Flying & buying

I feel like my feet haven't touched the ground in the last 6 weeks. We have been on a buying trip to Barcelona to choose the new Pronovias dresses for 2011. I have to say that they always manage to come up with stunning new designs that are then copied by lots of other designers a year later! The catwalk show is truly amazing; the theme this year was ‘through the looking glass’ and it was spectacular (see video below).



It's really lovely to catch up with old friends and as the years go by, you tend to get to know who the other good shops are that are still going to be there in a few years time! The evening dinner and entertainment were wonderful as usual, but the real work starts on the following day when we choose from all those gorgeous designs, we did like one in particular but when we saw the price tag of £60,000 we thought twice!

No sooner had our feet touched the tarmac and it was up to London's Saatchi Gallery to see the designer collections of Suzanne Neville. She produces the most beautifully fitting dresses money can buy. The styles are always breathtaking, very understated and classy and it’s always so difficult to pick a favourite. I also bumped into Sassi Holford, whose designs we stocked a few seasons ago, she persuaded us to go and have a peek at her new collection and promised us exclusivity for Essex if we would stock her dresses again. I couldn't resist! the dresses looked amazing, lots with shoulders, sleeves and straps all of which our brides are crying out for, something different from strapless!

Then it was off to the Jenny Packham showroom, which as I said before in an earlier blog post, is out of this world. It's an old converted bank with the showroom in the vault. The dresses were stunning, lots of one shoulder designs; this is going to be a key look for next season.

I'd also like to thank everyone who came along to our Essense designer day on the 12th June, we had a great day and the atmosphere in the shop was fab’. It was a shame that England didn't win the football that evening, it would’ve been the icing on the cake!

Finally, it’s our White Day on Saturday the 19th June so don't forget that if you’re looking for a dress in white, this special day will showcase (unsurprisingly) lots of dresses in white.

Nicola Garton
www.theweddingshop.co.uk