The images you see on this page here today are from a recent photoshoot for the 2014 collection by Chez Bec – designers of award winning bridal headpieces and accessories. Chez Bec founder Rebecca Doyle told me that as the creative team were shooting these images, they had Love My Dress® in mind to unveil their new collection. This comes as no surprise given the glamorous and elegant nature of this whole photoshoot – it’s Love My Dress through and through, which is partly why Rebecca is very kindly offering one of our lucky readers a £200 e-voucher to spend at the Chez Bec online store. What’s more, Chez Bec are also offering everyone else (literally) a 20% saving on all orders placed via their online store before 30th April 2014.
You see? There’s another fabulous opportunity from Love My Dress to save some pennies and win something fabulous right there my loves. You’re going to want to get your pinning Pinterest fingers at the ready for this one too…
Photography Copyright (c) 2014, Claudine Hartzel
I caught up with Chez Bec accessory designer, Harriet, who was keen to share details about this delightful collection and the inspiration behind some of her personal favourite designs…
‘I have been a designer maker for Chez Bec since day one and in April last year, my colleague and entrepreneur, Rebecca Doyle, asked me to become her business partner and run things on a day to day basis. In terms of designing the new collections things are really collaborative and we spend a lot of time seeking out our inspiration (which for me involves plenty of visits to the V&A) and when we’ve decided on our key looks, I’m left to pull it all together.’
‘Our 2014 collection launched in Autumn last year, but we’re always coming up with new ideas. For this photoshoot, we decided to go for two clear looks: vintage glamour and English Rose – both of which are part of the Chez Bec couture collection (a bit more on that in a moment).’
‘Rebecca also runs a beautiful bridal boutique in Tunbridge Wells called Isabella Grace, and she knows that I am a sucker for heavily embellished gowns, so she brought a selection of Eliza Jane Howell dresses along.’
‘For our vintage look we mostly used diamante and crystal pieces. I also had a bit of a moment when I was pinning and found some wonderful feather headpieces which I took for inspiration when making the Vanessa Feather headband (see below, our Vanessa flower design nestles at the centre of it).’
‘One of my favourite necklaces is the Pandora ‘backlace’, which is so simple, and a lariat design, but just looked sensational when captured at the shoot. It’s perfect as well for the trend towards backless or cut-out back dresses.‘
‘The trio of cut crystals that make up our Sophie earrings (below and named after our beautiful model) are finished with a faceted crystal and just scream old Hollywood. There is a matching necklace too (also below) and the Sophie pearl bracelet (see next image) – a pretty ‘loop around the finger’ 1920s inspired design.’
‘Our favourite headband is the Rebecca. I originally made this for Becks for an awards event in January, but we decided that to make the couture collection it needed something a little bit more – so we added swirls of set diamante, and it really brought the design alive. There is a matching comb too.’
‘Also featured are the Lady Mary tiara (£168, launched in Autumn), and Hepburn pins (new, £32 for 3), and the diamante ‘dangle’ pins (new £25 for 3).
‘We are so excited this season to be showcasing our newly launched flower collection. We wanted to be able to offer really spectacular flowers. We are absolutely over the moon with the quality and choice that the new flower collection offers. From the rose bud pins, to the huge 100% silk handmade roses – the floral collection has breathed new life into the Chez Bec ranges.‘
‘We’ve also featured a floral crown in our collection for the first time, and adore the detail of the handmade blooms. As they are all made to order, we are able to match most colours too, which means our brides have even more choice. And as I finish each design by hand, there is also the choice to have them mounted on a comb, a headband, clip or brooch providing our clients with complete flexibility and choice.‘
‘Chez Bec is going to be launching a new ready to wear collection in the next couple of months; everything will be handmade in the UK but will have a lower price point for the budget savvy bride. Our higher priced, and more complex designs, will form the Couture collection, but will still be affordable and accessible – as are all the beautiful Chez Bec designs.’
You can also find Chez Bec on Facebook and Twitter.
I’d like to thank Rebecca and Harriet of Chez Bec for their kindness and generosity, and for choosing Love My Dress to showcase these beautiful images.
With love, Annabel x
The Venue – St Clere
Photography – Claudine Hartzel
Accessories – Chez Bec
Make-up – The Beauty Aisle
Flowers – Florist in the Forest
Hair – Simply Beautiful Wedding Hair
Dresses – Eliza Jane Howell / loaned to us by the Isabella Grace Bridal Boutique (dresses used are Greta, Lucille, and Eliza)
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.
