Love My Dress Wedding Blog

Sanyukta Shrestha ~ Vintage Inspired Ethically Produced Bridal Wear

I was chatting only the other day to an industry colleague about how many bridal wear designers there are in the UK today - how difficult it has become (as in every other aspect of the wedding industry too I should imagine) for new designers to make their mark - to stand out from the rest. But for some designers, this really is easier because they have such a beautiful and distinct style.

One of these designers new on to the scene is Sanyukta Shrestha. Born in Nepal, Sanyukta Shrestha is a London based bridal designer specialising in hand crafted bridal wear that is vintage inspired, simplistic, elegant and individual.

"My desire has been always to create beautiful designs that are luxurious, indulgent, individual and equally sustainable. Through following ecologically green guidelines for all our production process using only eco fabrics that are sourced from trusted suppliers and hand weaved through the traditional skills of Nepalese village women, we are trying to ensure that the whole creative process of our gowns is ethical and natural.

It is ultimately all about creating 'beauty with a conscience'.

Love My Dress Wedding Blog - Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Sanyukta Shrestha

In case you're wondering about that exotic name by the way, it came from the Hindu God of education and arts.  It is also known to mean ‘united’ or ‘union’ which is very fitting for a wedding dress designer, don't you think?

Of course, having just published a book on vintage wedding style, most people know I'm drawn to a certain aesthetic when it comes to bridal wear and perhaps this is why Sanyukta's beautiful creations stood out to me from the off...

'1920’s and 1930’s have always been my favourite fashion eras. There was something so effortless and elegant about the style of that time. It has always been my passion to recreate that sensuality. It was that era that really took hold and inspired this whole collection.'

'I try to capture and express a romantic love of eras gone by. I love the individuality and elegance that transcend time and age in every bride that wears our gowns.

I believe in individuality and I enjoy bringing out inner beauty, a reflection of personality of woman who wears my design. For me feeling good is equally important as looking good.'

'For my latest collection pictured here, my muse was Wallis Simpson. She had a controversial personal life but her style was iconic. She worn pieces that had a timeless cuts but made then chic by accessorising.

Wallis always looked chic and classic; she had mastered the kind of simply yet elegant fashion that every sophisticated woman strives for. From the fitted shift to the wasp-waisted gown Wallis always made a statement. It was that that we wanted to recreate, the sense of iconic style that flatters the figure but will remain stylish for years to come.'
 
Sanyukta's muse, Wallis Simpson

How long have you been designing and what led you in to bridal wear design/what is your background etc?

'My designing career began in Nepal at the age of 17 when I designed for Miss Nepal Beauty Pageant 1998 and was awarded as a Best designer for first ever design I created opened the door for me in the fashion world.  After graduating from London College of Fashion, I worked in bridal and retail industry in the UK for five years before setting up my own label in 2011.

It has been amazing journey as a bridal designer since then and I feel very honoured to be awarded several times for doing work that I truly believe in.  It inspires and encourages me to work even harder to create better work...'

'Since the beginning of my fashion journey in the UK I was very drawn to designing wedding dresses. The most intriguing part I found in whole design career is to work on to bring out personality and individuality of each person who wears my design. And to bring out the inner beauty of the bride in the most special day of her life is very fulfilling.'

What sets you apart from the rest?

'I think our ethos is what sets us apart most and makes our collection unique and different. We are always striving to create bridal looks that are stunning both visually and in terms of their quality. It is our aim to continue to create special designs that are made using natural and ethical fabrics and using the traditional skills of weavers from my home country of Nepal.

We use fabrics like milk, organic silk, organic cotton, bamboo, hemp that are most comfortable on the skin. Most of these fabrics have anti-bacteria properties, which makes it extremely suitable for healthy clothing and especially if you have sensitive skin. The health benefits that come with this also benefit the brides experience as the fabrics are hydrating and nourishing creating a much more pleasurable wearer feeling.'

How would you describe the Sanyukta Shrestha bride?

'Our brides are independent, stylish, forward thinking modern woman who possess an appreciation for style, quality and comfort. They desire a wedding gown with a difference, a gown that enables their inner beauty to shine through.'

A Blue Biba Dress For A Vintage Wedding Day Inspired By The Glamour Of The 1920's, 1930's and 1940's...

Morning beautiful.  Now, I don't know about you, but I'm noticing more and more brides opting to wear a coloured dress on their wedding day of late, and I dare say I spy a little trend in the making.  And sure as chips is chips, blue is right up there with the best of them, boasting it's popularity as one of brides favourite hues. And I love that.  For blue is a favourite of mine also...

Love My Dress Wedding Blog - Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Sam Gibson

We've already had Ruth and Al earlier this week, and right now, it's time to ring the ding dong wedding bells for Caroline and Anthony, whose wedding took place on 15th December last year at the Guildhall in Bath followed by lunch at Casanis Bistro and Restaurant, and then drinks at The Queensbury Hotel.  These wedding photographs were taken by the obviously very talented Sam Gibson.

Caroline wore a striking dark bue dress from Biba at House of Fraser on here wedding day - a thoughtful choice of colour that she pulls off with effortless style and panache (looking gooooood lady!)... 

"I’ve always loved all things glamorous from the 1920's, '30s and 40s – they were a time when women looked at their most feminine. It made sense for me to opt for this style for my wedding day!

This dress captured the style I was after, whilst offering flexibility with my post-pregnancy shape (it’s made from a stretchy fabric with gathering around the middle which hides a multitude of sins!). I also love the colour, as I have very pale skin, most white/cream colours make me look washed out. I also needed to find an off-the-peg dress that was long enough on me – I’m 5ft11!"

Loving those sparkly gold shoes too (Kurt Geiger Carvela).  Blue and gold, a winner every time I say.  And a bride with a GOLD headpiece - I'd love love to see more brides opt for this colour in their hair - so many go straight for silver without even contemplating it (like I did, I mean, didn't!).

This particuar headpiece is by he Little Things In LIfe...

"We used Anemone in Bath. To be honest, little consideration was given to the flowers due to time constraints (and lots of sleep deprivation!), so Anthony popped into Anemone on Milsom Street to organise (and choose!) my bouquet at 4pm the day before the wedding.

The first time I saw my flowers was when I arrived at the Guildhall to get married. I think he chose very well, don’t you?!"

"We met through a mutual friend, on a sunny spring bank holiday in a country pub garden. Anthony proposed to me, 3 ½ years later in that very same pub garden, on an equally sunny day. This time I was unable to drink as I was 8 months pregnant with our first child! We were married three months later."

"My beautiful fur jacket was an original 1930s, which used to belong to my late grandmother. This accounted for my ‘something old’ & ‘something borrowed’, of course!

I also wore a pearl necklace, which was a gift from my husband for my first birthday with him, from Milleperle - and a pair of pearl and diamond earrings – a wedding gift from my parents-in-law, from Nigel Milne"

"Our photographer was Sam Gibson - biHaving the right photographer to capture our day was of paramount importance to us. Candid pictures that represent all the emotion and fun of the day, act as the greatest aide-memoir in years to come. Rather than looking at a set of posed pictures and remembering how my feet were hurting after standing around for so long, and how hungry we all were whilst we were waiting for all the formal pics to be taken – we can look at Sam’s wonderful shots and think “I remember exactly what that person said in that very moment when everyone erupted in laughter!”.

ou only capture true emotions with documentary style photography, and Sam is incredibly talented at just that. He has an unbelievable ability to spot something memorable, right before it happens, so he never misses a thing! He was a true pleasure to work with."

Bridal Inspiration Board #53 ~ Gatsby Glamour

It's been a pretty cold and wintery week for most of us and we're feeling rather chilly here at Pocketful of Dreams don't despair because today we are bringing you the most glamorous set of bridal mood boards for your inspiration and delight.  Without doubt, The Great Gatsby has been one of the most hotly anticipated movies of recent years and in the build up to its release May, the world of interiors, fashion and weddings has been well and truly inspired by the Roaring Twenties... 

Love My Dress Wedding Blog - Inspiration Board production Copyright (c) 2013,Pocketful of Dreams for Love My Dress

Image credits: 1. Erica Elizabeth Designs 2. One Fine Day 3. F. Scott Fitzgerald 4. Loveology  5. Shirlie Kemp Photography 6.  Nikole Ramsey Photography

1920s America was all about decadence and materialism; the Jazz Age saw an influx of wealth and the pursuit of unrestrained pleasure, against the backdrop of Prohibition.  This extravagant era therefore provides a rich source of inspiration for a luxurious and high end wedding day look which harks back to an intriguing time.

