Over the years I have designed and made a collection of dresses and gowns so that when clients visit me they can see my style of designing and cutting out patterns. I have books full of photos of my designs as well as lots of sketches, and I can always make a ‘toile’ which is a mock up of a dress made out of calico or fabrics similar to the actual fabrics that the dress will be made of. This is so that a customer can have an idea what a style will look like and I can also fine tune the fit of the dress before cutting it out from silks.
But of course, the best way to see a dress is to have made up samples of my designs which also sometimes go out on display at exhibitions and wedding fairs.
One such dress is illustrated below. It is a wedding dress in ivory made from Thai silk which is exceptionally light and smooth, lined with habotai silk. The silk bodice is covered with corded lace which I hand beaded with imitation pearl beads. The skirt lining has a lace flounce on the hem and there is a separate net petticoat.
This dress is made from slightly faulty silk which has been washed several times because it was on display in a bridal shoe shop window and at wedding fairs so it is slightly imperfect.
If you would like to view this dress, and other samples in my collection send an e-mail to afontenoy@gmail.com to view by appointment only in Tunbridge Wells.
annefontenoy 