In a world of fast fashion and popping off for a Saturday morning of shopping to find your outfit for that night's drinks, we have quite quickly lost the awareness, understanding and learnings about what it actually takes for something of quality to be created.
"Wedding dress shopping is one of the last areas of fashion where it has never been more important to get your fabric and fit just right."
I know in my mother's teenage years (and her own mother for that fact), the only way they would access a new outfit is to sew it. Planning, designing and creating your own garment gives you that deeper level understanding of what is required for something to fit and feel beautiful for the wearer - as well as of course, looking amazing.
Wedding dress shopping is one of the last areas of fashion (besides couture and bespoke) where it has never been more important to get your fabric and fit just right.
Your monetary investment is a lot,
Your emotional investment is equally as high and,
Something so special should be made from the best fabric!
Fabric really is the basis for a beautiful garment, and French fabric and lace is the pinnacle of quality. If you don't have the right fabric from the start for your wedding dress, nothing will be right.
The highest quality fabric needs the right expertise to cut and sew a garment too. The home of couture - France - has the most experienced seamstresses, designers and makers. From the 'petites mains' of the French couturiers to the machinists in workrooms across Paris like Laure de Sagazan's atelier.
"Something so special, should be made from the BEST fabric..."
So, how to know when you have the best quality fabric for your wedding dress?
By ticking off 3 things...
The FEEL of the fabric
The FIT of the fabric
The LOOK of the fabric
Laure de Sagazan's atelier with her signature Calais Lace
FABRIC: THE FEEL
Have you ever put something on, only to develop an incredible urgency to take it straight off? It could be that it's itchy, you feel claustrophobic, or there's something a bit 'off' about it. Something that FEELS icky is most likely due to the wrong fabric for you.
The French designers at Carte Blanche Bride use only natural fibres, or the finest man-made materials. I often say to my clients that the linings used in our wedding dresses FEEL like you're wearing the silkiest, softest pyjamas.
Atelier Blanche cotton lace
Lace fabrics can also range widely in quality and feel. French lace - where the skill and craft originated - is soft and light, not at all scratchy like some have come to expect. Lace should never be itchy or overly heavy. Even the heaviest Guipure Lace, should feel soft and light on your skin.
FABRIC: THE FIT
When working with incredible silk and lace fabrics, the fit comes down to who is creating this garment and their experience with cutting fabrics and fitting them to a body.
The best fabric will never pull or fight, it won't become static and it won't create lines or puckering. If something shows horizontal lines across your bust or your hips, or even your shoulder line the cut is wrong or it is ill-fitting for you. Plus, chances are it won't FEEL good either.
FABRIC: THE LOOK
Some of the finest or lightest fabrics in the world, like silk chiffon or georgette are also the most difficult to cut and sew. Have you ever seen an evening dress make from a very fine fabric with puckering down the seam? Or perhaps you have worn something that always twists the wrong way and seems to fight with your body.
These are telltale signs that your item has been made poorly with incorrect methods and little to know experience with special fabrics.
French wedding dresses - especially - at Carte Blanche Bride never pucker or twist. It begins with the right, luxury fabric and ends with the most experienced of hands to design and create the wedding gown.
Laure de Sagazan fitting one of her signature designs on a mannequin
EXPERIENCE CARTE BLANCHE BRIDE
Carte Blanche Bride takes care and pride in caring for our clients. You will have our support throughout your decision making process and long after. You are our Carte Blanche Bride.
We present our special French collections at the Melbourne-based showroom, annual Trunk Show events around Australia and now with the new DIGITAL DRESS DATE if travelling to Melbourne is out of your reach.
Get in touch HERE to book an appointment or find out more about our world-leading service and experience.
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