Chic meets cool with Karen Walker Atelier
Karen Walker announces new bridal Atelier service with a considered edit of dresses and suits with the modern bride in mind.
How did you choose the dresses for the bridal collection? It must have been hard!
It was all about having our chic-meets-eccentric handwriting coming through in this collection as it does in everything we touch.
I wanted options that had a realness to them and that combined chic with cool and added a sprinkling of tough in there for good measure.
What inspired the idea of the atelier?
For as long as I can remember we’ve had customers asking about outfits for their wedding days - people who love our style and have it as part of many special or important days and want to have it on their wedding day also.
If a bride were from out of town could you still manage the process for her?
We’ll work with the client’s tailor to ensure we’re getting the right measurement – it’s amazing what can be achieved with email and FaceTime! We’ve worked in this way with our celebrity clientele, most recently Michelle Obama for whom we made a denim suit, and we get the perfect look and the perfect fit every time.
Can brides deviate much from the silhouette? We’ll tailor the fit for the client whilst keeping the original design and silhouette as best as possible.
What if a bride wants a different colour? – which fabrics are included in the collection?
We’re happy to look into other colours and fabrics where possible for the design.
Your dresses are often worn by bridesmaids – I have had friends do this over the years. Will there be an additional bridesmaids edit or is the focus mostly on the brides for now?
It would be a natural next step but let’s see how the brides go first!
What about mother of the bride?
She should look modern and chic and we can help out with that as well.
What do you think epitomises the modern bride? She isn’t the ‘meringue bride’. She isn’t trapped at the table behind the cake—she wants to get out there and enjoy her day, and have a realness about her.
If you were to get married today, what would you wear? If I were getting married today and have to choose one right now it’d be the Bliss Dress – I love a short dress on a bride. This has that energy and moxie and it’s beautiful but has a sort of toughness. Also, I’d have a suit: the Love Tuxedo and Devotion Trousers because I’m never going to be the meringue bride caught at the top table.
What did you wear on your wedding day?
I had two looks. The first was an ivory suit (micro mini skirt, fitting hip length jacket) and I had ivory coloured hair to match. That was worn as I was welcoming and hanging with guests when they arrived. Then I switched into the dress which was highly textured, 3D, chunky, gutsy lace – the dress shape was fitting, high to the neckline, narrow shoulders, long, skinny sleeves and micro-mini length with the lace’s scalloping forming the hem on dress and sleeves.
When selecting a dress, what do you think the bride should consider as the most important things? She needs to be able to move and enjoy the day in it. Our collection’s full of styles the bride can wear at a beach wedding, they can wear with a pair of Stan Smith sneakers and they can get out onto the dance floor and enjoy the party.
Love the puff veil so much, what was the inspiration behind this? We wanted something sculptural, strong, interesting and a little bit tough.
Karen Walker has also extended her popular jewellery line including intricate engagement and wedding rings. To enquire about the atelier service for both jewellery and fashion email; [email protected] click Karen Walker Bridal to view the full range.
Bliss Dress
Love Tuxedo with Devotion Trousers
Bob Veil
Blessing Gown
Euphoria Gown
Forever Cape
Hail Dress
Tradition Gown
True Love Gown
Vow Dress