Caroline Castigliano – LUXURY WEDDING BLOG

The UK’s Top Luxury Wedding Dress Designers

5 Star Weddings — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 08:10:09 +0000

Top wedding dresses: The biggest challenge a bride faces before her wedding is finding the correct wedding dress. Moreover, the abundance of wedding dresses, at times, makes it even harder to find the dress in which you look and feel perfect on your wedding day.

This article presents the top luxury wedding dress designers in the United Kingdom, and thus, to help you in your search for the perfect dress.

Caroline Castigliano

caroline castigliano

Specialising in classic styles with a contemporary edge, the emphasis at Caroline Castigliano is on genuine luxury and total indulgence. From humble beginnings, Caroline Castigliano opened her first bridal boutique in Surrey in 1991, today there are six such boutiques throughout the United Kingdom with several more stockists around the world.

Caroline is an expert in corsetry and incorporates her superior technique into her perfectly structured gowns. Caroline is an expert in creating dresses which flatter the female form using simple lines and understated elegance.

Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen

Royal wedding dress designer Sarah Burton is creative director at the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen, following the death of its founder Lee Alexander McQueen. Sarah Burton arrived at the prestigious fashion house straight from college and has since taken the brand from strength to strength.

Famed for her exquisite designs, Sarah is a veritable magician with a needle and thread. Using a variety of textures, Sarah creates a world of beauty with her incredible ability to create artful and sophisticated gowns. Having created day dresses for Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga, Sarah Burton and co are no strangers to creating outstanding couture.

Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley launched her signature label in 1990 and has over the past two decades developed into an international brand with a considerable reputation as a designer of luxury womenswear. The bridal collection established in 2000, offers contemporary glamour coupled with timeless elegance.

Her collections tend to focus on simple clean lines which elongate the silhouette. This is achieved through precision cut and sophisticated designs with very few embellishments. Using a variety of luxurious fabrics, Amanda Wakeley’s attention to detail and craftsmanship is known throughout the industry.

Jenny Packham

One of the United Kingdoms most influential and successful fashion houses, Jenny Packham’s collections include sophisticated eveningwear and bridal attire. Offering a contemporary approach to style and design, there is both a couture and ready-to-wear collection.

Dresses are available to purchase at the world famous Harrods and showrooms in London, Paris and New York. Jenny Packham is an iconic designer having produced gowns for Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, Amy Adams and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Ian Stuart

British designer Ian Stuart is famous for his spectacular bridal wear collections. Mixing elegant gowns with contemporary chic, Ian Stuart is highly praised for his unique and whimsical designs. Five times winner of Bridal Designer of the Year at the Bridal Buyer Awards, Ian boasts an impressive list of clients including socialites, celebrities and the Royal family.

Launched in 2003, Ian’s couture gowns are all about glamour, grandeur and refinement. With an unrivalled eye for detailing, many gowns are hand finished with ruffles, flowers and diamonds. Romantic and feminine, Ian Stuart’s gowns are as elaborate as they are beautiful.

Stewart Parvin

Royal couturier Stewart Parvin studied fashion at Edinburgh College of Art, then went on to work for well-known fashion designer Donald Campbell. Stewart started his own label in 1995 initially designing eveningwear however in 1999 he launched his first bridal collection, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Stewart Parvin was awarded the Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM the Queen in 2007, after years of designing for Her Majesty. Elegant, sophisticated and luxurious, are just some of the words which could describe any of Stewart’s bridal dresses. He truly has an eye for flattering the female form in perfectly cut sumptuous gowns.

Phillipa Lepley

Phillipa Lepley is renown for her impeccable style and is one of London’s leading bridal couture designers. Her distinctness style of understated elegance and sophistication makes her a popular choice for London’s high flyers. Timeless and feminine, Phillipa’s signature look is that of luxurious splendour. Coupling vintage fabrics with exquisite embellishments, Phillipa Lepley’s gowns simply ooze old world charm with a modern twist.

Each dress is designed to flatter the bride’s figure giving the bride the confidence to shine. Phillipa launched her first bridal collection in 1988-1990 from a basement in South Kensington and opened her flagship bridal shop in London’s fashionable Chelsea in 1990.

Suzanne Neville

British-born designer Suzanne Neville likes to keep her award-winning dresses home-made with all of her designing and handmade production taking place in London. Famed for her decadent wedding gowns, each piece is structured and constructed to fit the body perfectly. Suzanne’s dress is hand crafted to the pinnacle of couture excellence. Using only the finest silks and hand embroidery, Suzanne Neville’s collection includes everything from slim fitting dresses to full romantic gowns.

Suzanne started the business in 1991 after studying at London College of Fashion. She has since gone on to win numerous awards and British Bridal Designer of the Year in 2009. Suzanne is frequently featured in top bridal and fashion publications and boasts an enviable client list, including celebrities and high-profile clients.

