Introducing the newest bridal design to my ever expanding collection - the Crawford Dress.
Named after the inimitable Joan Crawford and inspired by the era when she was at the height of her fame, the dress style is a modern take on a 1930's look.
Made from a beautiful silk gazar and beaded lace the Crawford dress is a modern halter style with lace panel detailing. The full circle skirt has a graduated hem starting at ballet length at the front and flowing into the train(perfect for showing off those shoes you treated yourself to) Floral beaded Lace motifs on the front and back waistband and neckline add that little bit of extra detail.
The Crawford style as with all designs in the collection is available made to measure and is £975.
The original inspiration for this collection came from 2 artists - Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo and their use of pattern and colour in their work. It was a very organic collection in how the designs developed trying to get the combination of colour and print right.
The collection was styled with the fabulous bebaroque's heavily embellished tights and bodies and also with wonderful headpieces from Rene Walrus and beautifully detailed hats from Strumpet.
It was once again a wonderful days shoot with the most fabulous team. I am completely in love with the images and how dreamlike and painterly they are.
..... And indeed it is time for a new chapter for Rowanjoy. After 7 years I am moving out of my studio in Godiva and relocating to a new space in a brand spanking new design house. It's been a wonderful time working from the shop, I have had so many opportunities and fab experiences(plenty of them drunken!) and been lucky to meet so many great people and make life long friends. I can barely believe it has actually been 7 years!! My new space is still super central, just a stones throw over the other side of the castle on Hill Street (just behind George St)in the brand new Hill Street Design House. It will be a combined workroom and showroom/fitting space where I will be doing all my appointments and meeting all clients. So from the beginning of August I will be working and doing appointments from the new space (All brides/customers I will be in touch with details for you). I will still be stocking Godiva with Rowanjoy and am busy working away to get lots of stock made for festival madness at the moment. It's both a sad and exciting time for me. It will be very strange not heading to the Grassmarket every morning and I am going to miss Fleur and all the Godiva girls loads but it is exciting to see what the move and the future is going to bring for Rowanjoy. Oh yeah and I am getting a window. Actually not one window....2!! Rowan x
So after a bit of a delay I can finally show off my new bridal style the Harlow dress. The silhouette is simple with a loose fitting bodice with angel sleeves and keyhole detail at the front and a low cross over v at the back. The skirt is slim fitting with a gentle flare from just below the hips. I designed the shape of the dress like this to really show off the star of the dress - the lace. The lace used on the Harlow dress has a very modern feel to it with beautiful large scale floral and leaf patterns embroidered and then beaded onto the tulle. The bodice is full lace with the top of the skirt having the large floral motifs of the lace individually cut out and hand sewn on. The Harlow dress is now available made to measure for £965.
The beautiful photos were from the same shoot as life in technicolour and aren't they truly breathtaking.
Some of you may know of my love of Eurovision and for those of you that don't, I bloody LOVE Eurovision. So in honour of this years contest (10th May folks get it in the diary) I thought I would do something different for the blog and have a look at Eurovision fashions through the years. There's too much in Eurovision history to include it all so I have just picked out some significant years. All I can say is brace your eyes for the festival of hideous/amazing/demented fashion that you are about to see. Who knew that these clothes could ever exist and my god I want to meet the people that designed them. 1972 - Edinburgh, yup edinburgh once had the glory of hosting. Damn you history.
Betty Mars from France was all about the sleeves. The biggest, puffiest sleeves she could get her hands on/through.
Couple co-ordination was big in 1972, Joseph from Malta's red polka dot, eh shirt dress/sarong? is particularly fetching. 1974, Brighton - The year that Abba won.
Olivia Newton John for the United Kingdom
Check out the frills on this dress, it's like your granny's nightdress on crack.
Sadly I couldnt find a full group shot of Kaveret from Israel in their amazing array of tank tops but I can assure you they are awesome. I think can safely say I also now know who the husbands style Icons are.
The men of the 1974 contest were on fine shirt collar form with Belgium's Jacques Hustin (blue) and Korni from Yugoslavia who came as disco jesus in his green shiny shirt.
1981, Dublin - Victory for the UK
Sheeba who represented Ireland in 1981 blew the budget on their outfits - part mermaid, part star trek space monster, part christmas tree - what more could you want in a dress. One of them even has corn rows, Ireland brought it in 1981
Sadly this is the best picture I can find of Riki from finland in all his harlequin trousered glory. I urge you to find him on youtube to fully appreciate the wonder. Special Mentions or amazing outfits I could not leave out
Belle and the Devotions - UK 1984 either styled by Cyndi Lauper or an eighties hooker.
Coco - UK 1978 Clown school meets fame with added Cheryl Baker's magic emerald crotch.
XXL - Macedonia 2000 Someone in Macedonia had quite clearly been watching a lot of Romy and Michelle's High School reunion before designing this
Poland 2003 Well who doesnt want a sequinned denim jacket with doves flying across it?
Israel 1993 Eh I am really not sure what is going on here, these poor woman seem to be in some pastel satin, camel toed 2 piece nightmare with added ever so flattering half cape skirt and floral garland armbands. At least the woman on the right had the good sense to sarong up and cover up the camel toe! This one is so amazing you get the video to appreciate the full beauty.
It's so lovely getting all these photos through from last years brides and today I get to share Delphine's wedding and dress. Delphine chose to have the classic Chloe dress with a little change of adding covered buttons down the back. The style suited her perfectly and she styled it very simply with a soft up-do.
Delphine got married in Timberyard, the most fabulous restaurant and bar just up the road from my studio. If you are looking for somewhere to go in edinburgh for delicious food and even better cocktails then this is the place to go. I love that from there the whole wedding party walked to the evening venue and it is so nice to see shots of the dress in motion.
Ruth was one of my brides from summer last year (ah summer and sunshine, today almost makes it feel like we might be in luck again this year)
I met Ruth at my very first Glasgow Wedding Collective fair in fact my very first wedding fair, gosh that feels ages ago! Ruth knew exactly what she was looking for in her bespoke dress, a full lace over-dress with a bias cut slip and a matching waist belt with a bow at the back. The main thing was choosing the perfect lace for the dress and oh my, it was a good one. A beautiful guipure floral and leaf design with a perfect edge that was used to full effect on the sleeves and hem of the dress. The dress design itself was kept to a fairly simple silhouette to really show off the beauty of the lace and finished off with the silk belt and covered buttons down the back.
How beautiful does Ruth look, so super happy and smiley, Gorgeous.
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