Gatsby Glamour is all about evoking the fantasy of the era but maintaining a soft prettiness.  This look therefore is delicate and beautiful, working with a colour palette of dusky pink, creams and dove grey to create a look that is undeniably full on glamour and decadence but yet gentle, nostalgic and romantic.

Image credits: 1. Katy Lunsford Photography 2. Jigsaw 3.  Jordan Weiland Photography

  Women's fashion took a huge leap forward in the '20s with the look of the day being bold, brave and decadent with a slight androgynous twist.  Emulate this exciting time with a wedding dress reflective of the era; forget corsets and large skirts and instead opt for a dropped waist number with exquisite detailing.  We love the Jenny Packham Azalea and Claire Pettibone's breathtaking Thalia.

  The ultimate accessory for this look has to be an ultra romantic Juliet cap veil or if you're not convinced on a veil then consider a detailed headpiece for some glamorous wow factor. The new Blush collection from Silver Sixpence in her Shoe has some fabulous pieces which would be just perfect for this look. You can see this delectable collection featured on The Look board above, isn't it just the most divine image you have ever seen, captured by our favourite wedding photographer Katy Lunsford.

  And of course, we couldn't not mention the jewellery could we?!  Layered pearls would look fabulous with a high neckline dress or if you're wearing your hair up then consider some statement earrings for an extravagant final touch.

  There are some fabulous flapper style dresses on the catwalks and high street at the moment which would be a fun and decadent look for your bridesmaids.  Think soft pink and cream shades with dresses adorned with shimmering sequins and beaded strands; these dresses come to life with movement and will look fabulous in your photographs.  Worried about cold legs in those short dresses?  Pair a pink flapper dress like this stunning number from Jigsaw with soft grey tights for a practical yet stylish look your maids will thank you for.

Image credits: 1. Frilly Pretty Things 2. Vanessa Camera 3. Lisa O'Dwyer Photography 4. Elizabeth Messina

  Go all out with your florals; think decadent, overflowing displays constructed with beautiful, soft blousy blooms like David Austen roses and peonies.  Add interest and texture with silvery green foliage, silver brunia and beautiful orchids for an extravagant look.

  Remember, this look is all about unrestrained glamour, so focus on large, breathtaking arrangements in tall candelabras but add depth and volume with collections of smaller vases around the base of your displays or dotted around your venue.  Present single blooms in mercuried silver vases which will come to light in twinkling candlelight or see if you can source some vintage cut glass vases.

  This decade saw a huge shift in arts and culture; draw inspiration from period appropriate fonts and graphical motifs in your stationery and why not name your tables after key figures from The Great Gatsby or defining aspects of the era such as Jazz or Prohibition?

  We love the idea of beautiful soft pink table linens or embellished draped fabrics used to create stunning backdrops for a pretty cake table or photo booth.

  And to keep your guests entertained, why not bring the Jazz Age to life with a jazz quartet and perhaps even a few flapper girl performers to create a real party atmosphere, coinciding with the arrival of your evening guests.

The opportunities are endless here to create a timeless, elegant look which just oozes glamour, perfect for the romantic bride looking for that true wow-factor.

Michelle & Vicki xx

Event Designers and Stylists at Pocketful of Dreams.

 

Pocketful of Dreams are creative event designers, passionate about creating beautiful experiences. They design, style and deliver unique weddings tailored to your own personal story.  Email Vicki@pocketfulofdreams.co.uk to find out more.

A Delicate Handmade Headpiece for an Agatha Christie Poirot Inspired Wedding....

Morning all! Hoping you are feeling rested after your weekend and raring to tackle the next few days.

I'm opening up this week with a really pretty wedding, that of Elspeth and Miguel, who tied the knot on 16th June 2012 at Saint Barnabas Church, Church Road, Swanmore in Hampshire, followed by a reception at Hill Place, also in Swanmore.  The lovely Tarah Coonan sent in these photographs.

I was drawn immediately to these images for that beautiful headpiece that Elspeth wears...

