Blog
Real Bride Alana and Mark
David Jones and Harper's BAZAAR Bridal Event
I was very honoured to be part of the Harper's BAZAAR Bridal event hosted by David Jones on Level Seven. It was a very wonderful night for both the designers and the brides who attended. David Jones Bridal on Level Seven is such a delightful space and they really do know how to host a fabulous event!
Edwina McCann presented and explicated each bridal gown down the catwalk including the Karen Willis Holmes Ready to Wear Dakota, Katherine and Jacqueline Gown.
Thank you to everyone who made last night such a glamorous and enjoyable event!
Karen and the KWH team xx
HINTS & TIPS FOR BRIDESMAIDS by Mrs. Press - designer & Instyle columnist, Clare Press
I’ve always been a dress girl, the prettier the better. Give me a bow over denim any day. In fact, give me a bow made of lace. Lately, I’ve become obsessed with bridesmaids. I wake up full of ideas. For a designer, it’s heaven-on-a-stick because you get to imagine not just one dress but a group shot, almost a mini collection for each client.
Last year, we launched the Mrs. Press Bridesmaids collection. We make to order and you can choose silks in a range of divine colours, from ice-cream pastels to dramatic, jewel tones. These are shapes from our ready-to-wear collections, that we know work beautifully, with an added bespoke element – as we’re making your dresses especially for you, it’s no problem to go longer or lower, add a sleeve or a belt.
We’ve been simply swamped with gorgeous brides all saying the same thing: thank goodness for a fashion answer to their bridesmaids’ questions: Why do all the dresses have to match? What do you do when your friends suit different styles? Where can you go for a custom fitting? What if you want a vintage look? Or a glamorous evening feel? Who’s going to help you style it all? Can’t you buy dresses you like off the rack by your favourite designer? What happens if they don’t have sizes? Argh!! Does anyone mind if you burst into tears?!
Well, yes! I do actually. Choosing your bridesmaids dresses should be super-fun, another fabulous ritual that’s part of your wedding. I look forward to meeting you – you can make an appointment by emailing shop@mrspress.com , or call me on 93317732.
In the meantime, here’s my insider advice on how to style the most beautiful bridesmaids around – yours.
1. Look objectively at your maids - are they similar heights and body shapes? Or are they all different? Different styles suit different figures.
2. Don’t worry about matching - choose individual cuts that fit one mood, for example, all floaty dresses, or all structured dresses. Allow for one girl to have sleeves, another, a longer skirt. It’s more modern than having a uniform look.
3. Learn the general rules about who suits what:
- Petite frames don’t like being swamped with fabric - choose shorter styles for shorter girls
- Bigger busts need bras – avoid skimpy styles
- Broad shoulders hate shoestring straps
- Round tummies and Beyoncé bums hate clingy bias cuts – look for knotted waists, circle skirts or tucked pencil skirts
- Yoga-toned arms love showing off – go strapless!
- Not Madonna or a model? Most upper arms enjoy a bit of a sleeve – I know mine do
- Pregnant maid? Empire lines work wonders
- Fabulous decolletage? Choose a lower neckline
- Short body? Don’t cut it off with a thick waistband
- Boyish frame? Consider a gathered skirt or a full bell sleeve to add femininity
4. Choose your colours:
Such fun to play! When I was one of designer Marnie Skillings’ bridesmaids, we wore vintage frocks in different dusky shades inspired by her hydrangea flowers. Blooms are a great starting point, but not the only one. One of our brides chose sunny yellow bridesmaids dresses to tone in with the stained glass windows in her reception venue. I’m working on a wedding right now based on Tiffany’s blues.
Make a scrapbook, tear out pictures you love from magazines. Consider strong colour – I have a pastel passion but deep corals, emeralds and jewel blues can also be divine. Silver is stunning. And if your gown is white, black bridesmaids dresses can look ultra-chic. Print is a bold choice – but we’re starting to see more of it – why not, as long as your wedding dress is elegant and simple?
5. Give yourself plenty of time
Rushing = stress. Book your dresses a few months in advance.
THANK YOU TO MRS. PRESS FOR SHARING HER VALUED ADVICE ON THE TOPIC OF BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES, PLEASE VISIT THE MRS. PRESS BLOG PAGE FOR MORE BRILLIANT STYLING TIPS!
Karen and the KWH team xx
Real Bride Amy and Phillip
Amy and Phil grew up halfway between St Michael’s in Melbourne, each on the opposite side of the church. Because of this reason and the beauty of it, they chose to exchange vows at St Michael’s on the 25th of March this year, following a reception at The Terrace at the Royal Botanical Gardens – 'It was raining on the day we went to look at the Terrace. We were walking on the path leading up to the Terrace and looked at each other and said 'this is it'. Even in the rain the Botanical Gardens is magical and the Terrace was the icing on the cake.'
Phil decided to propose to Amy one afternoon as she returned home from work, 'I had just gotten home from work and had a terrible headache. As I was putting away my Tupperware in the kitchen, Phil ‘jumped’ down on the floor next to me. I got a fright and said ‘what are you doing?!’, then I realised what he was doing down on the floor on one knee. My headache suddenly disappeared.'
Amy drew from inspirations she found on Etsy and Pinterest – ‘my new best friend’, and decided on 'Amy and Phil's Wedding’ as the theme for decorating their big day - ‘We didn’t have a particular theme, we built our big day by choosing elements we both loved. The colours that we ended up using were grey/silver, peach, coral and white.’
Amy simply looked gorgeous on her big day. Her gown was elegant, charming and absolutely stunning. ‘All the dresses I loved that I had seen in magazines just happened to be at Karen Wills Holmes’ and after having tried around 5 gowns, Amy chose to draw ‘inspiration from a few different gowns at the Ready to Wear store in Armadale. Karen Willis Holmes put my favorite elements together to make the perfect ‘Amy’ gown. After the wedding so many people said ‘they couldn’t imagine me in another wedding dress’ It was just perfect.’
Amy and Phil had the wonderful team from T-One Image as videographers and photographers, they have done a superb job of capturing the day!
We would like to thank Amy and Phil for being so generous with thier time and sharing thier beautiful wedding photographs with us. We hope they are enjoying the honeymoon and wish them much happiness in their journey togther as Mr and Mrs Wilkinson!!!
Karen and the KWH team xx
Photography by T-One Image
Introducing... Kelly gown!
The stunning Kelly gown with lace overlay has joined our Ready to Wear collection! This gorgeous new gown has a sweet and elegant appeal and is made from a structured twill fabric with a flattering sweetheart neckline. The silhouette is a striking fishtail with a beautiful lace overlay which has dainty floral detailing - and also looks delightful from the back.
Karen and the KWH team xx
