Welcome to our latest of interviews with those exhibiting at the Absolutely Beautiful Weddings event. Today, Love My Dress talks to Couture Bridal Wear Designer, Sassi Holford.
Sassi has been designing wedding gowns now for almost 30 years and is, remarkably, completely self-taught at her profession. Consider that when you take into account that in 2008, Sassi was commissioned by Canadian Autumn Kelly to design the wedding gown for her marriage to Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips – the first of the Queen's grandchildren to tie the knot. The wedding took place at Windsor Castle and Sassi personally oversaw the dressing of the bride. All very impressive for someone who has never attended design school! Hello Magazine fans out there may recall the wedding gracing the magazines pages, and you can read more about Sassi's experience designing for a Royal Wedding in her interview with the Telegraph's Hilary Alexander.
"Both Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn have always been great influences in my work -they are true icons. However, it’s working directly with my brides that provide me with a constant source of inspiration –they share their ideas and offer their honest opinions; their enthusiasm is really motivating ~ I love enhancing the female form and it’s a real joy to work with brides to create the perfect dress for their big day –it fulfils me."
All Imagery Copyright (c) 2010, Sassi Holford
Clearly, Sassi (above left) has a natural talent for what she does. And what she does is create some of the most sumptuous, couture bridal wear available today.
The latest Sassi Holford 2010 Collection, entitled ‘Decadence’, has a 1940s feel using luxurious fabrics such as slipper satin and vintage lace, combined with vivacious fishtail and dramatic ball gown skirts. All catwalk and promotional images on this page are from Sassi's latest Decadence collection.
"It all started with a friend who couldn’t afford the dress of her dreams for her wedding, so I offered to make it for her –overnight no less! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the challenge and things literally progressed from there."
And from those humble beginnnings, Sassi Holford is now stocking in some of the most exclusive boutiques across Britain and has an expanding overseas empire; Sassi exhibited at her first show in New York, the Wedding Channel Couture Wedding Show, in 2007 and landed her first American stockist as a result. Since then, she has acquired 6 stockists and attends the same show every year in October and we’re pleased to say that her popularity overseas is growing all the time.
Can you describe the Sassi Holford experience – what can a client/Bride-to-be expect?…"My staff and I are passionate about what we do and we pride ourselves on offering a very knowledgeable service within the elegant and calm surroundings of either of my boutiques. All of my designs are handmade in England at my studio in Somerset where I have an extremely talented team of cutters and hand-beaders."
"The finished result for every client’s gown is an exquisite cut that does truly echo their own style. Nothing is spared in the structure of each design; the integral corset within each gown creates a beautifully streamlined silhouette and provides a deceptively high level of comfort -an essential feature on the big day.
The business philosophy of Sassi Holford reflects her own approach to life ~ 'The success of the business will never be allowed to compromise my standards or jeopardise my enjoyment of the work. Attention to detail is of supreme importance to my reputation.'”
Do you have a muse? What type of client do you have in mind when you are designing?…"I don't have a muse, and I don't have a particular client type either. My clients are savvy, independent career-minded women but I will happily design and dress for any woman that wants me to!"
If you could give one piece of advice to the Bride to Be looking for the perfect wedding dress, what would it be?…"You will know when you find “the dress” -you will look and feel at your most beautiful but you must never compromise your comfort!"
Do you have a particular favourite style of bridal gown?…"One of my biggest pleasures is in finding the perfect shape and style for each bride -so my favourite changes every week. In pure design terms I am never totally satisfied so my next design is always the one!"
What are you looking forward to most with regards the Absolutely Beautiful Weddings Show?…"Seeing and hearing Tenors Unlimited of course! Also, I’m excited to be meeting and speaking with all the new brides-to-be and sharing my latest collection with them…"
Aside from Absolutely Beautiful Weddings, are you exhibiting anywhere in the next 12 months?…"I’ve got a Designer Day with the lovely Ellie Sanderson of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and I’ll be at the Designer Wedding Show in Battersea Park in October. Aside from those, things often get added to the diary so it’s best to keep checking my site for details."
Working with only the most luxuriously sumptuous silks and delicate vintage laces, the Sassi Holford couture is priced from £2,500 and available from Sassi's couture boutique on the Fulham Road in Chelsea. Sassi also has a boutique in Taunton, Somerset but you can also find her designs with selected stockists nationwide ~ for further details, please visit the Sassi Holford website, where you can view the collection in full and also discover information about upcoming Designer Days with Sass at her boutiques, seasonal sample sales and other special in-store-events.
Thank you so much Sassi for speaking to Love My Dress.
You can see other exlusive designer interviews on the Love My Dress Wedding Blog here.
♥
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.
