Monthly Archives: March 2012

Postcard from New York

Three days to go until our JLM Fashion show and cocktail party. It is shaping up to be gorgeous although there is a certain amount of  eleventh hour aspects about the models fittings and the catwalk dresses. Frankly it’s going to be a bit squeaky. The difficulty in showing brand new, straight-from-the trade-show dresses is that everyone wants them.

As we speak Karl, our agent for JLM Couture is criss crossing the country with the catwalk dresses. He will arrive to us on Friday morning, the models arrive midday and ‘you’ the brides to be, press and bloggers at 6pm. I am comforting myself that all the best fashion shows run slightly late – the predicted 7.30 pm start may wander by a minute or so but I have two floors filled with music, cocktails and fabulous inspiration that no one will notice.

 Who are these fabulous contributors?

Juliet McKee and her team will be papping you of course whilst you marvel at audacious arrangements from the flash mob florist that is Gayle from Bloomingayles and Bloom Ripley. Music from Matt Maurice as you sip New York classics from Shaken and Stirred .

Lisa Baker from Just Bespoke will have magically transformed the shop along with Stressfree Hire. Bush HQ has been stripped – in fact I have a pile of chaise longues, shabby chic display cases, a few gigantic birdcages and several dress bags of indeterminate fillings creeping into my family room at home. It’s amazing how shabby chic just looks a bit knackered out of the context of a 16th Century shop or a Victorian Chapel.

There will be canapes, cupcakes from Bluebell, biscuits from Naughty but Yummy, and a sweet buffet from Creative Candi  Just typing those words has added pounds…

Janet Mohapi Banks has created a cake called Tara for the occasion the significance of which will be revealed. Via Janet I have become acquainted with New York based artist Astrid Mueller who has created original artworks and cake toppers for the show – I have had a peek and I’m in love!

Through various levels of arm twisting, pleading, begging and general cheekiness Lisa and I have also  managed to secure contributions from uber sexy florists By Appointment Only Design – although not flowers! Wait and see… The gorgeous living saint that is Paul Antonio is providing his unique calligraphy skills. Paul can seduce you by just writing your name – adolescent boys take note! Click here to fall in love http://www.byappointmentonlydesign.com/showreel/

The lovely Helen and Dom from Cutture are customising stationary for Lisa’s tablescapes. ( I know – who knew they were called that – but basically if you need wedding table inspiration this is what is’s called in the Wedding Planing  trade! No table confetti for us….)

Also by the magic of Twitter I have got contributions from Ribbons and Tulle and Faerie Wishes – I kid you not! There is an army of crafters in the UK that I had no idea about.  I saw this bouquet on Etsy and it couldn’t be shipped to the UK – I Tweeted this picture and got offers from both Ribbons and Tulle and Faerie Wishes to make me on – what’s a spoilt girl to do but say yes…

The original link to the artist who created this http://www.etsy.com/listing/95328636/grey-and-yellow-wedding-brides-mini?ref=cat1_gallery_38

Hair and make up for the daytime shoot is being provided by Sharon Roberts and Carolanne Armstrong and I hope they can be persuaded to apply some magic to Senior Bush, Gen and I.

The catwalk hair and make up is being provided by In Parlour . I have only recently met Amanda Harrington, owner of this amazing beauty company, however I have seen her work and that of her team on many of my brides. In Parlour’s team have just finished the Fashion Week rounds and will be bringing high fashion inspiration into the catwalk show.

Miss Bush bride Charlotte Elmer wearing Maggie Sottero Geneva – hair and make up by In Parlour.

As soon as I hit publish I know I will remember the contributors I haven’t mentioned because my morning brain is just waking up.

I think we are close to capacity for the show – numbers are being finalised today but if three hours of drink, glamour and gossip appeals and you are free this Friday – give me a call today at Miss Bush 01483 222815 and I will do my best to secure you tickets.

See I knew the minute I published it would be clear – as I put the link in Twitter up popped Polly Edwards! Polly has been comissioned to make some special headpieces reflecting the themes and colours of our event. Polly will also be at the event, assisting with styling and displaying her work.