Ritva Westenius

London’s leading Wedding Dress Designer with over 35 years of experience and dedication for producing innovative Bridal Couture of the highest quality. Ritva Westenius has become the symbol of British style by opening the way to the innovative and artistic interpretation of Wedding Fashion. Ritva Westenius has won numerous designer awards across her career, among them the Best British Bridal Designer 2012 and again a Finalist in 2013.

Ritva Westenius launched her own couture wedding gown collection in 1977 and opened her modern luxury Bridal Boutique in Central London. Here one is greeted with the eye-catching splendour of glamour and sophistication. Elegant slim fitting dresses, trendy fishtails and full romantic gowns are created in beautiful luxury fabrics of organza, tulle, slipper satin and lace with exquisite hand-beading and a choice of unusual, belts, corsages and boleros.

www.ritvawestenius.com

Sassi Holford

There is nothing better than an authentic handmade wedding dress that will show you in your best light. In this respect, Sassi Holford’s interpretation of the perfect wedding dress is brilliant. Her dresses exhibit the traditional style of the old days. What is stylish never goes out of fashion, and this is what Sassi has proven more than once. Moreover, designed to complement the figure at all times, her collection’s internal corseting will portray the bride in her most elegant form.

Justin Alexander

Justin Alexander is best known for his vintage gowns, combining timeless elegance from the 1950s and 60s with modern design. Old world glamour and sophistication pour from each dress, giving the bride a uniquely classical look, synonymous with Justin Alexander. Using exquisite styling and only the highest quality materials including antique lace, tulle and silk chiffon, Justin Alexander frequently appears in high fashion magazines and editorial.

Temperley London

Temperley London easily scores a place here, because she is one of the few designers who are ready to break free from the traditional forms and change the meaning of the word stylish. Her vast collection has dresses that fit all tastes from the shy and simple to the more retro wedding dresses.

Bruce Oldfield

As a wedding designer, Bruce Oldfield is known in all the high-fashion circles. In fact, Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Diana are some of his previous clients who have proudly showcased some of the dresses in his collection. As for style, he shows how well conservative details go with modern-age ideas. If you are looking for a dress that will open you up, his innovative designs will, without a doubt, satisfy your taste.

Terry Fox

Terry Fox takes her place in our top ten because of a plethora of reasons. For one, her talent is not only recognised by numerous brides, but also by the 2013 Wedding Industry Awards committee, which pronounced her as the Best Wedding Dress Designer National Winner.

Whatever your taste is, you can be sure to find a dress that absolutely satisfies you. Terry Fox’s collection has everything from the most elegant and simple to the stylish, modern-age wedding dress. As a plus, all of her dresses are made by hand with a lot of attention to detail.

We hope you enjoyed reading our list of the top UK wedding dress designers, off-course there are much more, so we hope to feature more designers in the future. If you have any suggestions do let us know.

katya katya Shehurina

How The Rich Get Hitched

5 Star Weddings — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:41:49 +0000

Two of 5 Star Weddings’ favourite clients were featured prominently in Channel 4’s eye-opening documentary, How The Rich Get Hitched last night

Today it seems everyone is marvelling at the fun and fabulousness of the ultimate 5 star weddings… How The Rich Get Hitched premiered on Channel 4 last night, and featured some of our favourite 5 Star Weddings suppliers, elite dress maker Caroline Castigliano, and artisan wedding planner Bruce Russell.

Caroline revealed the extent to which her clients strive to achieve the perfect wedding dress for them, down to the very last detail; whether it’s silk that costs hundreds of pounds per metre, or multiple thousands of hand stitched beads… One of Caroline’s clients matched the Duchess of Cambridge penny for penny, with a gorgeous gown with a price tag of £40,000. Caroline points out that the dress is the thing women daydream about, so when money is no object – why scrimp on the important things?

Another client, Kashmir, was so thrilled with her Castigliano gown that she and her husband-to-be commissioned a £75,000 portrait of the bride in her dress. The stunning painting was unveiled during a party at Castigliano HQ in Knightsbridge, featured in the documentary.

Viewers were also treated to a tour of the iconic Savoy Hotel, by resident wedding planner Bruce Russell. Some of the world’s most incredible weddings happen here, and Bruce is the man who makes them happen. Weddings at the legendary London hotel can set brides and grooms back at least £70,000 for 300 guests, and a night in the Royal Suite starts at £10,000 – but it does come with its own butler…

Did you see How The Rich Get Hitched? If you missed the glamorous spectacle, catch up now on 4 On Demand.

Passion Collection By Caroline Castigliano

5 Star Weddings — Fri, 22 May 2015 05:57:59 +0000

A connoisseur of luxury bridalwear in the UK, Caroline Castigliano is proud to launch its 2016 collection at White Gallery London. An inspirational force, Castigliano has dressed some of the world’s most stylish women for their weddings.

The 2016 ‘Passion’ collection is offered in exquisite luxurious fabrics, to create an unrivalled sense of glamour. The 32 piece collection comprises structured-fishtail gowns with the signature Castigliano corset, soft floaty silk georgette skirts teamed with modern lace or simply understated corset tops, there are clean cut silk zibeline gowns along with bias cut lace dresses.

