Wedding Dresses Cornwall

CHRISTINE TREWINNARD COUTURE
Inspired by the sea and rolling Cornish countryside, Christine Trewinnard crafts breathtaking gowns from her studio in the heart of Cornwall.

Tell us about your background and your inspiration to design and make bridal gowns.
I was incredibly fortunate to be taught by some very experienced ladies who had worked for 'the greats' in fashion, especially French couture. I spent many years working at London couture houses, creating ready-to-wear collections and individual bespoke gowns including wedding dresses. I discovered I had a love for working with brides. I know how much thought and time goes into organising a wedding and, for many brides, the dress is the most important part. To be able to fulfil their dream and create a beautiful, perfectly fitted gown, specifically made for them, is amazing. I hear so many brides say they wish they could find the right dress so to have one made is a fantastic opportunity. I love being in the position to grant that wish.

How would you describe your style?
I would say my style is a mix of glamorous and timeless elegance with something a little extra added. I wouldn't say I had a particular style as I make dresses for individual brides and their personality is very much taken into consideration.

What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from many places. I love receiving the latest fabric collections from my suppliers and a design will often form from seeing gorgeous material samples. Keeping track of what Paris, London and New York are doing is great for ideas as is keeping in touch with friends still working in couture houses. Spending time with a bride and listening to her thoughts gives me tremendous inspiration. Often they tell me they have no idea what they want to wear on the big day but, by the time our meeting is over, a style has formed and a new creation begins. My surroundings, of course, inspire me: Cornwall is beautiful and the light is amazing. It's very relaxing and a great place to be creative.

What fabrics do you love to work with?
I adore fabrics. When choosing a dress, my advice would be to use silk or something that has a 'quality' look about it. It's so sad to see a great design let down by poor fabric. Floaty sheer chiffons and georgettes give a light delicate touch. Lace always has a romantic, nostalgic feel and a lovely gazar or faille gives you structure for something dramatic.

What would be your dream brief for a bride?
Desire and enthusiasm are great starting points! I love developing ideas and creating or adapting designs. I really don't have a dream brief - it's part of my job to help the bride realise her dream and it's a fantastic experience when we work together to make that a reality.

How does the design process work?
I usually meet my brides for a coffee and we begin the design process together. Some brides come armed with magazine pictures and Pinterest boards, which is great. Most have a vague idea of what they would like, while others think they have no idea at all. I like to find out a little about my bride, about her lifestyle and wardrobe personality. Skin tone and hair colour has a part to play - the dress must help the bride look radiant and fabulous.

Body proportion is also important: enhance what you love and flatter your curves. Once we have a design, naturally we go on to fabrics, details and any embellishments. The whole process should be fun and exciting, whilst giving brides the chance to voice concerns. The beauty of having a dress made is that small changes can be made along the way; it is very much a progressive creation.

Do you have a favourite dress from fashion, film or worn by an iconic bride?
Many, not just one! I love the classics like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn; they had such dignity and elegance, and everything they wore looked amazing. Some of the dresses I have made for celebrities and royalty were very memorable and are definite favourites: I once had to make a dress for Madonna in two days and a bride who got married in Westminster Abbey needed the longest train I have ever created. More recently, Kate Middleton's second wedding dress was lovely: a circular floor-length satin dress with an angora ivory bolero and diamante belt designed by Sarah Burton. You could see it was designed with thought because she looked so confident, relaxed and elegant - it was just perfect for her.

christinetrewinnard.co.uk




Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


Enchanted Brides


CLAIRE L. HEADDON
Claire L. Headdon's gorgeous gowns marry organic silks with a delicate, romantic aesthetic.

Tell us about your background and your inspiration to design and make bridal gowns.
I've been sewing since the age of seven. I developed a love of different fabrics and would always be found with a needle and thread in hand. I fell madly in love with bridal when I saw Kate Moss's incredible wedding gown at an exhibition in London; the delicacy of the fabric and the beautiful embroidery over the train was just stunning. There's nothing more rewarding than creating a wedding dress - it's not just any garment, it's about that incredible time in someone's life and what the dress represents.

How would you describe your style?
I always design my dresses with the idea of keeping them delicate, flowing and romantic, letting the silk fabrics speak for themselves. My gowns are often inspired by the elegance of the 1930s and '40s, creating a feeling of luxurious and elegant couture.

