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Stephanie Allin is a top British fashion bridal designer who has been making couture dresses for over 20 years. Renowned for her impeccable fit and use of the most beautiful fabric, Stephanie’s designs are well known for their simple elegance and modern features. I am thrilled to feature her interview this weekend as part of my Designer Series.
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Amber
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Hi Stephanie, tell us about your new collection. What were your inspirations behind this beautiful collection?
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The inspiration behind this collection is a follow on from from my Jazz Age collection & Night and Day collection. I have continued the subtle use of colour as well as adding great removable pieces and overall given that 1920’s glamorous feel to the whole collection.
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Bardot
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What is your style philosophy?
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My style is all about accentuating a bride’s best featured and making her feel the best she possibly can on her big day. I always use very high quality fabrics and make my own patterns as well as design so I have the ability to really think what will flatter a bride best – then i add all of the features that make a wedding dress so beautiful!
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Where do you look for inspiration?
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I get inspiration from lots of things, places I go, people I meet. My biggest inspiration though is my brides. I spend a lot of time in my two shops so get to find out what brides really want!
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Dani
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What sort of woman do you design for?
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I don’t usually have a specific muse as I am a great advocate for bride’s being different shapes and sizes and I don’t think anyone should suffer if they are not the so called ‘standard’ size – very few people are! That’s why I offer a made to measure service, I can then make my dress fit any shape or size!
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Illusion
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What fabrics and embellishments were chosen for the new collection and why?
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I used a lot of lace in my new collection, I always love Chantilly lace so have used plenty of that along with some really fun polka dot tulle and some amazing beaded and embellished fabrics.
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Serenade
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Do you have a personal favourite from the new collection? Which piece and why?
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I made a ‘show piece’ for my catwalk show which is called Violet. It is an amazing full skirt with a ruched bodice and is in a deep purple tulle with 3D flowers and an overall sparkle, it’s a real show stopper!
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What jewellery would you pair with pieces from your new collection?
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I like simple jewellery as I think it should be all about the bride and her dress. There are a few bridal jewellery designers I love at the moment, Hermione Harbutt, Gill Clement and Polly Edwards.
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Eternal
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What beauty look would complement the pieces in your new collection?
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I usually love brides to have a natural look as I think you want to look like yourself on your wedding day but this year I styled my dresses on the catwalk in such a way that the make up was very striking. The models had exaggerated eye liner, bright red lips and hair in pin curls – they all looked amazing!
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Kelly
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Do you have a “signature” piece?
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I think my signature piece would have to be my dress called Kelly. It epitomises everything I love about a wedding dress. It has that romantic 1950’s look with the nipped in waist and full skirt, it has delicate Chantilly lace that sits over the shoulders which is just so elegant and is accessorised with a thick buckle belt and pockets for that modern twist!
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Garbo
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How do you decide on the “names” for your gowns?
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We find the naming process so hard as we have used up so many names in the past! We usually draw inspiration from the theme of the collection so for example, in the Jazz Age we named dresses things like… Sophia, Loren and Hayworth!
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What sizes are available in your gowns? Are your pieces made to measure?
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Yes, I have a made to measure and made to measure with toile option as well as standard size so we cater for all sizes, shapes and heights.
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Moonlight
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What is the process for your clients from finding “the one” to the final fitting?
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If you buy the dresses in one of my two shops in London or Mumbles, we have the same process with every bride which once we have helped them find their dress, we then book them in for a toile (mock up of the corset) fitting approx. 16 weeks before their wedding and from there we make the dress according to the toile, then they have the first fitting of their dress 4 weeks later and the fitting process continues until their dress is absolutely perfect – usually there are about 3/4 fittings in total!
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What is the retail price range for your designs?
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My dresses start at £2500 including fittings.
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Honour
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What sets Stephanie Allin apart from other bridal wear brands?
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I think I have a lot of experience as I have been designing for brides for over 20 years. I am a skilled pattern cutter myself, I make all of my own patterns and most importantly I think, I have complete control over my dresses as I make them all in the UK at my workrooms in Mumbles.
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Mystical
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How did you get into wedding dress design – what is your story?
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I started out in fashion in London and then I got married and decided to have a baby. I wanted to move back home to Wales and had always been interested in pattern cutting and corsetry. I made a small collection and the first shop to buy my collection was Harrods! So I wholesaled my dresses from the very beginning and also opened my first shop in Wales and then built my business from there.
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Was there a defining point in your career that made your business the success that it is today?
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It’s taken many, many years of hard work! Opening my flagship central London shop was certainly a defining moment for me personally.
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Olivia
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What are your plans for the future?
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I plan to continue to grow my business and have already got stockists in Paris, Switzerland, Germany and the USA. I want to continue to support my UK stockists and grow my brand in Europe and the USA.
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Is this your dream career?
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This is definitely my dream career and I genuinely could not think of anything else i would rather do, or would be capable of doing for that matter.
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Sunset
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What would “a day in the life” at Stephanie Allin HQ be like?
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Well, every day is different for me! Last week I was doing our 2014 photo shoot at The Ritz, this week I have been to visit the London shop, I have made a dress in Mumbles, I have done several fittings with brides and next week I’m off to Paris to see our stockist there! No two days are the same!
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Lola
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Where do you go and what do you do to relax?
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I love going on holiday with my husband and two sons. We have a holiday planned for the end of the year and this is probably the only time i can truly relax.
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What are your “best things” in life?
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Definitely my family.
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Ingrid
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How can Brides Up North readers get in touch with you or see more of your designs?
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Well all they have to do is take a look at my website to have a look at upcoming events and designer days with my lovely Northern stockists. We are stocked in lots of places up North. Brides just need to go on my stockist page of my website and click on their area to find their closest stockist!
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Mae
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Is there anything else that we should know?
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All there is to know is on my website so any upcoming dates for the diary, new collections and news will be regularly updated at www.stephanieallin.net.
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 supplied by Stephanie Allin
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