This particular bridal wear designer has been catching my eye for a good while now. Her adverts regularly grace the big glossy bridal magazines and I find myself frequently turning the top of the page over and meaning to go and learn more about the brand. And this weekend, I did just that.
Claire Pettibone is a Los Angeles based designer who was born into a creative family – both her parents were Artists. Apparently at the age of 4, Claire attended a wedding at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, and so enthralled was she with that walk down the
aisle,
that she began drawing brides and begged her mother to make her a
wedding gown! The experience was to leave such an impression on Claire, that right at that very
early age, and though she wouldn't have realised it at the time, Claire was inspired
to begin carving out the first steps of her life-long career as a
designer. Some years later, Claire launched her debut bridal collection in New
York, apparently to rave reviews. The collection went on to feature in
bridal magazines all over the world, and is now carried in some of the
most exclusive bridal boutiques in the USA and the UK.
One of my favourite gowns (I have several) from
Pettibone's current 'Cherry Blossom
2010 collection' is featured below left (click to enlarge all images).
I adore the cross over straps and corsage at the back and the
jewelled/corsage detail around the bust, absolutely divine…
Love My Dress UK Wedding Blog – All Imagery Copyright (c) 2010, Claire Pettibone
Oh to have just a day being able to try on all the wedding gowns I didn't get to try on prior to my own wedding day and parade around a little in front of the mirror. I would be a very happy girl indeed 🙂 These are incredibly beautiful dresses – it always amazes me how a designer starts out with a concept and ends up with a finished product like this – genius I say!
The Claire Pettibone website is
well designed and extremely helpful to any Bride looking to get any idea
of her designs. Each gown illustrates both
a front and back view, as well as catwalk runway shots from front and
back,
so you can get a better idea of the movement and drape of the fabric
when it is in motion. I love this beautiful gold and ivory brocaded A-line gown (below
left) called 'Origami', and this strapless cotton empire gown, called
'Chrysanthemum' (click to enlarge)…
Vintage…
Pettibone uses subtle tints of champagne and antique lace, depicting vintage quality gowns with a modern edge, the results of which I can see from the full size images, will be nothing short of breath-taking in real-life…
Floral decoration also plays a key feature…
Geisha Girl…
There is an obvious Japanese influence in many of of Claire's designs, as the following gowns illustrate (click to enlarge). Below left, the 'Geisha' gown, below right, 'Madame Butterfly'…
Timeless designs…
As
well as Claire's latest 'Cherry Blossom 2010' collection, there are
also a number of more longer-established designs that make up the 'Continuing Collection' – creations that have stood
the test of time over the years and that shall always be available to
order. Claire obviously knows what her clients like best, and she is a
smart lady, because these example frocks form the Continuing Collection
are to completely die for (click
to enlarge for far better detail)…
A full list of UK and worldwide stockists is provided on the Claire Pettibone website – click here. Prices range from under £1600, to upwards of £3250 for the more embellished gowns, which puts Pettibone in the same price league as Jenny Packham and the like – so admittedly, one for the bigger budget bride, but then, if heavenly looking frocks with the most delicate vintage inspired detail is your thing, then you might well have found your designer.
Visit www.clairepettibone.com.
♥
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
