One of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding is picking out your dress, and this week on ‘Behind The Door With’, I’m chatting with Fiona from Fiona Claire, a beautiful boutique bridal studio based in Melbourne’s inner east.
Fiona has spent 15 years in the bridal, retail and fashion industries and tells me she has always loved the attention to detail involved in the creation of a wedding dress, from starting out in the bridal industry aged 20. Fiona then went on to work with many of Australia’s most famous brands, but always had an eye for bridal.
As with many of the businesses I chat to, Fiona started the brand designing dresses for friends, most of whom were looking for something more paired back and refined than the fluffy bridal gowns available at some stores. Fiona tells me that her mantra is to “wear the dress don’t let the dress wear you” and that she prefers to design dresses with a beautiful fit and an elegant, understated aesthetic.
There are nine gown designs in Fiona Claire’s new collection ‘Infinity’, and I love the modern shapes and sleek fabrics. I can imagine them fitting in perfectly at an elegant winery wedding or as a beautiful natural look for a garden ceremony.
“Dress shopping should be a celebratory time” says Fiona. “I want brides to feel empowered and confident in their wedding dress.” Fiona believes that this can be achieved through creating a respectful and collaborative environment at her atelier in Richmond.
The atelier is available by appointment only and Fiona meets with each bride to ensure that they feel comfortable and inspired for their wedding day ahead. Big couches are perfect for the bride’s family and friends and a rack of dresses in the finest silks sure catches your eye.
Next door is the studio where Fiona and her team design and fit dresses to ensure no detail is missed. Each gown is made to measure in the bespoke studio, which Fiona established in 2015. Fiona and team work closely with the highly skilled dressmakers, and together the team ensures that every stitch and cut is just right.
How refreshing to have a designer who cares not only about her brides look but also about how her brides feel in the dress!
Images by Charlie Payne Photography , Will Watt and Fiona Claire
Ms Chinoiserie Says: Such beautiful understated and sophisticated designs; timeless with a refined sense of chic!
About Amelia Waddell of Make Your Day Wedding Styling: I’m a wedding stylist and proud store owner who loves to chat weddings with everyone and anyone! I love to talk shop with other business owners (particularly over some chocolate cake!) and am the first to try and have a sticky beak behind the scenes of any event. My free time is spent ‘investigating’ new cafes, stores and events.
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