to the big screen. Brides who are up for going on an adventure with me to conjure up their perfect wedding look.
I might not be the Wizard of Oz, but I am the Dress Alchemist after all 😉
(shout out to my social media manager, Elodie, for stepping in and being the Elphaba to my Glinda. If you`re looking for your own magical media witch, you can find them at www.brightbeemedia.co.uk)
The dress on the stand vs. the dress in action✨
I made the Poinsettia dress last Christmas for my window display. I never would have predicted that it would be spotted by Rosie, who then bought it and wore it for the 2025 Miss Great Britain pageant!
My bespoke designs have been used for all sorts of events. Weddings mainly (obviously), but parties, anniversaries and proms too. But this might be the first time one of my gowns has been seen on the stage of a pageant. And doesn`t Rosie look so serenely glamorous? The perfect model for this sparkly, elegant dress. And she placed in the top 10. Well done Rosie!
From Design to Destination...
Isn`t it funny how art has to go through so many strange, messy stages before it emerges as something complete?
The Poinsettia wedding dress was the first bespoke dress I ever made with the sole intention of using it in my window display. I wanted something sparkly and subtly festive to brighten Dorking High Street, where my shop is.
But before that I had to do what I always do - begin the strange dance with fabric, needle and thread. Starting with the very simple base, and slowly but surely building something beautiful. Poinsettia is a flower associated with the Christmas season, so it felt right to draw inspiration from its shape (as opposed to its vibrant red colour) and feature these stunning sequin statement flowers on the bust and hip.
My dresses often have second and third lives after I`ve made them, whether I plan for it or not. And this one is no exception. After it glistened in my shop window for the winter, it was used, funnily enough, for a summer wedding shoot. And after that for something even more unusual. But more about that in the next post...
Summer Shoot Photography - @KalaWeddings.UK
You might’ve noticed that I can get quite particular about language. I think it’s important, especially when that word can carry a lot of meaning. When words get misused, you as a consumer might get mis-sold something.
An example of this is the word ‘vintage’, which now gets tacked onto the description of any garment, whether or not it actually is vintage. Often the item just looks like it’s from an older period of fashion, and for many sellers now, that’s good enough to warrant the label ‘vintage’ (which it’s not).
‘Bespoke’ is another of those words. The word comes from ‘to bespeak’, which means, to ask for. Like someone walking into carpentry workshop and asking for something completely new to be made to their exact specifications.
Anything can be bespoke, if it has been asked for, to be made especially to your requirements and preferences. You often hear it in the context of bespoke suits, but the term doesn’t belong to any one industry.
When it comes to wedding dresses, you have a few options. Off-the-peg, which is what it sounds like. Then there’s custom or made-to-measure, which both describe when something is adjusted or changed. You might order a dress where there are options to customise the length, the sleeves, the neckline etc.
But true bespoke is something different. It’s a dress that’s been designed and made completely from scratch. Completely to your measurements and your ideas. With several stages of fittings and adjustments, to ensure it’s exactly how you want it. It’s an entirely unique garment, and this is why the price of a bespoke dress can be so much more than something off-the-peg or made-to-measure.
So, next time something online claims to be ‘bespoke’, now you know what to look for to make sure you’re not being tricked into pay more for less.
I won! 🥳🎉🥂
Last night was the Wedding Industry Awards (as if you didn`t already know) and I was up for two categories: Bespoke Bridal and Bridal Alterations. And I am now the regional winner for the Independent Dressmaker/Designer category!
I am so so pleased to have gotten this far, and I couldn`t have managed it without the amazing support of all you lovely lot. So thank you thank you thank you! 💜 to those who took the time to vote, to those who sent me beautiful messages, to those who got excited for me. Thank you!
And thank you to the @twia_official team as well! What a gorgeous night.
Next step: the National awards. Let`s see what happens...
Tonight is the Wedding Industry Awards! I`m in the running for two awards, which is all very exciting! 🏆
Since it`s such a special occasion, I decided to design and make myself a dress. That way, regardless of the outcome, I`ll feel like a winner. I rarely have time to make myself anything, so this felt rather lovely.
I used some gorgeous pink coloured silk chiffon, lined with pale gold silk satin, finished off with velvet ribbon. I started making the dress at 11am yesterday, and I finished it at 3pm today. Now I just have to finish making the bolero to go with it as well. I think we`re gonna make it! 🏃🏻♀️
