Luella’s Boudoir Vintage Wedding Event – The Story From Our Reporter…

Katie Antoniou, Journalist and Stylist, who worked with Julia Boggio recently, by styling her Sunday Times feature, with Natasha Bailie, attended the Luella's Boudoir Vintage Wedding event last Thursday evening, and today, she reports for Love My Dress.  Over to Katie 🙂 … 

Having been with my boyfriend for nearly 8 years, and a grand total of zero marriage proposals under my belt, I took the opportunity to go to the  Luella's Boudoir Vintage Wedding Fair as possibly the closest I'll ever get to the real thing.

Hoping to get it all out of my system, I headed to One Marylebone with a list as long as my arm of people I was meant to give Annabel's love to. Given that in most cases I was going on Twitter profile pics the size of my thumbnail, I was prepared for this to be a tad challenging, and I apologise now to anyone I missed!  The venue was absolutely gorgeous, all elegant decadence,
chandeliers, high ceilings and beautiful blooms from Hayford
and Rhodes everywhere. After a glass of champers and a couple of
macaroons – the first of many foodstuffs to be offered in all the
colours of the pastel rainbow – I headed upstairs where the exhibitors'
stalls were held.

In the Luella's Boudoir area I met Tiffany Grant-Riley, resident Wedding Planner for Luella's, who looked
absolutely stunning, as did all the Luella girls….

All Photography Copyright (c) 2010, Katie Antoniou

A range of bridal and bridemaids' dresses were on display, which wet my appetite for the fashion show that was coming later, but I quickly found out that accessories were where its at for me; after all; who says they have to be JUST for weddings? 

Emmy's shoes were true works of art, arranged in tiers to imitate a wedding cake they looked just as delicious. I asked Emmy just how many shoes she owned herself – if I could make something that beautiful I don't know how I wouldn't want to keep them all for myself! Jane Taylor was busy helping brides-to-be find the perfect headwear; hats, fascinators and headbands; whilst Victoria Fergusson specialises in tiaras, hairpins and jewellery; she creates everything made to order so you can orchestrate your dress/shoes/hair ensemble to be as matchy-matchy as you like.

 

 

For me, the real jewel in Luella's crown has to be Magpie Vintage (below left); whose bespoke necklaces, cuffs and headpieces took my breath away. It was all I could do not to jump around shouting 'Want!Need!Must have!'  I didn't see one woman approach their dressing table and leave without swooning a bit.

 

Whilst I don't work in the wedding industry, I do quite a bit of work on the vintage circuit, so there were a couple of familiar faces; I bumped into burlesque artist Millicent who was busy giving out goodies on behalf of photographer extraordinaire, Julia Boggio. I've met Millicent at parties she's performed at, like The White Blackbird, and Julia I know as I helped to style a shoot for the Times. Her pictures were flawless, and not only that, she was an utter professional and all round lovely person to work with, so it was really nice to see her again.

Also feeding my vintage addiction was Charlotte Casadejus, whose antique embroidered linen and vintage accessories had me reaching for my purse…I was particularly enthralled by their delicate vintage clutch bags, covered with tiny white beads; I have inherited one of these bags from my grandmother but the threads on one side have started to unravel and the beads are falling off – they suggested I bring it in to see if they could fix it, so fingers crossed.

One of the most visually impressive stalls had to be the Utterly Sexy Cafe– where the cakes looked just too beautiful to eat. Not only do they offer edible delights, but they also provide some of the nicest vintage crockery I've come across, as well as classic embroidered tablecloths and napkins; I only wish we could eat like this every day. Attempting to push cupcakes off their pedestal were the Biscuiteers, offering intricately iced biscuits as wedding favours, or even name places. I'm currently sending my little sister a box for her 8th birthday next weekend as I feel bad for not being there; but I'm worried now she might actually prefer the biscuits…

Its not surprising that people put a lot of effort into their stands; after all these are some very talented, creative individuals; Sugalily's stand was comprised not only of display boards showing her bespoke stationery, but also the cutest vintage chair, lamp and stepladder as well as a side table adorned with vintage books and bakewell tarts! These folk should go into set design!

I had actually sampled the wonder of a Sugalily invitation a couple of weeks previously when I received Julia Boggio's beautiful Union Jack invite to her studio launch. The other invitations and place settings that really caught my attention were Rebekah Daley's; her themed illustrations and beautiful depictions of couples somehow manage to be both completely modern and classically elegant at the same time.

When it was time for the fashion show, we were led into the main part of the building downstairs; an old church full of breathtaking stained glass windows; the perfect location to showcase bridalwear. The event was sponsored by Cosmopolitan Bride, but unfortunately the editor was stuck in New York due to Volcano-gate, so the editor of You and Your Wedding introduced the show instead. She cited vintage as the domineering trend this year, but also pointed out the importance of wearing the dress rather than letting the dress wear you; very important I think.

Whilst the show included some Skinny McSkinnys, I was pleasantly surprised to see one model with a truly lovely figure – no bones jutting out, and all the girls had very individual looks; London Fashion Week this ain't and thank God for that. The last thing any bride to be wants is to try to live up to some unattainable ideal. As for the dresses; Charlotte Casadejus's collection was my ultimate favourite; beautiful vintage pieces that look utterly timeless. Luella's Bridesmaid dresses were also really lovely- no sign of the cringe-worthy puffball affairs we sometimes associate with grown-up bridesmaid frocks; these were flattering and youthful; this pistachio green number (below left) was in fact probably my favourite dress altogether.  The beautiful dress top right below is by Lisa Redman…

Buttonbelle (below right) are the new brand at Luella's, and you read all about them on Love My Dress first – Annabel featured designer Amiee's wedding here, and introduced Aimee's lovely new collection of Bridesmaids dresses here ~ infact, it is through the Love My Dress Wedding blog that Luella's Boudoir discovered Buttonbelle…

I tried not to sulk as I was leaving; what with no wedding for me (sob)… but, wait, is that a goody bag?  Thorntons chocolates?  Benefit make-up?  Opi nail varnish?  Kerastase hair products?  I am very easily distracted and even more easily pleased. And I am already plotting how I can incorporate most of these wedding gizmos into my 10 year anniversary party; only two years away. It may not be a wedding, but I'm going to do my best to get a beautiful dress and a ruddy big cake. Amen.

Ahh Katie – we are SURE you'll make it one day, and we want to be the ones that blog your wedding!! 🙂

Thanks so much for reporting on our behalf.

Did any of our readers attend this event – do let us know what you thought 🙂

♥