With the summer events season right around the corner we all start thinking about those special outfits. If you happen to have the honor of being Mother of the Bride this year that task can be a very daunting and often overwhelming one. Do you go bespoke, do you go high street, what will your daughter want you to wear? All are important questions to ask yourself when choosing such a special outfit for such a momentous day.
We had the pleasure of meeting up with famous atelier Catherine Walker & Co, based in Chelsea, who has dressed an enormous amount of elegant women such as Princess Diana and The Duchess of Cambridge and who specializes in dressing mothers of the bride. When Carole Middleton stepped out in a gorgeous blue Catherine Walker coat at the wedding of her daughter and Prince William in 2011, we were instantly smitten.
Design Director, Said Cyrus has plenty of advice to offer those struggling to find the right style for their daughter’s big day. Read on for more….
‘There’s always the temptation to make a ‘statement’ on a wedding day but it’s probably best to opt for understated elegance and comfort. Our team is happy to advise on what will flatter if you’re not already confident with your personal style. And, of course, liaise with the mother of the groom!
‘We find the trend is a coatdress worn over a lightweight dress that can be worn on its own later for the evening reception.
‘We specialise in combining precision, sharp tailoring in structure – around the shoulder and neckline, for example – for confidence and a strong silhouette. Then details and touches such as soft drapery and hand applied embroidery lend femininity and glamour. We have a team of 30 committed experts – ranging from Savile Row standard tailors to ladies who apply intricate beading by hand – who are passionate and dedicated to producing stand out work.
‘Wear what makes your daughter happy – because we do made from measure for both bride and mother we find the atelier experience we offer – from selection to final fitting – is a popular journey they enjoy with us together in the lead up to the day.
‘It’s worth remembering that a beautiful made-to-measure design has a life after the wedding, so it’s worth considering what use you may have for an investment that will last for many years. We had a customer in our showroom the other day who presented a coat that her mother had worn for her own christening and she wanted to adjust it a little so she could wear now – it was over 25 years old but still looked immaculate.
‘We recommend that mothers of the bride come to us as early as possible. We allow around 4-6 weeks for our service but at busy times of the year a queue quickly forms as all that we do is created in the one street in Chelsea.
‘It’s our job to make sure every garment we make to measure makes the wearer feel beautiful. The artistry and subtle poetry of our work is designed to empower women and for to wear the clothes rather than the other way round.’
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Catherine Walker & Co has been dressing brides and mothers of the bride for almost 40 years. It’s such an important day and it’s one occasion where you really do want to feel confident and beautiful in what you are wearing. Clients from around the world visit the atelier to experience a very personal service and the rare skills of a traditional couture house whose history stretches back four decades. All items are hand made to order in the seven studios in Chelsea’s Bury Walk.
