The Woman in Black

Black silk ballgown by Joanne Fleming Desaign

 

I first met Miriam nearly two years ago when she contacted me about designing a dress for her wedding. I knew we were going to get on when she told me that the theme for the evening humanist ceremony was to be a 1930s Speakeasy, with all the guests joining in and dressing up to match. Miriam chose a gorgeous silvery heather coloured silk satin for her dress, and I made a luxurious silver grey feather cape to wear with it. She was also planning to wear the ostrich wrap with a dreamy Jenny Packham dress for a separate wedding celebration in a daytime snow-covered country house setting.  She looked phenomenally glamorous in both ensembles, as you can see from these images by photographer Neil of EyeImagine.

Miriam and Bruce

Miriam

Miriam and Bruce

Anyway, when Neil and Miriam contacted me about the possibility of setting up a shoot in Brighton, I was only too happy to agree, and suggested that Miriam might like to wear one of my big silk taffeta ballgowns. So it came about that one very blustery day last September we set up base in my studio, where Miriam was made to look even more stunning than she does usually by make-up and hair artist Nina-Gabriella Selby. 

Neil and Miriam then wandered off through the streets of Brighton (attracting not a little attention), with Neil shooting all the while. They ended up on the beach, where Miriam braved the wind and waves so they could  get some beautifully atmospheric images .....very French Lieutenant's Woman I thought!

Waiting for the no.29 in one of Brighton's original Art Deco bus shelters......

Accessorised with my vintage chocolate-brown ostrich feather stole

When Miriam had had a chance to thaw out a bit back in the studio, it was time to put on her gorgeous Jenny Packham dress and Joanne Fleming dove-grey feather cape and head back out for more photos.

But those are for another post......... 

PS. When I tweeted this post, asking whether anyone would consider getting married in black, I got quite an overwhelmingly positive response.....it seems that there are a lot of gals out there who would be only to happy to! Hurrah! Come along and see me .....I would so love to create a beautiful black silk dress for you......

Lovely Kat from Rock'n'Roll Bride pointed me in the direction of these fantastic images of Ines getting married in Croatia (from where she hails) in black.....and very gorgeous she looks too! Further inspiration, if you need it, to dress on the dark side.

Big thanks to Ines and Rock My Wedding for the link.....