A little lunch time post to whet your appetite over some incredibly beautiful bridal wear; these gowns could be the creative output of none other than the inimitable Claire Pettibone. Claire has a signature style all of her own, whimsical, flowery, feminine and fairy like – I simply adore her gowns.
These dresses are from Claire Pettibone's new 'Still Life' collection, that was launched in New York in October – you can expect to be seeing some of these dresses making their way in to UK bridal boutiques and stockists over the coming weeks.
I asked Claire about her new designs…
“Still Life is probably my most opulent collection to date, and a slightly different take on my signature style. I was inspired by still life art from the 17th century. I wanted to convey a moody romanticism, and a lush feeling of beauty."
"In the second half of the 17th century, the art of the floral still-life reached the height of fashion. Dramatic arrangements of flora and fauna, insects and fruits, set against dramatic dark backgrounds exude a mysterious romanticism.
The in', by Rachel Ruysch, 1716. The brilliance of nature’s beauty is highlighted to dramatic effect, just as the bride becomes the center of our attention. Graceful details adorn delicate silks and laces gilded in gold, glowing as if lit from within. The rich floral embroideries give the effect of a painting come to life, while a few artful butterflies flutter in."
"I really went all out with the floral embroideries and layering of textures, almost like the bouquet in the painting has come to life. I also love the words themselves, 'still life', and the context they have in a wedding – how we take this moment to just be still.
There are few experiences in our modern and very busy lives where we do pause to be still, but a wedding holds that level of significance that it does command our attention as we witness the commitment that two people are making to each other.
This is, after all, what my work is ultimately all about: finding a way to honor the beauty of this very real moment – the unexplainable mystery of love! Be still my heart, still in love, still life."
Oh Claire Pettibone, you've gone and done it again, these designs are dreamy, incredibly beautiful, so feminine and elegant.
Wherever you are located in the world, you can find a list of Claire Pettibone stockists here.
Your favourite dress? Do tell…
Annabel
Magical how she transforms delicate lace and sheer fabrics into lush floral creations!
Wow. I wish I could get married again now
Really beautiful bridal wear, all have some kind of “leafs” on top of the heads of those beautiful models:)