I have the pleasure of styling a bridal party for a July wedding, where I am helping the bride, bridesmaids and mother-of-the-bride (MOB) all find their perfect outfit. So far so good, the bride has found THE dress (truly stunning) and the perfect colour and style of dress has been found that suits all four bridesmaids.
The mother of the bride outfit however is a bit trickier and choosing a dress can be equally as challenging as finding the perfect wedding dress for the bride herself.
‘It’s my daughter’s wedding but I don’t want to look like ‘mother of the bride’
A daughter’s wedding is very important for any mother, so she will want to look equally stunning (while not upstaging the bride, obviously) chic and sophisticated. The mother of the bride is without doubt one of the most important people in the wedding party and she will want to shine in the wedding photographs alongside the bride and groom.
‘The bride may be the star, but the mother of the bride is the best supporting actress’
In February I embarked on a personal shop with my lovely MOB and we looked at everything from ‘off the peg’ to ‘made to measure’. Our mission? To find something that put the ‘special’ into special occasion wear.
Our first port of call was to visit talented and innovative Cheshire-based designer Yvonne Gillon [insert profile image]. It can be challenging to find that flattering special dress, and since originality may be key (the mother of the bride does NOT want to find a guest wearing the same one) you could consider a custom-made design, an option that is often overlooked.
A couture experience for the Mother of the Bride and Groom is the ultimate in personal care and attention, providing honest and expert advice on the styles, fabrics and colours that would suit that special occasion. Yvonne said: “It’s a very special and often intricate process that means so much more to our clients than simply buying off the peg.”
Yvonne continues: “Ladies come to us firstly for an initial consultation. Here they browse samples, look at fabrics and I work closely with them to create their exclusive design.”
“A second visit usually involves a ‘toile’ fit, where the customer’s individual pattern is made up in a plain fabric to test the size and fit of the design. Once the toile is perfected, the outfit can be cut in the customers chosen fabric and put together by our experienced couture machinists.”
There then follows a series of fittings where the garment will be tweaked until the fit is absolutely right.
Yvonne continues: “Pick up day is the most exciting stage in the Couture process. Ladies will bring their handbag, shoes and hat or fascinator and model the finished garment for the creative team. It’s a very special time for the customer. A made to measure design is exclusively theirs, and there’s no risk of meeting anyone wearing the same outfit”.
Yvonne and her team have the talent and design skills, along with experience in clever cutting and exquisite tailoring to create the perfect flattering silhouette. Developing, not just outfits, but close relationships with customers (many of whom become friends) over a period of time is what makes this service completely unique.
Visiting her studio was like experiencing a little slice of heaven; sumptuous fabrics, beautiful colours and inspiring designs. Yvonne and her team make you feel so welcome and they are clearly incredibly passionate about what they do. What’s more, all outfits are made on site so if you shop at Yvonne Gillon you’ll be flying the flag for British fashion and manufacturing.
Yvonne has put Marple, Cheshire firmly on the fashion map, and carved an enviable reputation for herself on the bridal scene with a couture service rarely matched outside London.
In addition to her exclusive made to measure service, Yvonne has also created a Ready to Wear range which includes a ‘Year round linen’ collection along with a selection of flattering pieces in easy wear and stretch fabrics.
As for my mother of the bride? She found her perfect very special outfit but it’s top secret so I’m afraid I can’t reveal anything until after the big day!
To find out more about Yvonne Gillon visit www.yvonnegillon.co.uk and follow her on twitter @yvonnegillon.
