Exclusive Interview with Alice Temperley of Temperley London Bridal…

Afternoon all 🙂 Presumably you have already taken the time to enjoy this lovely wedding of this morning, but if not, it's important you go and take a peek now, because Bride Anna is wearing one of my favourite ever wedding dresses, the 'Long Jean' by Temperley London Bridal.  I first wrote about Temperley London way back in December 2009, I have long had a wee bit of an obsession with designer Alice Temperley, whose work I am super duper excited to be seeing once more at the Luxury Wedding Show this weekend. 

I'm feeling very lucky today too, because Alice Temperley's team got in touch to see if I would be interested in running an exclusive interview with the eponymous designer.  Like I had to even think about it! Let's get to know the lady behind the label shall we, and explore a little more about the designer responsible for some of most ethereal, whimsical and astoundingly beautiful bridal wear out there today.

Along with her Husband, Alice Temperley launched her high fashion ladies wear label 'Temperley' in the year 2000 and two years later, she began to design bridal wear, with dresses created to suit the free spirited, sophisticated, confident woman, who was looking for something fresh and romantic…

"I started designing Bridal gowns in 2002, and we opened our first bridal boutique in 2006. We currently have three lines, Temperley London, Temperley London Bridal and ALICE by Temperley, launched in 2010…"

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – All Images Supplied courtesy of Temperley London Bridal

Temperley London Bridal 

"Ever since I got married and it was featured in Vogue we got calls from brides wanting something different and at that time there was not much on offer aside from big, puffy bridal gowns. They came to us for something softer and more demure and ethereal so we set up Temperley London Bridal – this was in 2002.

Bridal is a wonderful area to design for as you are designing the ultimate dress. It has to be the perfect blend of functionality and fantasy as you are designing a piece of magic that is hopefully treasured forever and passed down for generations to come. I can’t just choose one, I like them all."

Temperley London Bridal

"I like to bring timeless elegance into our bridal collections – they are beautifully made with the finest fabrics, hand embroidered French laces and the most beautiful silks. I like them to feel comfortable and easy to wear, therefore making the bride look effortlessly exquisite and elegant.I prefer to work with organzas, silk chiffon, French laces & double satins.

I love using the finest chiffons and silks and stitching delicate detail on them to give a very delicate yet detailed finish. I definitely prefer something more textured or ornate with beautiful finishing than a plain stiff satin that is so often used in a traditional stereotypical gown…"

Temperley London Bridal

So how does a designer at the top of her game approach the whole design process?

"I take my inspiration from life, travel, interiors, vintage finds, film. Everything and anything can inspire.  I have three studios, two in London and one in Somerset. The main one is at my head office in Notting Hill where we first stared Temperley ten years ago where I work with my design team. I also have a quieter place, a private studio at my warehouse in North London which is love to retreat to and where I keep my extensive archive of vintage, fabrics and embroideries. My third place is a small studio in the countryside where I paint and have a desk for drawing."

Alice also talks about her 'beautiful' young son (Fox, 3), who she adore spending time with painting and gardening.  She also says that if she wasn't a designer, she would be a painter herself, or a photographer.  And she also let's slip that her favourite bridal wear brand is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Alexander McQueen…

Temperley London Bridal

Temperley London Bridal

And where can Brides who love these designs go to try them on?

"We have two bridal boutiques. One in Notting Hill, on Colville Mews and one in Los Angeles on Melrose Place. Both are beautiful, serene spaces, adjacent to our Temperley London boutiques. We have a large selection of Made-To-Order as well as off the peg options. The bridal boutiques are calm beautiful spaces and the girls working in the boutiques are brilliant.

We have a wide range of bridal styles; we offer simpler off the peg styles for casual brides, one off dresses, a full made to order collection as well as bespoke gowns. The prices depend on the amount of work that has gone into the dress. An off the peg jersey gown starts at £800 whereas a unique bespoke gown would start at £10.000, we have something for all budgets in-between…."

Temperley London Bridal

This year marks Temperley's tenth anniversary and to celebrate they have just launched a book called True British, published by Rizzoli New York.

"The book is the story of the last ten years, looking into the world of Temperley from the very beginning.  It is very personal and informative story. You really understand the work that goes into one of our pieces by reading the book and there is a lovely section on bridal."

I've just ordered my copy… 🙂

♥   ♥   ♥

Those attending the Luxury Wedding Show can expect to see the full made to order Temperley collection – representatives will be there talking everyone through the styles and Brides will also be able to book appointments in our boutique.  And if you are going on the Saturday – watch out for me {now sporting dark hair and being accompanied by a very pretty friend with blonde hair and a large camera! ;}

For further information, visit www.TemperleyLondon.com, or telephone 020 7229 7957.  The Temperley London Bridal boutique is located at 2-10 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road, London,W11 2DA.

You can see Brides sporting their beautiful Temperley London Bridal wedding dresses on Love My Dress here.  Also click here to read more exclusive designer interviews.

Any more of you out there? I'd just love to hear from some Temperley Brides 🙂

Much love all,

Annabel xXx

 

Annabel

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.

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