"I wore a handmade hair accessory (handmade by Kirsty from Aurora Designs, also at La Belle Angèle, that was very art deco and completely made the outfit! It went so well with the vintage elegance of the dress.

My  headpiece was unlike anything I’d ever seen a bride wear before and as soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect for me. It was made with crystals and was quite sparkly but not in a trashy way, with mesh leaves that framed the hair and face and gorgeous little pearls, too - which I love!"

Love My Dress Wedding Blog - Photography Copyright (c) 2012, Tarah Coonan

"I wore two pairs of shoes! I treated myself to some ivory Louboutins (Something I swore I’d never be frivolous enough to do!) and also some comfier heels encrusted with Swarovski crystals - if you can’t get away with a bit of extra sparkle on your wedding day, when can you?!  I needed plenty of height as Miguel is 6ft2 - a foot taller than me!"

"We loved Hill Place, from the moment we first went to see it – so much so that we pretty much built our whole wedding around it even though neither of us live in Hampshire! Tricky! Lots of Saturday’s making trips from London to Hampshire and back!  We kept thinking about Agatha Christie’s Poirot (!!) - 1930s period - art deco - elegant parties with glam and sophisticated women in floor length satin gowns smoking from diamond encrusted cigarette holders! Jazz music etc!

I love neutral tones, classic colours of soft creams, blush tones, muted pinks and peaches, antique pinks – and we knew those colours would work well at the church and especially at Hill Place.  I guess a lot of the look of the wedding came from Hill Place itself and also my love of the 1920's and 30's era and Art Deco style. A modern colour scheme or bright bold colours wouldn’t have worked with the house."

"We planned and organised everything ourselves but Hill Place arranged for us to have help on the actual day from Marie at Isabella Weddings.  Marie was really lovely and helpful - her last minute help/advice and champagne pouring skills (!) were invaluable."

"We knew that we wanted a very classic look with a lush romantic feel to it and plenty of candlelight - and weren’t interested in having a really rigid colour scheme with only one or two colour variations. We told our Florist, Emma Lappin Flowers, the flowers and colours we liked - scented stocks, roses, peonies - and she gave us ideas from there.

The floral scheme was creams, palest peach and pinks, ranging from the slightest blush/nude pinks to more dusky vintage style pinks. The key flowers in the scheme were roses, stocks (for pretty scent) peonies, bouvardia, astilbe, larkspur and lisianthus. Chosen because they have a soft, romantic, classic, muted look and also because I loved the idea of having some delicate scent. Heavily petalled, romantic, natural elegance was the desired look/theme for ALL flowers."

Elspeth wore a Victoria Jane for Ronald Joyce gown, that she discovered via a bridal shop in Norwich...

"I didn’t want strapless as lots of brides seem to go for that and I wanted something that I felt fitted my personality as well as my figure! I loved the designs I’d seen with back detail  - to give the ‘wow factor’ as I walked up the aisle!  I found 'the' dress in a bridal shop in Norwich - La Belle Angèle.

I went in with some pictures of the styles of dresses I liked and the assistant looked at some of my pics and said “Oh we’ve got that dress”, pointing to one of my favourites. I said, “One with a cowl back detail like that you mean?” and she said, “No, that exact dress!” It was about the third dress I tried on! I tried others in other shops but none of them made me feel quite like that one did. I felt like a 1930s film star!"

"We wanted to do a silly photo booth because we thought the photos would be brilliant, and would enliven the evening photos of people dancing, which can get quite samey. But it costs a lot to hire a professional one. So I created my own from an old wicker hamper, a disposable camera and a load of fancy dress props – straw boater, a truncheon, cloche hat, clown hat, trilby, bowler, silly glasses, a pipe… and I even attached a few fake moustaches and beards to sticks!

The photos are brilliant! And it really amused the guests. Plus it got people who didn’t know each other talking and laughing and posing for pics together! Even some of the older generation joined in!"

"Our photographer Tarah Coonan is an old school friend of mine as well as a professional wedding photographer, which was perfect as she knew us, understood what we like/don’t like and was able to put us at ease. Neither of us are very comfortable with having photos taken but we knew Tarah so that made us more relaxed about it. Plus, she’s very good at snapping away unobtrusively so was able to capture some lovely shots of people without them even knowing!"