An Exclusive Interview With Kate Beaumont, Sheffield Wedding Dress Designer

Clematis Kate Beaumont HR 254

Sheffield wedding dress designer, Kate Beaumont, creates the most beautiful vintage inspired and modern, minimalist wedding dresses from her North West UK based atelier.

We were lucky enough to get some some time with this busy wedding dress designer recently, to find out more about Kate Beaumont the brand, and the designer herself.

Kate Beaumont, how did you become a wedding dress designer?

To be honest, I fell into designing wedding dresses by accident. I’d studied Fashion at university and wasn’t working in the industry after graduating and spending time travelling, when my best friend after me to make her wedding dress for her. I was unsure at first, as I wasn’t into traditional wedding dresses at all, but once we started looking into streamlined silhouettes and vintage-inspired gown, I was hooked.

Kate Beaumont vintage style wedding dress

The Dahlia Gown

When you start to design a new collection, what is the process? Do you start with an overview of what you want the collection to be or a mood board with the elements that you want to include?

Mood boards still remind me of university and so I very rarely make one! I usually start with lots of different elements of dresses I want to include such as a floaty sleeve, an inverted V back or a combination of laces and fabrics. Then I try to split those elements between designs, trying to include as many as I can make work.

Once I’ve got a small set of initial designs drawn up and planned out, I start looking at laces and silks to start to fill in the blanks and enhance the early designs. Then I start mocking up the dresses and keep adapting as I go until I’m happy that the collection is balanced and doing what I want it to do.

I’ve just made the whole process sound much simpler than it feels when we’re in the middle of it but that’s the bones of it I think! Because I keep designs from older collection current as samples in the studio, it’s really important that the newer dresses fit in well alongside them. Creating new dresses gives me the opportunity to address any gaps I feel there are in previous collections too.

What part of the design process do you enjoy the most?

Choosing fabrics is always my favourite part of the design process. Laces especially are so varied and versatile and it’s wonderful to find the right ones which will really bring a design to life. Sometimes what I had in mind at the beginning is completely turned on its head by a beautiful lace that I just had to find a use for.

I also enjoy introducing a hint of colour, usually with silk but occasionally with lace too. We usually stick with ivories and creams for the most part, but I love adding in pieces to add a little more depth to a bridal palette – richer creams, champagnes, oyster, silver and bronze.

Kate Beaumont champagne gold silk halterneck wedding dress

The Amarylis Gown

How many drafts of a design might you go through before reaching a finished design?

Lots! Sometimes initial designs don’t make the cut at all or they’ve been adapted so much along the way that they’re barely recognisable. Ideas change and mocking up the dresses always results in lots of changes too so the whole process is constantly up in the air until everything’s just about finished really.

Do you design on your own or is it a more collaborative process?

Until last year, I worked entirely alone so was responsible for every aspect of the business – from designing to making plus all the admin and marketing etc. There are now three of us in my small team. Kate; my pattern cutter, Jessica; my seamstress and me! It’s made a world of difference to how everything works here. Having two extra brains around during the design process this time around meant that it was a much more collaborative process than ever before and I really think this collection is stronger because of Kate and Jessica’s input.

Where do you look to spot ‘trends’ and keep abreast of what brides are looking for?

I don’t think I’m as good at this as I should be but my social media feed is filled with updates from my favourite blogs, magazines and designers, and I always make time to click through to any blog posts that catch me eye. Sometimes I’ll make time to sit down with a glossy fashion or wedding magazine, and usually with a cup of tea and a biscuit or two…

I think because my designs appeal to brides looking for a certain style of wedding dress, I try to remain true to my own aesthetic and not to be too trend-driven, though of course we’re all influenced by trends all the time whether we realise it or not.

Kate Beaumont vintage inspired wedding dress

The Huneysuckle Gown

Do you tend to design with a certain type or bride in mind?

As my dresses are currently only available direct from my studio in Sheffield, I’m lucky enough to meet all my brides and have made some fantastic new friends through this little business of mine. I think I design with a bride who combines all the best bits of brides I’ve worked with over the years in mind. She’s confident, knows what she wants but is totally open to ideas, is intelligent, interested in the world and is really good fun to be around!

What are your favourite materials and embellishments to work with?

I love lace in its many varied patterns and textures and laces feature on all but three of the twenty dresses currently on show in the studio. We’ve also just made up some gorgeous belts featuring antique laces, leather petals and beaded motifs, which look fantastic and I’m looking forward to shooting these very soon and adding them to the website.

What, in your opinion, sets your brand apart? What are you core values?

I think the personal touch that this business offers really sets us apart – I currently meet every bride at her initial appointment and at every fitting from there onwards, giving me the invaluable opportunity to really get to know everyone we make a dress for.

Additionally, I try to keep the mood in initial appointments light and laid-back. I hear from so many women who’ve not had great experiences at other boutiques so I try to create a warm and welcoming environment with no high pressure selling!

We create beautifully-made, luxurious dresses from the best materials around and we focus on each bride’s experience, making sure she’s comfortable and confident in her gown and that it fits her perfectly.

Kate Beaumont vintage inspired wedding dress and cape

The Clematis Gown

What are your proudest moments workwise?

Making mums cry with happiness when they see their daughter in her chosen gown is always pretty magical! And when I’ve been lucky enough to be a guest at one of my bride’s weddings, it’s always absolutely amazing to hear other people’s positive reactions to her dress.

What do you do to relax? How do you escape from the wedding world?

I’ve got a three-year-old son so relaxing doesn’t happen very often (!) but spending time with Rex and my husband James along with our family and friends is always top of my list outside of work.

What are the most important things brides should keep in mind whilst choosing their gown?

I think it’s so important that a bride feels like the best ever version of herself on her wedding day, not that she’s come along dresses up like somebody else entirely. Feeling comfortable in a dress is so important and the fit and quality of fabrics used are paramount to this. When trying on dresses, it’s important to be open to suggestions but ultimately, to trust your own judgement and go for something that makes you feel incredible.

If you weren’t designing wedding dresses, what do you think you would be doing?

My job, before I set up the business, wasn’t creative and I think I’d struggle to go back to that office-based environment after being in this one. I’d probably retrain as a florist or photographer but I’m not sure I’d be particularly good at either to be honest!

What should be expect from Kate Beaumont next?

More of the same… romantic, relaxed, easy-to-wear gowns for modern brides. We’re currently prepping a few extra coloured slip dresses and bias-cut gowns to be photographed along with our new handmade belts. I’m also hoping to expand the business and find a few stockists up and down the country, so plenty in the pipeline – wish me luck!

Kate Beaumont gold, vintage inspired wedding dress

The Honeysuckle Gown

A huge HUGE thank you to Kate for being with us today, it’s been an absolute joy.

If you’d like to find out more about Kate Beaumont, her collection and her studio in Sheffield, do take a look at her website.

Love,
Tamryn x

Tamryn Settle

Tamryn Settle View all Tamryn's articles

Self-confessed wedding addict Tamryn spends her days in her Berkshire studio writing about all things beautiful and romantic with her black Labrador for company.

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