Chantal Mallett Bridal Couture
by Tina Reading, Editor
Ultimate Wedding Magazine
Aurelia & shots of accessories on models: Veronica Virna
A big hello from me this month from across the pond and welcome to my third contribution to Tied In A Bow, thank you for having me! This issue I thought I would introduce you to one of our fabulous UK suppliers, a talented lady who combines art with fantasy to create not only the most amazing gowns, but also
head-pieces.
Now you may say we are a little quirky over here in the UK, but I think you are just going to love hearing more about this lady and her work. You can visit her website to see her amazing couture, but I would love to tell you more about her and her fabulous headpieces!
Established in 1996, Chantal Mallett Bridal Couture is primarily a bespoke bridalwear label, specialising in corsetry & colour. Chantal's signature style features strong, dramatic silhouettes & period styling mixed with fluid lines & exquisite detailing.
With the bridalwear label established in the late 90's, Chantal was very much at the vanguard of bridalwear design. Corsetry & colour were very new concepts to the market & Chantal quickly discovered that with such alternative bridalwear designs there was very little, by way of hair accessories, that complimented the complete vision she had in mind for her brides.
The 1994 film Four Weddings & a Funeral perfectly captures the UK bridalwear trends of the period; floral circlets & alice bands, pretty & twee.
Introduction of accessories to the label & their inspiration:
Although Chantal's qualifications were in fashion design, she had experimented with wirework in her teens & it was with a renewed interest in wire techniques that she began to build her first coronets with a view, primarily, to having something appropriate with which to accessorise her gown designs for promotional photos.
Inevitably there was a cross over from Chantal's couture bridalwear work; her growing knowledge of construction through corsets loaned itself to the design formula she used to perfect her crown designs. Her accessory & jewellery pieces, which are built around differently shaped frames, all have a structure & precision to them combined with delicacy, softness & curves.