Blue Nude Bridal
A few years ago, I was enlisted to help my friend Jessica find a dress for her civil ceremony. She easily found a dreamy gown for her English countryside wedding, but struggled to find something simple for her civil ceremony in London.
She wanted a dress that was relatively affordable, modern, and re-wearable. The civil ceremony was small and laid-back, with a proper party afterwards oriented towards a wider group of friends, at a venue in the East London neighbourhood of Clapton. The dresses we were finding were either exorbitantly expensive, too traditional, or not versatile - after the party was over, there'd be no use for them. We found some great vintage items, however, once they arrived the fit wasn't right, even with intervention from a tailor.
After months of searching, we had come up with nothing. Jessica asked, would I design a look for her? Despite my years of fashion design, I had never considered designing attire for brides. I accepted, and we co-designed a green, two-piece set with a slip dress and sheer silk organza overlay. Both pieces were meant to integrate into Jessica's daily wardrobe afterward.
Jessica in a custom Blue Nude bridal look, accompanied by her new husband, Danny.
After this experience, I wondered if other brides were having the same challenge. I thought about all the brides I had recently witnessed get married or had helped source their dress - their big day had required an untraditional approach to dressing too.
Coincidentally, sometime after an editor at a big fashion magazine suggested my dress designs would be perfect for the bridal market. With this encouragement, I decided to make Blue Nude's first civil ceremony dress - the Jardin Scarf Dress in Pearl.
I chose to adapt this design for the bridal market as I love its versatility and elegance. The scarf is an unfussy element that adds drama to the look, and if removed, a chic and effortless shift dress remains underneath. Perfect for carefree dancing. I also love the design as a base for each bride. It can be accessorized in many ways, allowing the bride to show off her personal style.
After the big day has come and gone, the dress is suitable for several occasions. Wear with the scarf and a pair of tights for a glamorous winter event. Without the scarf, the dress would make for a beautiful holiday look.
While researching fabrics for the Jardin Dress, I thought about vegan brides and how they are unable to wear silk due to the involvement of silkworms. To my horror, I saw many wedding shops offering polyester (plastic) alternatives to silk for vegan brides. I decided to use viscose fabric, which is plant-based, to offer a better, biodegradable alternative. It's also incredibly soft and luxurious.
True to Blue Nude style, I'd recommend introducing colour on your big day - match your bouquet to your shoes!
~ Kat
Founder & Creative Director
You can order the Jardin Scarf Dress in Pearl here.
