With the abysmal slush that’s falling ’round here, I am doing all I can to think warm thoughts. Add to that the fact that our only car just died quite completely, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for an absolutely terrible day. The good news is that I don’t have anywhere I need to go this very moment, meaning I have the luxury of sitting here, drinking coffee, and losing myself in pretty gowns. Nothing brightens up a blah day quite like a really colorful, beautiful gown, am I right?
So let’s give Twistie’s color wheel find a spin and see what we come up with.
A gown named Bird of Paradise is EXACTLY what I need right now. I think I’d have a seamstress pull off the filmy overlay on the skirt, if at all possible, because it seems almost tacked on as an afterthought and takes away from the loveliness of the bodice’s top. Anyhoo, you can thank British designer Catherine Davighi for this stunning piece of sultry bridocity.
Rossetti gowns are always a treat to look at because they are beauty distilled. It’s fun to think about what sort of custom corseted gown I’d put together…if, that is, I had all sorts of money to go buying gowns. I’m waiting for the day someone invents a custom corset machine–step in and it will whip you up whatever corset you like.
The very easiest way, IMO, to find gorgeous and colorful wedding gowns is to take a trip in the way back machine. This particularl gown was crafted in 1759 for some very lucky Dutch bride and now resides in the Rijksmuseum. I can almost just imagine having to turn myself sideways to shimmy through narrow doorways in this wonderful monstrosity. Naturally I’d have to ask everyone I met, “Does this dress make me look a little hippy?”
There now, browsing through all of the lovely gowns I came across before choosing to highlight these three has made me feel just the teensiest bit better about the slush and my stupid automobile. I think I may actually be able to stomach shoveling the walk…as long as I give myself permission to sit down with Wedding Dress across Cultures and a hot cup of something or other afterward. It’s a really cool book that will certainly appeal to all of the dress aficionados on your holiday gift list *hint hint*
Now it’s your turn…give me a link to your favorite colored gowns!
Tags: and seriously vintage wedding wear, Catherine Davighi, Rossetti gowns
Help! I am in LOVE with the Rosetti gowns! In LOVE. I have been searching like mad to find someone on the west coast of North America (I live in Vancouver, BC) who does this sort of quality couture, historical inspired work. I am having a Moulin Rouge themed wedding next fall, complete with acrobats, CanCan dancers, contortionists, burlesque dancers and fan-tabulous Drag Queen as our MC. I’m looking for somebody to make me a late 19th century inspired gown in the deepest of blood red matte satins. Every source I’ve found to date is in the U.K. and is simply too far away to realistially coordinate fittings and the like. Any suggestions????
HELP!
Wow, Manuela, your wedding sounds like it’s going to be absolutely gorgeous…provided you find someone to create the perfect gown! I’ve actually encountered the very same problem. There are all these fantastic people in the UK making these gorgeous gowns, but very few doing the same thing on this side of the pond.
Your best bet may be to find a talented dressmaker to craft you something based on your own designs. You might start by calling independent seamstresses in your area or (as silly as this sounds) calling any nearby historical re-enactment societies because they may be able to give you some leads.
Meanwhile, I’ll look into this and see if I can unearth anyone up around you.
Manuela, Lace Embrace Altier is based in Vancouver, and I remember them having some awesome stuff last time I checked . . . http://www.laceembrace.com/
http://www.periodcorsets.com/ does a nice job, too, as does http://members.aol.com/fittingrm/ – Both in Seattle. I’ve had friends vouch for the last one, and the first makes awesome stuff, but not custom.