The whole concept of fashion being a barometer for what’s happening in society fascinates me.
It’s something I got into rather deep conversation over with designer Sassi Holford when we went to visit the designer and view her brand new collection in Barcelona last month during our visit to this beautiful Spanish city for Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week (or ‘VBBFW’, if you’ve been spotting that hashtag on Instagram lately and wondering what the heck it’s all about).
For those of you unfamiliar with Sassi Holford, allow me to share a brief bio; Sassi is a British designer who has been producing wedding dresses with her signature classic timeless look for over 35 years. Her style is feminine, romantic and extremely wearable – as you’ll see from these Sassi Holford brides whose weddings we’ve shared on Love My Dress.
All images by Annabel Beeforth for Love My Dress
Back to that barometer comment; I’ve been doing what I do for 10 years now and in this time have observed many annual collections released by designers. This year, the collections released for 2020 have a distinct vibe about them – higher collars, longer sleeves, safer, more structured looks. It’s a sign, Sassi told me, of how we’re all feeling right now – we’re seeking a sense of safety, nostalgia, the ‘good old times’ amidst our crazy, chaotic world, where climate change, BREXIT and the latest Trump shenanigans are filling our news feeds with doom.
And if good old fashioned classic glamour is fashions answer to this, then Sassi has pulled a belter this season by producing the most gorgeous collection of gowns – full of romance and femininity, beautiful movement and beautiful detail. This particular gown below was my favourite; the smocking detail on the cuff took 18 hours to complete by hand – obviously lifting the cost of this particular gown into couture territory.
Everything Sassi designs is made with love in England at her Taunton based atelier. Sassi also has a boutique in London and is stocked at some of the most prestigious British bridal boutiques throughout the UK and worldwide. We love her because she is wonderfully approachable, down to earth and just so likeable. Not a bad bone in her body, she’s one of those super lovely, positive human beings it’s a pleasure to hang out with.
“This was our first time exhibiting at Barcelona Bridal Week and we were blown away by the exhibition centre, it is very big and such an impressive space. We love the city of Barcelona anyway and it was great to experience the energy of the city whilst we were there. We were pleased to have been placed in the high end designer section of the show for three days of appointments with both existing stockists and new buyers.”
“The reaction to the new collection has been great, Sassi experienced an absolute first in her career when a buyer shed a tear at the shear beauty of one of the new gowns, it was a very touching moment.”
Sassi has yet to release formal images of her new collection, but we couldn’t resist sharing these snippets with you today.
Once the professional shots are ready, you’ll be the first to see them here on Love My Dress.
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.