What inspires you?
I take a lot of inspiration from vintage fashion. I have a huge passion for history and fashion history in particular. I surround myself with books filled with stunning gowns from the 1930s and '40s, luxurious silks and intricate embellishments. It's also incredibly hard to not be inspired by Cornwall itself. Even on a short walk, you always find a hidden gem or something so stunning you have to take a picture of it.

What fabrics do you love to work with?
Silk fabrics are always incredible to work with, chiffon and georgette in particular; the way they flow and drape on the female form is just magical. At the moment I'm working with organic silks which has been a dream of mine for a while; not only are they lovely to work with but they're also eco-friendly and fair trade.

What would be your dream brief from a bride?
I love working with dresses which have been in the family, perhaps a great-grandmother's dress which has passed down through the generations. Using it as inspiration or even re-working the design can be so rewarding, especially so it can be passed onto generations to come.

How does the design process work?
I usually start with discussing inspiration and gathering images and drawings to create a mood board, which I'll then use to get the right feeling for the design. It can be anything from vintage photographs to fabric swatches to flowers I've picked on a walk at the weekend. I'll then spend time sketching different designs before choosing the final one. A lot of my design will actually come from working directly and draping onto a mannequin. I love to work with the actual female form and find it extremely inspiring to see how fabrics behave on a body.

Do you have a favourite dress from fashion, film or worn by an iconic bride?
There are so many stunning dresses that I could choose but one of my favourites has to be the stunning emerald green dress worn by Keira Knightley in 'Atonement'. It was designed by costume designer Jacqueline Durran and it's such an incredibly memorable dress. The beauty of it is that it seems quite simple but it's actually extremely hard to create - often simple is more difficult!

clairelheaddon.com


Enchanted Brides


Olivia Bossett


Olivia Bossett






AILSA MUNRO
Romance and nostalgia are the keynotes of Ailsa Munro's beautiful gowns.

Tell us about your background and your inspiration to design and make bridal gowns.
I decided I wanted to get into the wedding industry when my sister got married a few years ago. She had a really hard time finding anything that suited her slightly alternative fashion sense. I wanted to build a business that would allow brides to get exactly the dress they want by being as flexible and personal as possible.

How would you describe your style?
I often describe my work as 'fine art bridal'. I try to embed nostalgic, romantic vibes into all of my work, weaving historical artistic references with modern construction techniques to create a timeless atmosphere while still feeling fresh and contemporary.

What inspires you?
I'm a huge fan of Renaissance painting and ancient Greek sculpture; they always show the most beautiful draped fabric. I also collect a lot of small details from vintage or historical clothing; I love watching costume dramas and driving my partner crazy re-watching scenes while I sketch out the cuff one character is wearing.

What fabrics do you love to work with?
I use 100% silk wherever possible. There is a huge difference to the feel of a garment when you've used really amazing, high quality fabric and to me it's all about how the dress feels on your big day. At the moment I'm loving sheer fabric like silk organza or silk chiffon - they're right on trend for 2017/18 brides. I also love the weight and feel of using a thick silk crepe or a silk pile velvet.

What would be your dream brief from a bride?
I love it when brides embrace their individuality and go for something that really reflects them and their wedding day. Sometimes that means creating a dress that will go with an unusual theme, and sometimes it just means making a dress they're going to feel comfortable in.

How does the design process work?
Anywhere from six to 18 months before the wedding, a bride will see me for a design consultation. This process depends completely on the bride; I have some who know exactly what they want to wear before they walk through the door, others have a vague idea from Pinterest and some have absolutely no idea. Once we've agreed on a design, I take the measurements and make the custom pattern for the dress. To check my work, I make a 'toile', which is the dress in a cheaper fabric, and organise a fitting. Sometimes at this point we tweak the design a little. Then I start making the dress, and there are usually two more fittings to ensure it looks perfect.

Do you have a favourite dress from fashion, film or worn by an iconic bride?
I'm a huge costume drama fan so a few spring instantly to mind. I love the white dress Keira Knightly wears to the Netherfield Ball in 'Pride and Prejudice' and the dresses Queen Anne wears in the BBC's 'The Musketeers' series. My absolute favourite is from a movie I was obsessed with as a kid: the 1993 adaptation of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. The dresses in it look comfortable and light but have loads of sweet detail close up.

ailsamunrodressmaker.com












Lottie Ettling

words Rebecca Matthews


Copyright Wed magazine 2017