The journey of a dress… from Brussels to Marrakesh

top-Wedding-dress-by-Valentine-Avoh
By Valentine on May 4, 2011 in Designed By Valentine, My Life, My Work, Travel

When you’re a designer and your best friend is getting married there are some unwritten/unsaid rules that each of you must respect. For example, it would be a crime for her to look in other places than you for her dress… And it would be an even bigger crime for you to refuse.

 

Luckily this wasn’t an issue for Geraldine an me. As soon as she got engaged I knew I had to start sketching… Which I didn’t do at all to be honest. I preferred to take inspiration from a lot of sources such as pictures, wedding boutiques, fittings, fabrics and more importantly from her, than to sketch, as sometimes I feel as it can put a strain on your imagination…

 

Wedding dress: by me Valentine Avoh – Blue dress: Velour(from Reservoir Shop Brussels) Shoes: Schuh

 

After a few tea and brainstorming sessions between Geraldine, her mum and me, we all agreed on lace. So we went to Paris in search of the perfect lace and we found the one… A creme white hand beaded Calais Lace (dentelle de Calais). Note that a piece like this takes around 2 months of work..!

 

Followed a series of fittings with the toile (the test fabric) and then in the finished material. Fittings are essential to get the shape and measurements right and in this case it was even more important as my friend lives in Morocco, so we had to make the most of the time we had when she was here in Brussels.

 

 

 

 

 

This dress was a bit of a challenge for me as it was the first time I was making a lace dress. Also you don’t feel the same when you cut into a random fabric from the shop across the street and when you cut into one that has been hand made especially since you won’t be able to order it again if you screw up…! Anyway, thanks to the amazing women I met during my time at McQueen and Samantha Shaw I learned a lot about lace and how to manipulate it…

 

In the end we were both really happy with the result. Here are some pictures from the wedding which took place in Marrakesh in a beautiful garden… but still not as beautiful as the bride… ;)

 

 

 

Merci pour le compte de fée!

Tous mes voeux de bonheur ma G ;)

“Tam tam ta daaam” xxx

 

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33 Comments

  1. Reply
    Al · May 4, 2011 at 07:47

    Great job Valentine!! She looks gorgeous in that beautiful dress!!

    I really love the cut and shape of the dress and I think that the lace suits it: it makes it romantic and precious without being heavy.

    You were stunning in your blue dress!

    Al

    -The Red Dot-

  2. Reply
    Valentine · May 4, 2011 at 11:44

    Thanks Al!!

    xx

  3. Reply
    champagne · May 4, 2011 at 14:13

    This is so beautiful!
    Good job (:

    You are invited to the GIVEAWAY on my blog, anyway! Check it out (:
    GIVEAWAY
    GIVEAWAY
    GIVEAWAY

  4. Reply
    Stiene S. · May 4, 2011 at 16:02

    beautiful photos! x

  5. Reply
    Rosa Pel · May 5, 2011 at 22:08

    lovely dress

  6. Reply
    Angela · May 8, 2011 at 06:16

    Waw!!! Belle robe!!!
    J adore
    Biz
    Angela Donava
    http://www.lookbooks.fr

  7. Reply
    Katya Moorman · May 8, 2011 at 14:03

    Wow! this is amazing work. I am beyond impressed and the final result is gorgeous. Well done!
    Style Defined NYC

  8. Reply
    Jen S. · May 8, 2011 at 19:34

    wow!!! What a great job on the dress….

    jen
    http://blankwhiteframes.blogspot.com

  9. Reply
    sincerely, YCM · May 8, 2011 at 22:09

    Oh my gosh, the fabric on that dress is absolutely stunning! Great job, it looks amazing!!

    sincerely,
    YCM

  10. Reply
    TMFA · May 8, 2011 at 23:00

    loving the wedding dress and the velour dress!

  11. Reply
    Cristina @FUJI FILES · May 9, 2011 at 01:49

    What a special experience to share with your best friend!

    xx Cristina

  12. Reply
    Fydez · May 9, 2011 at 05:13

    Wow that is a very beautiful dress. And you making it for your best friend makes it very special. XX

  13. Reply
    TOPCOAT · May 9, 2011 at 08:34

    This is a very beautiful dress, wow!!xx

  14. Reply
    Angela · May 9, 2011 at 12:43

    La robe est tres belle! J'aime beaucoup!!!

    Angela Donava
    http://www.lookbooks.fr

  15. Reply
    vintage process · May 9, 2011 at 17:31

    So cool!

  16. Reply
    Sonia · May 9, 2011 at 20:36

    Wow that is an amazing dress, she looks stunning and the dress is beyond perfect! x

  18. Reply
    Steffys Pros and Cons · May 10, 2011 at 01:51

    omg that is such a gorgeous dress youre fantastic!

    <3 steffy
    Steffys Pros and Cons

  19. Reply
    Metisse · May 10, 2011 at 02:47

    That is some awesome skill! Amazing!

  20. Reply
    Raya · May 10, 2011 at 09:42

    amazing dress!

  21. Reply
    Lindsay · May 10, 2011 at 11:17

    i cannot believe you made this dress! the lace work is gorgeous! you are really talented :)

    thestyle-child.blogspot.com

  22. Reply
    ccwlife · May 10, 2011 at 16:31

    WOW the bride's dress is gorgeous. i love it. WOW WOW WOW you are great. the bride looks beautiful in it too.
    and so do you in that blue dress, which is also very pretty :)

  23. Reply
    Flaviana Boni · May 10, 2011 at 17:27

    Nice blog dear!
    im following via google and also via bloglovin! Hope you do the same :)
    MY BLOG: DRESS UP FOR ARMAGEDDON

  24. Reply
    maduixetes surprise · May 10, 2011 at 21:40

    I love your blog!i follow you!

    http://maduixetessurprise.blogspot.com/
    xoxo

  25. Reply
    jamie-lee · May 11, 2011 at 11:22

    Wow you did an amazing job on the dress, it look beautiful!

  26. Reply
    sam · May 11, 2011 at 14:24

    Wow! Every girl wants the wedding dress of their dreams and you're friend sure seemed like she got hers!

    =Sam :0

    http://www.runwayrundown.com

  31. Reply
    WanderLust · May 13, 2011 at 20:14

    So beautiful!! Great blog- following you! :)

    http://www.lovelywanderlust.com

  32. Reply
    haus of chic · May 15, 2011 at 16:05

    AMAAAZING!!

  33. Reply
    Céline Mademoiselle ... · August 26, 2011 at 11:23

    That dress is to DIE for ! Gorgeous !

    xoxo from "another style lover" in Brussels

    Céline Mademoiselle

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