Vintage Wedding Dresses at the Movies: the countdown continues...

Dear Reader,
Here we are... the second instalment in my Top 10 vintage wedding dresses from the movies. So many glorious gowns to choose from!

7. High Society (starring Grace Kelly, 1956)
Another fabulous dress by Helen Rose, one of the great Hollywood costume designers of the 1940s and 1950s. First, take a look at the designer's original sketch...

And now, at the dress itself... Perfection!

Aside from her Hollywood costumes, Helen Rose is of course most famous for designing Grace Kelly's own iconic wedding dress. What a beauty.

6. The Godfather (Simonetta Stefanelli as Appollonia, 1972)
The Godfather includes two gorgeous wedding dress scenes. Appollonia's demure head-to-toe lace dress for the simple Sicilian country wedding is my favourite. (And one of my favourite movie wedding scenes too.)

5. The movies of screen goddess, Billie Dove (1920s)
Stunning beauty Billie Dove started as a Ziegfeld Follies girl at the age of 14, and went on to become one of the biggest stars of silent film. So many of her glamorous 1920s dresses would be wonderful for a wedding... 

Some of Billie's films are lost now, so it's hard to choose a favourite. She played a bride in at least two movies. Would it be cheating to include all Billie's gorgeous dresses in my Top 10?

And remember the Juliet cap veils we were thinking about last week, here she is in a stunning example...

At the height of her fame, Billie was more popular than even Greta Garbo. Jazz singer Billie Holliday is said to have named herself after her. Let's remember her with these beautiful images.

4. Come Dance with Me (starring Brigitte Bardot, 1959)

And my last choice for today? La Bardot wearing a classic late 1950s lace wedding dress in this silly French movie...

I've had so much fun choosing. Do check back to see my Top 3, and post your own favourites on my facebook page here. And to enjoy lots more lovely original vintage dresses, click here.

Thanks for looking

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Choosing a veil for your vintage wedding dress.

Dear Reader,

I am always on the look-out for lovely accessories for my clients, and recently I've been thinking about veils.

The right veil can add so much to a beautiful vintage wedding dress. Just think of the wonderful images of Kate Moss in her Juliet cap veil. And of course, the iconic Grace Kelly...

I rarely find vintage-style veils that work so beautifully, so I have been thinking for some time of designing my own range of Heavenly veil. I'm delighted to have found a veil-maker whose work is amazing quality - and have seized the opportunity to work with her!

We're very busy designing a small exclusive range, launching in just a few weeks. The first is inspired by cloche or cap veils from the 1930s which were worn low on the forehead. These are often called Juliet caps - based on Shakespeare's play Romeo & Juliet, as the original drawings showed Juliet wearing a neat, fitted cap. 

Our updated version will be worn slightly further back, for a softer more flattering look - like the gorgeous style worn by Kate Moss.

Our Heavenly veils have a special style of lace embroidery called Cornelli and are all made by hand. (Even the delicate silk rose trims are hand-made!) I'll be launching the first two styles in a few weeks with a photo-shoot to show them off. But for now I can't resist sharing a glimpse of how pretty they are...

So keep watching this space - I want you to be the first to see them please!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, why not try

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Vintage Bride of the Week Susie - beautiful in 1940s wedding dress 'Bette'

Dear Reader,

I promised a special Bride of the Week, and here she is: Susie, wearing 1940s 'Bette' dress from my Heavenly Collection. 

Susie wears the dress beautifully, teaming it with a charming mini veil and woodland flowers...

And thanks, Susie for your kind words...!

"Thank you so much for your fantastic dress designing skills! I knew as soon as I found your website that the Bette dress was for me!

 You made the dress trying on process so relaxed and fun and gave such good advice, it made everything so easy. I didn't go to any other dress shops or designers as I knew I didn't need to! Lots of people complimented me on my dress on the day - your designs are so brilliant. Thank you so much."

After featuring the dress on a model at the start of this week, and then indulging in a little Bette Davis inspirational moment, it's lovely to return to what it's really all about: a radiant bride on a perfectly happy day.

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Bette Davis, glamorous inspiration for the Bette dress.

Photography with thanks to Seth Baines

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