Hello Saturday people, what a gorgeous sunny day! I’m sat here wondering how many of our readers are getting married today and also thinking about all those of you who, having got through the working week, are spending a little time planning their wedding today. Have you found your dress yet? If not, then I’d like to introduce you to the beautiful new designs and divine, drama and glamour filled new campaign images from Alan Hannah this morning.
These gowns represent the eight new designs from Alan Hannah’s new ‘Floral Symphony’ collection for 2015. I spoke this week with the designer at the helm of this successful British bridal wear brand, Marguerite Hannah. Marguerite has been designing for the Alan Hannah label since 1990, and the continued success of the brand is largely down to her well established reputation for producing the highest quality of cuts, in time enduring, classic and understated designs. “To me, the cut is everything…”, she says, “I always really admired Alexander McQueen for his absolute genius and innate understanding of what to do with fabric.”
Marguerite says she was inspired by flowers and colour in creating these breathtaking gowns, some of which feature the most delicate of hand-painted designs, like the Summer gown, pictured below. I simply adore the way the movement of this elegant fabric has been captured in this image.
*Click on any image to be taken to this design on the Alan Hannah website*
“My Summer dress (pictured above) is a collaboration with a Spanish artist who I often work with. The dress comprises a structured bodice, which acts as the canvas for some really beautiful hand painted pink roses which are created with a subtle mother of pearl paint. This gives a wonderful lustre and opulence to the design.
To complement the softness of the flowers and the strength of the structured bodice, I added a very soft and feminine flowing blush coloured organza skirt which gives the whole dress a really romantic soft feel.”
“Another theme of the new collection is the sparing use of lace as an embellishment and highlight, rather than as an all over fabric on dresses like ‘Clementine’. The lace on ‘Venus’ dress is a specially dyed taupe to match the organza skirt and this gives a twist of colour to this light and airy dress. The autumnal gold theme continues with Tara which is in a gold beaded lace and has an elegant unstructured look with untailored loose cap sleeves and a lovely train.”
Continuing that ‘sparing use of lace’ theme, I have to say that my very favourite dress from this delicious new collection is the Olympia – I adore the silhouette of that chic, silk satin dress combined with those billowing silk organza sleeves, reminiscent of the glamour of the 1970’s.
“The art deco period has always been a great inspiration and this is what sparked the idea for ‘Olympia’, which is made in the softest silk georgette which is contrasted with the bright and strong silver beading on the waist.”
“Sandalwood has a simple lace bodice but the highlight is the beaded neckline which is made with freshwater pearls and our hand crafted ceramic roses. The skirt is in Thai silk with a long and elegant train.”
“I create many of my designs by draping the fabric on the mannequin as a precursor to making the pattern. We have wonderful team of seamstresses here at Alan Hannah, who have a real talent to bring the vision to life, Angelica, for instance is a dress which is immaculately executed and because of this the simplicity of the design, oozes couture quality.”
If you’d like to find out more about these beautiful collection of wedding dresses, visit alanhannah.co.uk. The Alan Hannah label is stocked at a number of exclusive boutiques across the UK and world, you can find your nearest stockist here. You can also find Alan Hannah on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and read more about how the company was founded and it’s history here.
I’d love to know if any of you are planning on wearing an Alan Hannah gown? You can take a look at other brides in their Alan Hannah gowns here on Love My Dress too.
Love Annabel x
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.