Caroline’s signature is a silhouette which is unquestionably feminine and effortlessly elegant, each gown is meticulously hand crafted in the UK and the ‘Passion’ collection is offered in standard / half sizes/ and mixed sizes as well as ‘made to measure’.

A full range of Castigliano accessories will also launch at White Gallery London to include headpieces, veils, belts and shrugs.

Caroline Castigliano will be exhibiting at White Gallery London from Sunday May 17 until Tuesday May 19 and is located on stand 101.

carolinecastigliano.com

Caroline Castigliano’s 2015 ‘Opera Collection

5 Star Weddings — Wed, 07 May 2014 07:43:49 +0000

From 12th May for one week only Caroline Castigliano will be unveiling her 2015 ‘Opera Collection’ and brides will have the opportunity to view the collection in her Knightsbridge store, 4 months before the collections official launch in October.

Designed to create an impact from the moment you walk into a room, the first thing you will notice about The Opera Collection is the fine, delicate fabrics which have been intricately cut to create graceful, feminine silhouettes for which the British designer is so well-known.

As fans of the designer will know, Caroline loves lace, and the new collection certainly isn’t short of this amazingly pretty and versatile fabric.

Caroline said, “People think of lace as quite traditional but the laces we use are soft and cut into contemporary styles – I had so much fun with lace in this collection.”

By Appointment Only.

Caroline Castigliano Catwalk Event

5 Star Weddings — Fri, 31 May 2013 07:59:45 +0000

Award-winning bridal boutique, Lace Bridal is staging the event of the season with an exclusive and star-studded preview of the 2014 English Heritage Collection from Caroline Castigliano.

North West brides are invited to view the UK premiere showcase of the full bridal and evening wear collection from the renowned designer at a red carpet event in the heart of Manchester.

Photographers, including Martin Hambleton, will be on hand to capture guests as they arrive before they are treated to an evening of canapés and drinks courtesy of Stables Cuisine and sponsors, County Brides.

We are also delighted that Springbank Flowers will showcase wedding bouquets and floral arrangements to compliment the luxurious and indulgent collection. Springbank Flowers is one of the UK leading wedding florists, regularly designing for discerning clientele from both private and celebrity circles. The crowning jewel of the evening (literally) will be a glimpse of a breath-taking Mastercut diamond-set tiara, worth £30,000 diamond courtesy of luxury jeweller, Green + Benz. The regal tiara, inspired by vintage Edwardian and Victorian styles, has over 400 individually set diamonds, weighing over 5 carats. Green + Benz will also be showcasing a range of bridal jewellery at the event, including pieces by Shaun Leane, Ungar & Ungar and Fei Liu.

Katie Webster, Director of Lace Bridal says: “Caroline Castigliano gowns epitomise luxury and indulgence, and the unveiling of the full 2014 collection will be an experience to match the calibre of the dresses on our catwalk. We have enlisted a visionary team of suppliers to create an unmissable event, creating a unique opportunity for women in the north-west to have a front row seat at the forefront of fashion, before the full collection is shown anywhere else.”

She adds: “It is also a chance for fashion-forward women in the north-west to encounter one of the UK’s most successful and respected designers, to see her designs up close and to have the opportunity to meet her in person.”

The showcase will take place at Manchester’s Piccadilly Place on the 6th of June from 6.30pm until 9pm. Caroline Castigliano will be in attendance, along with a number of mystery celebrity guests.

Tickets are now on sale to the public at £25 for more details click here

Lace Calls Brides To Back Breast Cancer Campaign

5 Star Weddings — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:33:25 +0000

Calling all brides – if you have longed to wear your wedding dress again but haven’t found the right moment, then here’s your chance!

Luxury Cheshire wedding dress boutique Lace Bridal is inviting all women who want to support Breast Cancer Campaign whilst having fun in their wedding gown again, to join forces and raise awareness by wearing their dresses in support of the charity.

Caroline Castigliano

On Sunday, 28 October, ladies across the North West and further afield will gather at Lace Bridal, Ashley Road, Hale, at 11.30 am before purchasing pink balloons, which will be released at 12 noon.

In support of the pink ribbon campaign, brides will also enjoy a glass of pink champagne and reminisce about their wedding day, releasing balloons to show their joint support in finding a cure for breast cancer.

For those ladies without a dress – don’t despair! Anyone can join in the fun simply by wearing something pink. All proceeds raised on the day will be donated directly to Breast Cancer Campaign.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women. Around 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year, and 1,000 women a month die from the disease.

Breast Cancer Campaign aims to find a cure by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

Lesley Davies, from Lace Bridal, comments: “This is a unique opportunity for women to relive their wedding day and support a fantastic cause at the same time. “Most women don’t get the chance to wear their wedding dress beyond their wedding day, but this event gives them the chance to feel special once again whilst raising money and awareness to combat breast cancer.”

For more informatio,n please visit lacebridal.co.uk