I thought I would share another of my wonderful finds at the White Gallery London with you today.
Hazaar of London caught my eye during the catwalk show ‘British Talents’ at the bridal trade event I attended in May, they only had two dresses in the show which intrigued me so I went and had a chat with them afterwards. They took me through their collection of dresses and explained that this was one of their first shows as they are such new designers.
The designers behind the name are Isoline Hickman and Rachel Farrimond who met while at the London College of Fashion in 2004. While studying BA(Hons) Costume for the Performing Arts they became firm friends and decided to combine their talents to create a bridal range with versatility. Each gown is designed to be worn in two ways, long and elegant for the ceremony, and then short and sweet for the evening party. Perfect for taking you from ceremony to dance floor without having the hassle of finding that second dress!
Having seen the dresses ‘in the flesh’ I can say the quality is exquisite, fabulous fabrics sourced in the UK are used to create stunning dresses that have a touch of vintage influence in their design. ‘Iris’ has an Art Deco feel to it with an angular structured neckline, reminiscent of the clean architectural lines of the 1920s, the style of which is a Hazaar favourite! ‘Audrey’ as the name suggests is a 1930s elegant ‘girl about town’ styled dress, she has a beautiful v-shaped strap neckline and satin covered buttons all the way down the back, when the gorgeous silk tulle train is removed a wonderful just above the knee fitted pencil dress is revealed. There are A line and fishtail styles to choose from as well as full tulle skirts and once these are detached they reveal short skirts that are narrow fitting or in a 50s circle dress style. ‘Silvia’ is a fantastic example of a 1950s dress that has gorgeous lace detailing around the neckline.
The longer skirt is attached using discreet buttons, a lot more elegant than the velcro ripping Bucks Fizz that I had in mind! This is not a new concept but one of the more accomplished that is gaining in popularity, and other designers are following suit. It makes sense that once you have found the dress you should be able to wear it for the duration of your wedding day without worrying about your drunken uncle standing on your train, or ripping the delicate fabric with the heel of your shoe while cutting a rug on the dance floor! This concept is also ideal for destination weddings being perfect for the beach and are easier to transport (in two parts), they also make a stunning choice for city style weddings.
The shorter style could also be worn again, being very chic, and could be dyed another colour so make for a good investment too! Plus if you are leaving from your reception to head off on honeymoon you needn’t waste time getting changed as they are great wedding to airport dresses, it also means you get to wear your special dress for even longer!
Isoline and Rachel showcased their first collection in 2011 and are a design duo that I foresee will have a long and very successful career together. I’m looking forward to seeing the next installment!
