Paris Haute Couture 2012…

This is our favourite time of the year! Haute couture fashion houses brought their Spring-Summer lines down the runway in Paris and without further ado, here are our favourites…

GIVENCHY OFCOURSE! They have to be my favourite in terms of personal style. The 10 piece couture line-up was inspired by the 1927 Fritz Lang movie Metropolis and the theme music from a more obscure Russian film, 1924's Aelita: Queen of Mars. I am certainly a fan of the Art Deco embellishments and the meticulous work with crocodile skin. To understand some of the work that goes on behind the scenes of a couture show - the scales on the hide were individually cut and numbered. After it had been treated, the artisans had to restitch them one by one in order onto a tulle body stocking. It took 350 hours to make!

After an 8 year hiatus from couture, we were very excited about Versace. Their fabulous creations were made to emphasise the voluptuous curve of a woman's body and embellished from top to bottom in beads.  The curves were further highlighted with curving gold metal insets that raised up the shoulders or added to the curve of hips.

There were so many stunning frocks by Dior that are fantasy worthy. This show exhibited pure craftsmanship. We learnt through style.com that ‘On one dress, black crocodile scales were randomly picked out in patent. On another, ostrich had been dissected into paillettes of skin, like a body map. On yet another, sequins traced a grid, like a pattern-maker's directives’. The collection was perfectly unpolished, with the structure of the dresses showing through sheer fabrics. We loved every inch of this collection!

Giambattista Valli’s show was a visual and textural feast. Employing old school couture approaches, he showered the glamorous creations with flowers , embellished lace and sequins. The collection had a dramatic appeal and Valli did mention Ava Gardner to a guest who guessed that a little Hollywood glamour may be involved in his collection. 

                                  

                                  Karen and the KWH team x

Source: www.style.com

Happy Australia Day...

We hope everyone enjoys their Australia Day break and makes the most of their day off. In keeping with the celebration of Australia Day we would like to share a few snaps of our brides wearing their Australian made Karen Willis Holmes gown with a beautiful Aussie backdrop.

Angela wore the Rebecca gown when she married Simon at The Immigration Museum in Victoria – ‘We are both first-generation Australians and discovered our families’ immigration records while visiting The Immigration Museum one day. We decided the Museum was a great venue to celebrate our past and future.’

Photographer: Tizia May

Below are photos from Paula and Timothy’s wedding in Noosa. Paula looks delightful in the RTW Paige gown. They had their reception at their favourite restaurant Sails, which is something to keep in mind next time your travels take you to beautiful Noosa!

Photographer: Vellum Studios

We love the shots of Ali’s wedding in Sydney! She wore the Renee gown with a layer of purple tulle as it is her favourite colour. The gown looked stunning on her. 

Karen and the KWH team x

Real Bride...

Jordana and Adam are ‘unofficial’ high school sweethearts, being in the same year at school, they only got together after their formal. Then exactly nine years later they tied the knot at Central Synagogue and celebrated their big day at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.

Jordana and Adam had an 'industrial chic theme’ with black, whites and a hint of pink, the inspiration coming from ‘graphic prints and lots of bridal blogs!'. With her wedding gown, Jordana ‘added a black bow to the back of the dress (to bring in the black and white theme) and for the bridesmaids, they had the same ivory sash around their dress. I also added my grandmother’s handkerchief to the inside of the dress, she was very important to me and wanted to have her close to me on my day’.

‘I fell in love with two dresses and it was Karen who helped me choose the gown, asking me “which would your fiancé prefer?” – I hadn't even thought about him up until then. I shopped with my mum, but after I chose the gown, my mother-in-law and aunties came for a viewing.’

Jordana’s advice to future brides: ‘be sure to have one extra person, other than your mum watching how to put you in the dress. Thankfully I took one bridesmaid – it was stressful enough for mum without the sole responsibility of getting me in the dress!’

We wish Jordana and Adam a very happy married life and a big thank you to Jordana and her mum for being so wonderful at the fittings. 

Karen and the KWH team x

* Jordana's wedding was photographed beautifully by Nadine Saacks Photography