EDITION 004 IS HERE

Different lockdown, same creative outlet: we have loved designing this edition from the depths of the UK’s third lockdown.


When we sat down to plan for 2021, one thing we decided early on was that we wanted to do things differently this year. Rather than one big collection in September, we wanted to launch a two part collection (with 'EDITION 004' as the first installment) as a direct reaction to the changing wedding landscape.


The pandemic has completely changed the traditional wedding format and triggered new fashions, behaviours and styles. Brides are more adventurous and less inhibited by restrictive traditions. They also want to relish in the joy of dressing up once more; having been at home for the past year.


We wanted to tap into that with an edition that feels incredibly luxurious. Silhouettes are confident, sophisticated and sexy - and most importantly, makes dressing up a joy. We all want to look forward and celebrate the good times. This is all about the extra special, escapist pieces that elevates wedding wear into a more fun and joyful space.


THE COLLECTION 

 


We’ve drawn inspiration from the 1920s and 30s, a deliriously glamorous, decadent and creative era. These are dresses that could have hung in the wardrobes of starlets Carole Lombard and Billie Dove; from seductive silken gowns perfect for larger celebrations, to fresh and distinctive midi length silhouettes with statement sleeves that work for smaller occasions. Fabrics are butter soft and sumptuous, the cut is exquisite, the whole aesthetic is pared back and full of romance.

It feels like an edition right for the moment, but of course, we’ve been here before. The roaring twenties are about to reignite. And so it’s a timely yet timeless edition for the contemporary bride looking to indulge in considered luxury.



THE STORY

“Look closer and you’ll see something extraordinary, mystifying, something real and true. We have never been what we seemed” Zelda Fitzgerald 


Our lookbook celebrates the warm, alluring glow of the cocktail hour. It’s that quiet moment of the evening where the drinks are mixed and champagne is sipped. The sun is still warm and soft on your skin but twilight is beckoning and the light is slowly starting to fade. A moment of calm has descended; the night’s adventures are about to begin.


We were inspired by stories of the decadent cocktail hours hosted by Hollywood’s golden era in Palm Springs in the 20s, and by Slim Aarons’ striking photography, where everything and everyone looks effortlessly beautiful. The spirit of those days evoke a feeling of freedom and joy that we wanted to capture in our collection and photography; it’s a feeling we want women to feel when they wear OWN on their wedding day.


 

WHY THE COCKTAIL HOUR?

There’s something incredibly alluring about the understated glamour of the cocktail hour. One thing we were surprised to learn while researching the collection is that the cocktail hour has feminist origins. Although it was later claimed by Alec Waugh (brother of Evelyn) as his invention, the first cocktail party was in fact held by a New Orleans socialite, Mrs Clara Bell Walsh. “Positively the newest stunt in society is the giving of ‘cocktail parties,’” reported The Tacoma Times of Mrs Clara Bell Walsh’s party, which “scored an instant hit” in April 17, 1917. 


Clara represented the era of the “New Woman”; which was characterised by women striving to be free of society’s constraints and expectations. The next generation of free-spirited women - the flappers who partied their way through the 1920s - saw Clara as inspiration in their battle for female independence.  As Vogue magazine put it in 1930: “The really smart woman [is] apt to be an anti-prohibitionette…All have in common a certain freedom of mind which is bound to be characteristic of women who lead such crusades…It was such women who went out to fight for a vote…In the War, they drove ambulances as close to the front as possible. They are athletic. [They were] the first to drink cocktails…They pile up the qualities of mind and manner that make leaders.”  .



THE MAKE UP 


 

HOW TO GET THAT BEACHY, TOUSLED WAVE 

Make up artist Quelle Bester says "To keep hair feeling its most natural and tousled, I prepped Lexi with George Northwood’s Wave Spray for heat protection and to boost curl, as well as applying a generous amount of Kristin Ess’s Air Dry Crème. This crème is amazing at hydrating wavy and curly hair textures, and can be applied again when dry to help define. Using my Dyson hairdryer, I diffused hair until dry, then went over the fringe area with a small barrel brush to blowdry a more defined curl back into the front of Lexi’s hair. To finish, I sprayed hair with Living Proof’s Instant De-Frizzer which acts like an anti humidity spray that adds shine - great for curly girls!"

    

HOW TO GET THAT NO MAKE UP, MAKE UP GLOW

"I began by prepping Lexi’s skin using Glossier’s Bubble Wrap Eye Cream and Priming Moisturiser. These are great at adding quick hydration to skin, as well as the fact the play well with other makeup products. I then combined Glossier’s Skin Tint and Stretch Concealer to give a sheer finish to skin, which coverage where needed (generally around the center of her face), powdering where necessary with Givenchy Prismatic Loose Powder. I find these products allow skin to look most natural and help to maintain a dewy finish. 
    
"To boost radiance in her skin, I buffed a touch of Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks in the colour “Minette” (a great coral for fair to medium skin tones) to add a little colour back into complexion, and teamed this with Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in “Peau de Rose” for a glow that would reflect well with both flash and natural lighting. I then mixed up a neutral lip colour using my Dior Lip Palette to keep colours feeling harmonious. 
   
"To finish, I groomed brows using Glossier Boy Brow in “Brun” for a full and natural brow, applied Westman Atelier’s Eye Love You Mascara over curled lashes and then added a little Gucci Beauty Effet Lumière Face Gloss over eyes. I really love this effect over eyes as it picks up beautifully in sunlight, so it’s great for summer - however, if you are planning on mimicking this effect for a wedding, I would suggest either a waterproof mascara or switching the gloss for something like Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Lid Lustré in “Blonde” as this will easily wear without the need to touch up."

 

 

THE ACCESSORIES


Top image Saint Laurent platforms, Shrimps Earrings
L-R  Jacquemus Gold Les Fleurs £250 , Manolo Blahnik Black Ankle Sandals £550 , Zoe and Morgan Snake Hoop Earring £199 , Zoe and Morgan Ray of Light Signet Ring £190 , Christian Louboutin Taralita 55 Leather Slingback sandals £545 , Shrimps Earrings £150 , Marni Love Beaded Earrings £250 , Jacquemus La Spirale hammered gold-tone earrings £175

 

 

 

THE LOCATION 



Pheasants in Henley on Thames, an award winning 'country villa for the 21st century' Wallpaper 

SHOOT CREDITS

Photography - Alicia Waite

Model - Lexi Upshaw of Linden Staub

Hair and Make up - Quelle Bester 

Styling - The OWN Studio

Location - Pheasants in Henley on Thames 

 

 

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