WEDDING DRESS INSPIRATION - Consciously Curated Atelier BRIDES, Made Modern Vows To Rework, Rewear And Repurpose Their Way To Disrupting The Wedding Industry, One Dress At A Time

15th April 2021

Alice-Christiana Leon is the founder of BRIDES, made modern, and she's on a mission to inject more sustainability into the wedding dress industry. Her online atelier is home to sensibly priced designer wedding dresses and contemporary occasion wear, perfect for your bridesmaids.

Items may be brand new, modestly imperfect or vintage, and whether originating from renowned or indie designers, each is striking in its elegant simplicity and refined silhouettes. There are three curated bridal collections: Flow (for fluid silks and satins), Siren (for updated classics) and Texture (for all things tactile and shimmery); The Team is where your fashion-forward bridesmaids and guests will find what they're looking for. Just last month, they also launched The Keepsake Collection of vintage handbags, perfect to accompany your conscious ensemble!

I'll hand over to Alice-Christiana to tell you more about what she does and why, and to share a few essential tips for styling your bridesmaids stylishly and sustainably...

A Contemporary Bride’s Secrets To Staying Sustainably Stylish On Her Wedding Day

WEDDING DRESS INSPIRATION - Consciously Curated Atelier BRIDES, Made Modern Vows To Rework, Rewear And Repurpose Their Way To Disrupting The Wedding Industry, One Dress At A TimeWedding worthy, feeling like a total bridal babe. That was me on my big day, champagne-fuelled and totally in love, wearing the dress I had literally dreamed of for years... It was a crazy, mad, city wedding celebration in Bank, the City of London with a church ceremony, a walk to The Mercer restaurant (well Husband and I got a black cab) and then it got serious with the maddest party at Protein Studios, Shoreditch. We'll just say that my Best Man surprised me with my favourite, fire-breathing drag queen... flown in from Ibiza for 30 minutes.

As a PR Director specialises in sustainable and ethical luxury lifestyle, beauty and fashion, when I originally began to plan my own 2019 city-bride wedding, I was disheartened by the copious amounts of lace, the secretly disappointing bridal salon experiences and it just didn't make sense to me to not re-use or re-wear any element of what is commonly pitched to be the most beautiful and costly dress you'll ever have on. So I called on fashion friends, editorial tailors and contacts I knew to help me find and plan my dream definition of bridal style. I queued for unworn designer samples and searched high and low for vintage couture for my bridal team's individual style including Reiss, Christopher Kane and Valentino.

BRIDES, made modern - bridesmaidsMy top three tips for sussing out stylish yet sustainable finds that will have you and your bridesmaids standing out?

  1. Don’t be afraid to DM independents over on Instagram. Some of the most innovative and fashion-forward designers have just graduated from university, and many independent accessory brands have established themselves as a creative outlet and side-hustle. Ask if they would consider creating something unique, or shop small to add a unique element to your wedding outfit. 
  2. Think individual. If you are having bridesmaids, think carefully of their body type, style and if they would want to re-wear that look again. I didn’t want to sacrifice their comfort or force them to wear a style that they didn’t feel 100% hot and confident in. So I sent options that I found on outlet or sample sales, and they choose their fave or one of my bridesmaids brought a vintage 1970’s evening dress and had the back re-tailored to better suit her style. I was very relaxed about patterns or colour so I wasn’t constrained by any typical limitations. 
  3. Enjoy the process. I found it super cathartic to search for unique elements of styling for the wedding and discovering incredible pieces such as a vintage 90’s perspex Dior cuff bracelet as a wedding favour. You're going to have to spend the time searching, so make it an enjoyable challenge to find accessories that have a personal story to give to your loved one. 

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the consumer begin to embrace sustainability and fashion within mainstream media. Then Covid-19 hit. From March 23rd 2020, an industry worth £10  billion a year in the UK was halted and all weddings were banned, affecting 73,600 ceremonies so far, according to government figures. With constantly changing regulations and restrictions, many couples are choosing to do intimate congregations with micro-weddings, elopements and second celebrations. Then let me refresh you with average price points. One can expect to pay upwards of £1,600 for a couture wedding dress, but usually closer to the £3,000 mark. And I thought... some-one needs to do the hard work and bring this to the masses - it turned out to be me!

BRIDES, made modern - wedding dressesBRIDES, made modern - wedding dressesBRIDES, made modern - wedding dressesBRIDES, made modern is the digital atelier for contemporary, fashion-forward brides that want brands with modernity, alternative bridal options and luxury for less... all whilst shopping sustainably smart by showcasing designer evening, vintage couture and gorgeous bridal gowns that would otherwise go to waste whilst also delivering affordable pricing with all dresses £750 and under. We are able to keep our prices so low as our collections not include new and unworn pieces but also perfectly imperfect, pre-loved and sample bridal gowns, dresses, suits and jumpsuits from not only traditional bridal designers such as Rosa Clara and Caroline Castigliano but also we source contemporary and fashion such as Galvan, Solace London, Reiss, Stella McCartney amongst many more.

In the quest to get my 'dream dress', I can truly attest to doing ALL elements of the BRIDES, made modern strap-line which is 'vow to re-work, re-wear and re-purpose'. I 're-purposed' a new Austin Scarlett sample at a fifth of the RRP, my incredible, couture tailor with over 40 years of the most elite high fashion experience completely 're-worked' the dress and yes... I'll definitely 're-wear' the main gown after it's altered! 

BRIDES, made modern - bridesmaids and guestsBrides, made modernBRIDES, made modern - bridesmaids and guests​BRIDES, made modern also will be highlighting through social and on our blog VOWS the coolest, new small independent designers like FLOROHDE, Jorrdy and professionals such as some of the most renowned session seamstresses, jewellers, editorial stylists, florists such as PROXYBLOOM and wedding coordinators in both the fashion, events and wedding industry that make the visions that you see in Vogue happen... Think of it almost like a little black bridal book so if you don't find the dress of your dreams, someone can possibly make it happen! Where-ever possible, we use the greenest and ethical business practises and with every new drop of dresses, we select one #GownForGood with all the profits donated to a charity of our or the buyer's choice. It's our small way of giving back and spreading some more love in this world. The ultimate take-away from BRIDES, made modern is that one can sustainably and affordably have a luxurious customer experience within bridal OR potentially be connected who the person who can create their dream dress from scratch, but you may just need a little bit more thought, time and creativity! 

I vow to showcase some incredible designer evening and bridal wear that would otherwise go to waste due to small imperfections whilst also delivering affordable and attainable pricing. 

I vow to highlight partnerships with premium, must-have independent brands and celebrate incredible people in both the fashion and wedding industry.

I vow to minimise the supply chain, going direct to other small and independent businesses to purchase unwanted seconds and samples, and encouraging as many sustainable and bio-degradable elements in our business practises and packaging.

I vow to disrupt the bridal-wear market, and it's going to start with dresses. 

 

Previous Blog Post

WEDDING PLANNING INSPIRATION - Why Zoom Weddings Are Here To Stay

This insight from the US extolls the virtues of a digital wedding day - the environment and your bank balance will thank you for it!...

Published on: 12th April 2021
 
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