…And a Heavenly New Year to You!

Dear Reader,
Wherever you are when the clock strikes twelve tonight, I wish you a Heavenly New Year…!

Looking forward to lots more vintage wedding delights in 2015… 

Lots of love - and thanks for all your support in 2014.

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

We wish you a Merry Christmas...!

Dear Reader

We'll be back in the New Year to share lots more vintage wedding dresses, advice and inspiration...

Meanwhile, I'm sending you my very best Christmas wishes in the form of these charming original vintage Christmas cards... Hope you enjoy them! New ones added below each day...

Lots of love, and wishing you a wonderful Christmas,

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

A Vintage Christmas!

Dear Reader

What more can I say…?

Thanks so much for all your support this year. I wish you a wonderful Christmas, and here's looking forward to a vintage 2015!

With love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

Real vintage bride of the week: Jane, in 1950s lace and tulle wedding dress.

Dear Reader,
Today our fabulous vintage bride of the week is Jane. For her London wedding to George, Jane wore a gorgeous original 1950s wedding dress in latte-coloured lace.


Jane and George both wore tea-length dresses with a 1950s silhouette to complement each other's - making two equally beautiful brides. And like the dresses, all their day was a genuine delight. In Jane's words…

"George and I had such an amazing wedding day, it was utterly perfect, such a great party and celebration. By the end of the night we were overwhelmed by the fact we were married and all the love we felt from our fab friends and family."

"My highlights included: all our guests reading out the vows in unison, to which me and George replied together I do!; George singing Amy Winehouse's Valerie with the lyrics changed to Janie (epic!); our first dance to Earth Angel and then dancing the night away."

"I have to say, I felt like a princess in my dress and couldn't stop twirling! I love it so much. Helena - the support, guidance and sheer enjoyment I had on my visits to you, truly made the best start to my wedding planning, and I was so happy to find my 'perfect' dress. I have recommended you to several of my friends getting married next year so I do hope they get to meet you."

I love the way Jane's original 1950s wedding dress sets off her flame-red hair, but I'm sure you'll agree both brides look fabulous, and join me in wishing them big congratulations!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try my other Real Vintage Brides

Photographs with thanks to Bethan Haywood Jones

Gorgeous vintage 1950s lace wedding dresses, new on my blog today...

Dear Reader

As a distraction from the tinsel and Christmas mayhem (is anybody ready yet this year?), I'd like to show you three wonderful 1950s lace wedding dresses - from the collection of original vintage dresses at my West London studio. 

Emma Domb 1950s lace and satin wedding dress, priced £995

1950s 'cupcake' lace wedding dress, priced £950

Pretty 1950s lace wedding dress, priced £975

The 1950s is the ultra-feminine decade and the fit can be different to modern cutting, often with a fuller bust and smaller waist. (In a later post, I'll explain more about 1950s shaping and cut.) But fear not! My expert seamstresses know exactly how to adapt a 1950s dress to achieve a fabulous modern fit.

First, a lovely dress by renowned 1950s American designer Emma Domb, priced at £995...

Emma Domb 1950s lace and satin wedding dress, £995

Emma is one of my favourite designers for her great cutting and attention to detail. (Stylist Patricia Field loves her party dresses so much she often chose them for Carrie in Sex and the City.) 

I was delighted to find this exceptional example, with its beautiful softly v-shaped neckline, and delicate daisy trim. 

Emma Domb 1950s lace wedding dress, delicate daisy trim

Emma Domb 1950s lace and satin wedding dress, ribbon bow

Emma Domb 1950s lace and satin wedding dress, beautiful silhouette

Many of my clients look for a combination of lace and satin, and this dress is a particularly nice example. As well as a beautiful lace bodice, it has a satin skirt with lace centre panel. Lovely! 

Emma Domb 1950s lace and satin wedding dress, lace panel skirt

Next, this sweet 1950s tea length dress, with its very full skirt and long lace sleeves, priced at £950. A classic and very pretty example of a 'cupcake' dress...

1950s cupcake lace wedding dress, priced £950 

Cupcake dresses are a classic 1950s look, and can be great fun to wear - as well as very flattering. The volume of the skirt creates the illusion of tiny waist. The shape is balanced by a fullness in the bust, to create a curvy but still petite silhouette.

1950s cupcake lace wedding dress, long lace sleeves, £950

1950s cupcake lace wedding dress, full skirt makes a small waist!

1950s lace wedding dress, pretty detailing on frothy skirt, £950

1950s lace wedding dress, long lace sleeves - so feminine, £950

My third dress today is this very well-cut 1950s dress, priced at £975. It is knee-length - a few inches shorter than tea length - and has a boat neck, a pretty low back, and short sleeves...  

Pretty 1950s lace wedding dress, priced £975

1950s lace wedding dress, flattering shaped bodice. Priced £975

Pretty 1950s lace wedding dress, smoothly flared skirt. Priced £975

This is an exceptionally pretty and wearable dress. The skirt flares out very smoothly with a really nice amount of volume and swing, and the bodice is perfectly cut to give a sculpted shape.

1950s lace wedding dress, exceptionally clever cut and fit. £975

Pretty 1950s lace wedding dress, sculpted silhouette. £975

Each of these dresses is available from my West London studio, where I hold a collection of around 70 original vintage wedding dresses. Just contact me to make an appointment to view them in person. You can see more of them on my website or here on my blog. (And of course, I also have the Heavenly Collection of new vintage-inspired dresses in a full range of sizes, see those here on my blog.)

Ahh, the 1950s really knew how to make a girl look pretty! Hope you've enjoyed seeing my new dresses. Now, back to wrapping those presents...

Thanks for stopping by today.

Festive Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides