Three more sleeps before you can join the MOST CURIOUS team at their 2020 London event, and I can’t wait! This annual event is one of my favourite times of the year. I love getting to immerse myself amidst a hive of creative designers, makers and suppliers.
I love the whole vibe of the show and I always return home afterwards on a high. This year, the show is set to be more fun, immersive and creative than ever, as founder Becky and her team raise the bar higher than ever.
There is a truly stellar list of exhibitors who are leading the way by a country mile when it comes to creativity, innovation and excellence in everything they do. This includes British bridal fashion designer Andrea Hawkes. For those who are unfamiliar with Andrea Hawkes, the brand represents a very modern, simplistic style of bridal fashion.
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Film by Zach & Grace for LMD Collective
These are contemporary gowns for those who want to wear something luxurious that has been crafted with fit and precision in mind and created using natural silk fabrics including beautiful French lace and delicate beading and sequins.
We design luxurious minimalist dresses with a playful and slightly alternative undertone – dresses that can be styled and worn with various Andrea Hawkes tops, jackets, capes and veils, so that our brides can discover the look which best suits their individual style and reflects their personality. Andrea Hawkes
Back in November last year, we shared a ‘Conversation with Andrea Hawkes‘ – which provided a superb insight into the life, work and passions of one of the UK’s most talented modern bridal designers. Today, I want to celebrate the designer by sharing images of some of the real brides who chose to her gowns – by the way, the influencer Chessie Kingg (pictured below) will be joining those ranks very soon!
Andrea’s latest IDENTITY 2020 collection encapsulates modern sophistication and individuality. It has been created to reflect the individuality of each bride.
We always have our bride in mind when designing a new collection, and we are often inspired by the conversations we have with our brides during the dress making process as well. We design dresses that are minimalist yet luxurious – the beauty is often in the simplicity and a less is more approach is definitely true of our designs. We work as a team which is very important, as the team look at different elements of the overall journey; from sales to the production and making of our dresses. Andrea Hawkes
My personal favourite gown in the collection is the Wallace dress, pictured below left. There is just something about this dress and I can absolutely imagine stepping into it and feeling all that glorious fluid silky softness falling to my feet. Absolutely divine. I’ve always been a less is more kind of girl when it comes to design which is why, I suppose, that Andrea’s designs appeal so much.
One of the things I love most about Andrea is her approach to bespoke design and ensuring that every single bride, no matter their shape, size or desires, receives a dress that fits and indeed flatters to perfection.
We will always work with each bride individually to ensure she is happy and comfortable with the finished design. Our bespoke service means that we are able to offer a completely personalised approach to the dress making process, but can also tweak our existing designs to ensure the very best fit for each bride; from the slight alteration of a neckline shape, to the addition of shoe-string straps or lace capped sleeves. Andrea Hawkes
I really want to hit this message home strongly for any of you brides feeling nervous about finding your wedding dress for fear you might be squeezed into something that doesn’t fit, or that the designs presented to you won’t flatter your natural shape. Please, do not worry. With an expert like Andrea and her team of stylists at hand, finding a dress becomes an absolutely pleasurable experience to be enjoyed from start to finish.
I thought it would be nice to share three of my favourite ever Andrea Hawkes brides, shared right here on Love My Dress of course. Starting with one of the coolest brides ever to grace these pages, the wonderful India, co-founder of bridesmaids fashion brand, Maids to Measure...
I was very particular about what I wanted when it came to ‘the dress’ and couldn’t find it when dress shopping so I decided to put pencil to paper and design it myself and asked the fabulous Andrea of Andrea Hawkes, to bring my design to life. The whole Andrea Hawkes team were so helpful and patient and gave so much advice when it came to what best fabrics to use to create my dream dress. I created the dress to be simple, sexy and regal. Simplicity from the silk crepe fabric, a regal high neckline, and the subtle sexiness from the open back. Long sleeves was always a must as it was a winter wedding. India, Andrea Hawkes bride
Of course, India’s images went a little viral over on the ‘gram, but is it really any wonder? The dress designed for India now makes up part of Andrea’s IDENTITY 2020 collection. I adore everything about it, but the piece de la resistance is that open back and it’s flash of sexiness, when just works so well with the other more conservative aspects of the dress design (high collar, long sleeves). Absolute perfection.
Next up, the beautiful Joni, who discovered her Andrea Hawkes dress at the Rachel Scott bridal boutique. I absolutely love this dress – it’s mix of beautiful simplicity with that chic and understated, backless bodice.
My dress felt so comfortable, I felt completely myself wearing it, at the same time, perfect and elegant. Joni, Andrea Hawkes bride
And all captured to perfection by one of my very favourite wedding photographers on the planet (someone whose work we’ve been sharing for a whole decade – and who is, of course, another member of our Little Book Wedding Directory.
Photography by Caro Weiss
See the full wedding on Love My Dress
Felicity chose an Andrea Hawkes dress for her Queen’s House wedding in Greenwich, London in the Spring…
Andrea designs truly beautiful dresses, which are even more gorgeous in real life. Supporting a British designer was also important to me. I knew I wanted a dress that was less ‘bridal’, fairly minimalist in design with no frills, puffiness or flowers! I adored Andrea’s use of clean simple lines, sumptuous silks and unusual fabrics to create a modern yet timeless elegance. I relished the opportunity to adapt the shape of and combine collection pieces, in addition to choosing fabrics to suit my personal taste. Felicity, Andrea Hawkes bride
Photography Joanna Brown Photography
See the full wedding on Love My Dress
I hope these images and words have provided a little insight into the world of Andrea Hawkes and calibre of designer we love to support here at Love My Dress. Andrea Hawkes represents British craftsmanship at it’s finest an I personally adore her whole ethos, vibe and aesthetic.
You can find, and book an appointment at the Andrea Hawkes London boutique as follows:
65 Amwell Street
Clerkenwell
London
EC1R 1UR
Telephone: 0207 8370759
Email: studio@andreahawkes.co.uk
And finally, you can meet the designer herself, at the MOST CURIOUS event at the Truman Brewery this Saturday (click on the poster below to order tickets). I’ll see you there!
Here are a few recent MOST CURIOUS articles, just incase you’ve missed them:
Love Annabel xx
The MOST CURIOUS Shows will be taking place over three amazing spaces in 2020, the Old Truman Brewery in London on 7-9th February, the exciting new Northern venue Archive at Depot, Mayfield, Manchester on 29th February and The Fire Pit Camp in Norwich on 29th March.
Get your TICKETS NOW and come and get curious with us!
Annabel
View all Annabel’s articles
Annabel is the founder of Love My Dress. She lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, two daughters Eska and Leanora and three dogs. She is passionate about photography, supporting women in business and in life, and is in her element being surrounded by nature and the countryside.