I am telling myself off righ know for the lack of proper credits – I am ashamed of myself. Naughty Miss Bush…

Photo by Mark Bothwell

In The Press

Collaborative shoots, for readers that have proper jobs outside of the Truman Show style dome of wedding world, ought to be when like minded creatives get together to produce a photo shoot that furthers and promotes the art of the individuals involved. In the new media age there are many outlets and platforms with which to distribute said shoots. Some shoots will flit briefly across some blogs and sink without a trace. Some shoots have legs and just keep striding on.

Fortunately for me, and therefore Miss Bush, the first two shoots I have become actively involved in have had real staying power. This month Wedding magazine has published shots from the Good Day Sunshine shoot which was conceived, designed and styled by Juliet McKee and Stacey Marie Chalk. In all honesty, and not detracting one iota from anyone else that has contacted me, their brief is still the tightest. most well thought through brief I have read. Juliet and Stacey Marie contacted me in plenty of time so I was able to get custom pieces made, fit the models and provide wardrobe services on the day.

Brides when looking at wedding photos, advertising or editorial will focus primarily on one thing – the dress. It doesn’t matter what the light is like, how good the flowers are and whether or not the Pantones match. Bad collaborative shoots with poorly fitting dresses are actively detrimental to a brand, an image or a product and not just the dress provider.

The shots that were on target…

Jenny Packham Saskia for Kate Ludlow

In the midst of all my Shed to Wed posts and preoccupation with The Postcard from New York event it may have slipped by readers that Miss Bush is a wedding dress shop and people buy frocks from us.
 Therefore, in the blink of an eye, I seized some brand new photos straight off an email. The lovely Kate – sporting Jenny Packham’s glorious Saskia – sent these over today and I have added them forthwith. A self-confessed jeans addict I think if you, like Kate, are going to pick one designer  to cure you it might as well be Jenny Packham.
“I just wanted to say a hugh ‘Thank you’ to everyone at Miss Bush who helped me at every stage of getting my perfect wedding dress.
Bearing in mind i wear jeans 365 days a year I was a little nervous to say the least but all of your fantastic staff made me relaxed and at ease, it was a much more enjoyable process than i ever thought it would have been, thanks to your staff.” Kate Ludlow
 

Photography by Andy Sutcliffe  www.andysutcliffephotography.com

Jenny Packham Discontinuations

It has to happen – all good frocks come to an end. Here is a list of Jenny Packham styles that HAVE to be ordered with retailers by 1st April for us to get the orders to Jenny Packham HQ. Regardless of your wedding date if  ‘the one’ is on this list get ordering.

This also means that there could be some bargains on offer as we sell off our samples. Also, in the case of some very ‘tired’ samples, the dresses can be sold for relatively modest sums so the fabulous beading can be harvested.

Jenny Packham Eve photographed by Eddie Judd, styled by Penny Cullen of Tigerlily Weddings

Jenny Packham Elizabeth photographed by Mark Bothwell

JPB130 PAPILLON              

JPB205 ELIZABETH

JPB248 ANIXI

JPB255 PETRA

JPB257 CAMARILLA

JPB274 MARIE LOUISE

JPB279 SABINE

JPB281 LISETTE

JPB282 SOPHIE

JPB290 FRANCESCA

JPB296 BEATRICE

JPB305 AMELIA

JPB311 ERIN

JPB314 SYMPHONY

JPB344 CORALIE

JPB338 DARLING

JPB339 OPULENCE

JPB340 RENAISSANCE

JPB349 DELICATE

JPB352 MONET

JPB353 FONTAINE

JPB354 LADY ASTOR

JPB355 AMATA

JPB357 CORNELIA

JPB359 EVE

JPB360 OPERA

JPB362 ELITE

JPB369 DEAREST

JPB373 XENIA

JPB374 PERSEPHONE

JPB384 LIBERA

JPB385 YEVONDE

JPB387 CERES


JPB389 HEMERA
JPB390 ARIADNE
JPB391 MUSE
JPB394 ARIEL
JPB395 SOCIALITE
JPB404 LYDIA
JPB412 MILEY