Rabu, 13 Agustus 2014

Farewell Lauren Bacall, Vintage Icon and Queen of Cool...

Dear Reader
Sad news today that the fabulous Lauren Bacall has passed away at the grand old age of 89. Let's take a minute to remember how utterly glamorous she was...
Lauren's publicity photo for HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, 1953
From the 1940s and right through the 50s, 60s and 70s, Lauren was always super-stylish - a vintage icon with a very modern style. 
Harpers Bazaar, March 1943
Her career was launched after a chance meeting with legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland at the age of 16. As Lauren recalls,
"Vreeland put a suit on me, told me which makeup to use—but very little. 'Betty, I don't want to change your look.' When all was done she put a scarf round my neck—knew just how to tie it, a little off-center—and I was ready for my first sitting with Harper's Bazaar." 
The March 1943 Harpers Bazaar cover that resulted from this shoot grabbed Hollywood's attention, gaining Lauren her first screen test, a name change, and ultimately a host of amazing movies and awards.
With future husband Humphrey Bogart in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT
Lauren kept a lifelong interest in fashion, and was muse to Yves St Laurent and friends with many other designers including Pierre Cardin and Jean Paul Gaultier. She's even name-checked as a style icon by Madonna in the hit song, 'Vogue'. Here's a few of her great looks, through the vintage decades...
Lauren in 1940s crepe blouse and black pants 
In slinky black satin for TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, 1944
Sitting pretty in a 1944 jumpsuit
Diana Vreeland taught her to tie that scarf!
In fabulous 1940s floral gown
What a girl! Lauren in 1943
In the famous dogtooth suit from THE BIG SLEEP, 1946
A picture of elegance, 1949
Classic sultry Lauren look in white dress and red lips, 1950
In white lace blouse and pleats for YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, 1950
With Marilyn Monroe in HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE
With Marilyn Monroe for HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, 1953
In 1957 Ceil Chapman gown
1950s evening glamour
On the set of NORTH WEST FRONTIER, 1959
Iconic 1970s style in tweed pant suit, with Bianca Jagger
In head to toe sequins, 1972
1970s and so Gucci, with low cut shirt and long necklace
With Yves St Laurent (right) and designer Paco Rabanne (left)
Still just as glamorous at the 1981 opening of DREAMGIRLS
Amazing, aged 88, dressed by Dior
But I'd most like to remember Lauren with these gloriously happy images of her wedding to Humphrey Bogart at the age of 19, in May 1945...
Thanks, dear readers, for joining me in wishing Lauren a warm farewell. More lovely wedding fashion later this week.
Love
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Jumat, 08 Agustus 2014

Chloe, so pretty in her 1950s-style lace wedding dress.

Dear Reader,
Today I'd like to share these lovely photos from real vintage bride Chloe...
Chloe was a complete pleasure to work with. And as well as beautiful bride, I was delighted to meet her charming family - mum Sharon, Aunt, and sister Marnie. Together, I think we found Chloe the perfect vintage-style wedding dress...
Chloe looked fabulous in 1950s-inspired Blanche from the Heavenly Collection. She chose the ballerina length with a 3/4 sleeve, trimmed with a silk ribbon and handmade silk rose...
And in Chloe's own words,
" I must say everybody loved and complemented it, especially my now husband :) "
 
Chloe was a lovely client, and we had such fun finding the right dress...
"You honestly made wedding dress shopping an absolute dream, I was always worried before I started that I would feel uncomfortable standing around shops, being put in and taken out of dresses.
But from the moment I met you I instantly felt relaxed. I knew from our first meet back last October that I would not look anywhere else for a wedding dress. I'm very, very pleased to have found you!"
 
Chloe accessorised the dress with pretty Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon shoes, a neat mini-veil, and bold red bouquet...
Now I'll let Chloe introduce these photos of their happy day... 
"I hope these can show you what a wonderful day we had - and how myself and husband chose perfectly complementing outfits! 
It was like a proper old fashioned wedding day :) Thank you again, I hope to be directing many future brides in your direction."
Happy Days! Have a great weekend, and see you all next week, Heavenlies - when I shall have some more gorgeous real brides to show you.

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Selasa, 05 Agustus 2014

Introducing the New Stella in Lace. A 1960s-style vintage wedding dress with pared-down glamour!

Dear Reader
I'm often asked for dresses which are unusual; different to the main wedding trends but still bridal. Many clients seek a glamorous look, but one which is more elegant and pared-down.

And so, I'd like to introduce the New Stella from my Heavenly Collection of vintage style wedding dresses... 
Stella is based on an early 1960s cocktail dress: I find long lace 60s dresses tick the glamour box so well, with their chic Mad Men styling.
The new Stella is classy and stylish in head to toe lace. And its super 60s cut - with a slightly higher waist, and narrow-but-curvy styling - streamlines the body to flatter almost all body types. 
Here's one of my inspirations for Stella - a fabulous 1961 cocktail dress by famous Italian haute couture designer, Renato Balestra...
And here's another inspiration - these super-glamorous New York ladies from 1963...
I love the pretty boat neck and tulip skirt on these dresses - so typical of late-50s and early-60s styles. And so I have given Stella a similar feminine and flattering cut...
I'd love to see Stella accessorised with a feather or angora shrug and big earrings. Stella can also be finished with a little gross grain ribbon bow at the waist, which looks so pretty like the original 60s dress at the top of the post.

The new all-lace Stella is available now, priced £1395. Hope you love her!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Minggu, 03 Agustus 2014

The perfect 1950s wedding dress by Emma Domb - my vintage wedding dress of the week!

Dear Reader,
Just a quick post on a lovely sunny Sunday morn... My vintage wedding dress of the week is this lace and satin beauty by Emma Domb.
Emma Domb was based in California from the late 30s to the 70s. Her work remains very highly sought after by collectors. (One of her most famous fans is Patricia Field, the stylist behind Sex and the City; Carrie Bradshaw was often seen in a fabulous Emma Domb vintage dress.)
Emma's wedding dresses are always so feminine and elegant. And this one is a particularly fine example with its flattering cut and charming details. From the sweet daisy trim at its pretty neckline, to the flattering lace panel that sweeps down the front to lengthen your figure, this is a beautiful dress that will make a stunning bride one day...
If you like this dress, do check out my Heavenly Collection of 1950s-style wedding dresses, and I have more original 1950s dresses here.

Now, we should all be outside enjoying the sun, shouldn't we! Hope to see you next week, when I shall have news to announce and a lovely new bride to show you. Do pop back...
Love
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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