Much has been made of the John Lewis ‘Penguin’. In the literary tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit, the grubby health hazard of a stuffed toy is elevated to a thing of irreplaceable beauty in the eyes of the child. In Grace Dent’s acerbic critique of the advert she asserts on meeting such a stuffed beast in real life.
I’ll leave you to click-through to the pungent list…
In a similar vein, us bridal-shop types get rather attached to our dresses. One such entirely lovable, much cherished, go-to dress is Boston by Maggie Sottero. It is with heavy heart that I have realised that our sample is now only beautiful in my eyes. It’s lace is no longer crisp, its tiers are in tears and its point d’esprit has lost it’s joie de vivre. Is is, in fact ,a very sad Penguin of a dress and is about to be retired to the big iceberg in the sky. Or Ebay.
As a reminder how gorgeous the dress is, and in fact the wearer Julia, this morning I am bringing another burst of sunshine to a grey November day.
Julia is wearing Boston at Broyle Place in Sussex. Julia is half French and the wedding perfectly reflects the Anglo-French union.
The ever-so-clever Team Bush seamstresses customised Julia’s Boston dress with capped sleeves
Thank you so much for making my dream dress come true! The sleeves looked incredible … everyone loved it! Julia
I love the sunflowers, French inspired Toile de Jouy fabric, baroque furniture that feature in the interiors. Along with a Croquembouche, pots of lavender jauntily juxtaposed with classic English bunting and marquee the wedding styling is summery and cross-Channel cultural celebration.
Julia is incredibly striking; raven-haired, dark-eyed and has clearly inherited that style that seem to be every French woman’s birthright. The dress looks delicate yet again conceals the sculpting miracle of Maggie Sottero at its core. From hanging on the armoire to twirling on the dance floor, Julia and the dress look divine.
I will be sad to see the dress leave the shop, sadly it looks nowhere near as perfect at it does right here.
Many thanks Julia for sharing your photos, your thanks and praise and for being a marvelous ‘Mariée’.
View the full gallery
Credits
Photography: Carl O’Connell
The Dress: Maggie Sottero and Miss Bush Bridalwear
Hair and Make Up: Fran Carter
Hair accessories: Vivienne Morgan Millinery
Flowers: Lewesiana
Venue: Broyle Place, Ringmer
Emma xxx
Emma Meek, MD of Miss Bush Bridalwear
Miss Bush Bridalwear is Surrey’s leading designer bridal shop
