Frida Hoffman-Clark, is the founder of Parisian bridal label Kladek (her grandmother’s maiden name) and also a former Tythe bride. She married at the luxury private estate in Oxfordshire in June 2022, the same year she turned 30.
“When I first discovered Tythe, I thought this is too good to be true. It was the only venue we needed to look at. After we did the tour I said, this is it. Tythe is very elegant and luxurious but also understated and a little bit rustic and that mix was exactly what I was looking for.”
Having worked previously as a couture pattern cutter and as a designer, Frida launched her debut bridal label, Kladek, the same year. On her wedding day, she wore a bespoke jumpsuit with a corseted bodice that she designed and made herself. It mimicked the design of her mother’s wedding dress, which was made by her grandmother;
“My experience of marrying at Tythe inspires my collection and how to create a wedding wardrobe so a bride can dress coherently for different occasions during her bridal ceremonies. I always have that in mind now.“
Here, Frida talks to Jade Beer about her best advice to current brides-to-be on how to find the perfect look.
It all begins with how you feel not what you see
‘When my own search began, I had no idea what I was looking for, but I did know how I wanted to feel.
I knew I wanted to be comfortable, at ease, for it to feel effortless, for me to be able to eat, to dance and not be worried about my dress. I didn’t want to feel too dressed up.’
It’s a wardrobe, not just a dress
‘The whole experience of marrying at Tythe and using the full estate, including the family farmhouse, really made me think about how to structure my own collections.
I thought how brilliant it would be for a bride to mix and match different pieces according to her itinerary of bridal events and the weather.
“I wanted pieces that could be styled up or down and that could be worn afterwards too or modified after the big day. That really became the essence of our brand, and we continue to focus on the evolution of a bride’s looks – not just on the day but across multiple occasions in the lead up to and after her wedding. The Bridal Wardrobe is here to stay, and she wants to have fun with it.”
Irene wearing Kladek, Berta de la Presa Photography
Comfort comes first
‘I love comfort, and you can tell instantly if I feel uncomfortable, my face is very expressive in that sense. I incorporate a lot of old couture techniques to make a garment fit better, for example we cut the inner corset a centimetre or two shorter than the waistline.
It still has the same functionality, but you can move more freely, it doesn’t cut into the body when you sit down. When we develop new collections, I try on lots of things myself. As a woman, I can relate to how certain elements feel and that makes a big difference.
On your wedding day, there is no need to be uncomfortable. Every bride is nervous, but the dress should be one thing that you don’t have to worry about.’
Simple dress + statement accessories
‘There is huge interest in accessories, like statement veils that complement our more minimal pieces. We are seeing big interest for next year in corseted pieces, looks that are off the shoulder and very bare necklines.
There is a clear shift more towards designs with more fluidity, and far less made with stiffer fabrics. Next year wedding season for us will be all about easier designs that feel effortless and more relaxed without being casual. The desire to dress up is still there but in an understated way.’
Think, look, try on
‘If you really have no idea what kind of look you should go for then start collecting images from Instagram and Pinterest that you feel drawn to. Save them all together in one place.
Whether it’s a small detail or a full silhouette. You may not be able to verbalise what you like but when you see it, you’ll know you like it.
When you take a step back and look at all the images together, it can be very helpful. It will crystallise your thoughts. I also started this way. Then start trying on things, even if there is no clear direction (which is completely normal) it’s a very good experience in terms of seeing the idea versus the reality. Together that gives you a theoretical and a practical route – that is your starting point.’
Ask, does the venue match your style vision
‘The beauty of Tythe is that it is so spectacular, so beautiful as a venue but despite being such a statement, it does have this openness to being styled in lots of different ways.
If a bride wishes to be more romantic with her styling, it is totally coherent with the estate itself but if she is more minimal or avant-garde, it can also be styled that way. My job as the designer is to work out, through talking to her, what her natural sense of style is and guide her to the best look from there.’
Watch the full live chat with Jade and Frida below:
