Meet the new Violette - my 1930s style wedding dress with lace features!

Dear Reader

As promised, I have something new to reveal today: I am very excited to introduce the new Violette.

This lovely dress is a new variation on my Violette 1930s-style dress, that you may know already from my Heavenly Collection... 

For the new Violette, I have added a delicate French lace cap sleeve - always so popular with my clients. The new dress also features an elegant lace panel at the back (cleverly positioned just above the bra-line), to perfectly complement the art deco feel and construction of this lovely gown, with its gorgeous seam details that sculpt the body. 

Violette was recreated from an original 1930s dress with a few style modifications. For me, the exciting thing about copying the vintage dresses is that it allows me to discreetly update a few features - like lowering a neckline slightly - without losing the feel of the original dress.

In this case, the original dress belonged to a young lady called Gladys Violette who was married in 1932. I love knowing the history of my dresses, and even have her original wedding invitation!

All the patterns for my vintage-inspired dressed have been created by carefully deconstructing original dresses which were absolutely beautiful, but too tired to be worn again. Each is then carefully recreated, with design modifications to suit the modern figures. It's a very difficult process, and each one takes many attempts to get it perfect Fortunately I have a wonderful team of highly-skilled pattern cutters who make it possible!

This lovely version of the Violette dress is available now, in a wide range of sizes, and priced at £1495. I do hope you love it, and thanks for sharing my news today! Do contact me if you'd like to see more.

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

Top photo c. Holly Booth, jewellery by  Judith Brown

All other photos c. Robert Lawler Photography

Antique and vintage wedding dresses, coming soon to the V&A

Dear Reader

Today I wanted to feature the V&A's upcoming exhibition, Wedding Dresses 1775-2014. It promises two floors of fabulous dresses and amazing wedding fashions, spanning over 200 years! 

1. Silk and leather 'tango' shoes, 1914

From Victorian to Vivienne Westwood, the exhibition includes over 80 romantic, glamorous and extravagant wedding fashions. I'm particularly excited to see their slinky 1930s dresses, like these gorgeous ones below...

2. Silk satin wedding dress by Charles James, 1934

3. Embroidered silk satin wedding dress by Norman Hartnell, 1933

As well as antique and vintage wedding dresses, the exhibition will feature many accessories including shoes, veils, jewellery, hats, corsetry and even garters! 

4. Honiton lace wedding veil, c1850

5. Silk brocade gown and petticoat with silk-covered straw hat, 1780

It promises to be a real treasure trove for anyone who loves vintage wedding style. Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 opens on 3 May and runs until March 2015. Tickets go on sale very soon - I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by today. Do pop back later this week... I shall have something new to unveil on Friday!
Love
Helena 

Heavenly Vintage Brides

Images:
1, 2 & 4, C. Victoria & Albert Museum, London
3, C Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
5, Photograph by John Chase

Behind the Scenes at the Vintage Wedding Blog - Part 2!

Dear Reader
There's definitely a glimmer of Spring in the air today. So let's end the week with a picture post - a last few of my favourite images from the website of photographer Robert Lawler. (Also known as Mr Heavenly Vintage Brides!)

If you'd like to see more, you can contact Robert any time on 07947 172332. Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for visiting! See you next week...

Love
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

All photos c Robert Lawler Photography
www.robertlawler.co.uk
Tel 07947 172332

Behind the scenes at the Vintage Wedding Blog!

Dear Reader

For a while now I’ve wanted to shine a light behind the scenes on the help I’ve had with all the lovely photographs on my site. 

Firstly from my daughter and her beautiful friends who have been kind enough to model my dresses, but also from my photographer husband Robert Lawler. 

I am very proud of Robert's work and as he’s launching his new website, now is a good moment to tell you more about him. 

Robert is a really talented and experienced wedding and fashion photographer and has shot all the beautiful photographs on my site. Some of these I'll showcase today, along with a few other examples of his work.

It was probably seeing Robert's gorgeous wedding photography that first got me involved with vintage wedding dresses. I always loved to nosey around Vintage shops in search of something special, but when I saw so many of Robert’s clients looking wonderful on their wedding day it really made me want to get involved in the wedding business! 

What I love about Robert’s work, is he always manages to catch the real moments that give you an authentic sense of the couple and their guests. Much of his work is just taken as the day unfolds, rather than being formally posed, so it has that lovely sense of truthfulness. 

Robert took the time to learn his craft thoroughly, studying at college for four years, so he’s as comfortable in the studio controlling lights as he is working with natural light. 

Do have a look at his new website and get in touch with him if you would like to discuss your wedding photography. (And of course, you can always contact him through me or my own website!) Many of my lovely clients have booked him as their wedding photographer, and tell me they're thrilled with the results.

Thanks for looking today!

Love

Helena 

Heavenly Vintage Brides

All photos Robert Lawler Photography

www.robertlawler.co.uk

A lovely photograph of a 1950s wedding dress, worn by Georgia

Dear Reader

Today, I wanted to post this picture of model Georgia in another wonderful 1950s wedding dress.

It's not about the dress, though: I wanted to show it purely as a lovely photograph. Oh, and the photographer is my dear husband, Robert Lawler! Robert is a fantastic wedding and fashion photographer - and it's not just me that says so! He's busy creating a new website at the moment, I'll show you more as soon as it's ready.

Do check out his site when you have a minute today, www.robertlawler.co.uk and I think you'll agree.
Love
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides