#unbridaled

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‘Liza’

You’d be silly if you couldn't guess who the showstopper was named after, Liza Minnelli of course. There wasn't really another option for the style really. I knew in initial design stages that my show stopper had to be all types of fabulous, and I particularly put this piece together for a bit of wow factor, I wasn't certain in it would appeal to any brides and to be honest, as fabulous as she is I still am not. 

“Thousands of fine-cut Czech crystals adorn an exquisite illusion tulle bodice. Panels twist around the neck and wrap sensually around the body creating spectacular crystallised geometric patterns. A fitted nude illusion skirt sparkles in a glistening cluster of crystals. Delicate layers of raw silk chiffon fall from a precisely shaped drop-waist by carefully hand-caught gathers. Liza is iconic. A definite showstopper!”

‘Liza’ is a very labour intensive piece with the thousands of crystals glistening the tulle panels applied one by one by hand. The darts and panel lines on the bodice were also long stitched together, placed onto the manakin then hand stitched and secured into place. Lastly the voluminous silk chiffon skirt was layered up and gathered by hand, pinned onto the upper skirt then securely hand stitched into place. She really is fit for a star!

[danjoneslabel]

‘STEVIE’

Stevie Nicks is one of the most iconic bohemian girls of the 70′s. There was no questions about having a ‘Stevie’ in the UNBRIDALED 2014 collection, and there were also no questions about weather or not the style was to have the infamous ‘bat wing’ sleeve look that Nick’s favoured.

“Featuring gossamer layers of silk georgette that flutter effortlessly from the shoulder into a voluminous sleeve. Gathered silk delicately frame the bust and form a plunging deep V neckline whilst a softly tailored waistband, cinched at the waist, joins a stunning 4-layer, full-length skirt. Stevie is soft, luxurious and extravagant!”

For this reason I really wanted to play with multiple layers of light weight silk. I chose silk georgette for its slightly grainy texture but also for its movement... it flutters so gracefully in the slightest breeze, and i knew adding a kimono style sleeve was going to be super fun for the girl who chooses ‘Stevie’. I really had no constraints when designing this gown, layers upon layers in skirt, full flowing sleeve, a plunging deep v neckline and a stunning train to balance it all our perfectly.

[danjoneslabel]

‘HUTTON’

When I had decided that I was going to have Lauren Hutton as a muse I knew that the style had to represent the qualities of Lauren her self, classic, elegant and beautiful. Thats were the idea of incorporating the flowing silk skirt came into play. It needed to have a beautiful framed neckline, but also the usual dan jones charm, queue the small tulle cut outs at the back of the corset. 

“Soft silk satin panels drape geometrically into a tapered waistline, whilst others wrap around the body framing exposed back sheer paneling. Volumes of silk satin layers fall from the waist and softly over the hips into a lavish skirt. Hutton is graceful and pure.”

This is quite a mesmerising gown. I always thought it would really appeal to the girly girls, those getting married on a remote beach, picturesque winery, enchanted forests and basically to any girl who really enjoys wearing a dress, and not s sundress, but a real dress.

[danjoneslabel]

‘HANSEN’

I always associate Patti Hansen with being the Queen of Cool, one of those girls that you just want to be around because she’s pretty damn fun. I initially underestimated how ‘Hansen’ would turn out in the initial design stages. I felt it was quite a plain, traditional silhouette, but I soon realised how wrong I was. 

“A captivating heavy-weight silk crêpe gown featuring clean lines that frame the silhouette, illusion tulle and intricately hand-cut French corded lace appliqué. Perfect proportions and a dramatic thigh high split makes Hansen sexy yet chic.”

A lot of dan jones gowns, both evening wear and bridal have splits and I made sure the split on ‘Hansen’ was sexy by making it an overlapping wrap around style. Patti in my eye, quite possibly was the girl your mother told you to stay away from. Bearing that in mind I had to add the stunning open tulle back with french lace detail and also the centre front tulle panel on the bodice to create the delicately sexy corded french lace bust line. I think this is a style that I definitely delivered well on!

[danjoneslabel]

‘ANJELICA’

I named this gown after Anjelica Huston. Famous for her striking looks, when designing this piece I really wanted to make sure I came up with a gown that would resonate with the ‘Anjelica Huston look’. What appealed the most to me was the demure necklines that Huston wore... boat neck, infinity and halter, which all framed her décolletage beautifully. This is where the idea of the tulle and lace came into play.

“A true showcase of precision and technique. Intricately hand-cut French corded lace is skilfully applied to illusion tulle, creating a dramatic shape-defining bodice, whilst a heavy-weight silk crêpe column skirt creates a striking, contemporary silhouette.”

When developing this piece I knew exactly which girl the style would appeal to. She wanted a contemporary take on some of the traditional bridal elements. I put my own spin on the placement of the french corded lace. Rather then having an explosion of lace (which some modern day bridal designers still consider beautiful) I decided to really strip it back and precisely work out where and what needed to be placed. I added the column skirt as opposed to the traditional princess style ball skirt, and a tulle sleeve with delicate lace cuffs to continue the striking eye catching illusion.

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‘JERRY’

Jerry Hall is an all time favourite girl of mine, particularly for those red lips, the thick blonde main and those long long legs. She particularly influenced the this styles del low back, eye catching illusion tulle neckline and also was the reason I decided to cut this gown on the bias. Cutting on the bias is a technique which allows the fabric to fall like liquid and mould beautifully around the form.

“twinkling glass beads encrusted over delicate lace, frosted over an eye-catching illusion neckline and growing around the waistline, shaping into a deep sculptured open back. Bias-cut heavy weight silk crêpe caresses and falls voluminously for the hips. Jerry is striking and alluring.”

‘Jerry’ is a gown for the girl who wants to show it off, tastefully. I always envisage girls who chose this gown to have an element of freeness as Jerry Hall herself does. Long hair, relaxed and out, beautiful smokey eyes and a stunning lip in colour. Confident and ready to rock a killer pair of heels.

[danjoneslabel]

‘DIANE’

One of the biggest icon’s of the 70′s and a pioneer for, but not limited too 1970′s fashion is Diane Von Furstenburg, also known as DVF. Jersey was a very prominent fabric in the 70′s most notably for the jersey wrap dress. I love working with Jersey, particularly silk jersey, in my opinion its a fabric which is too often overlooked. 

“Luxe silk jersey moulds around the silhouette. Featuring a stunning deep plunging neckline and criss-crossing back straps that meet a sharply cringe waistline. 'Daine' is bold, statuesque and sharp.”

There are so many iconic images of Diane from this era... I could post forever. They all encompassed something that I really wanted to incorporate into this gown. ‘Diane’ is definitely a gown for the girl who is a little bit more daring, however its also paying homage to the freeness and femininity that was on the uprise in the 70′s. Plunging neckline, cinched waistline, open back and form fitting silhouette.

[danjoneslabel]

‘SHIELDS’

I remember when I was younger asking my mum who Brooke Shields was as I always thought she was ‘really pretty’. Now that I am older I still do think Brooke Shields is really pretty, however my choice of words these days would be ‘timeless beauty’. The ‘Shields’ is a timeless beauty, perhaps the most traditional piece from the 2014 Collection. I designed this piece thinking of the contemporary, conservative bride whilst infusing it with signature dan jones elements.

“Softly tailored cups divided by a plunging halter neckline atop a heavyweight silk satin bias-cut skirt. A silhouette that's stunning and sure to make a statement!”

Through out her career she was label a “provocative fashion model” and a “controversial actress” not to forget that she was the face of Calvin Klein at age 14, and was the youngest model to grace the front cover of Vogue Magazine. Her ability to be beautiful, feminine and timeless juxtaposed with her controversial professional roles, underage partying and being some what of a sex symbol are some elements that I decided to play with. A beautiful bias cut skirt (which shows all the right curves) eye catching straps around the bust and neckline, and an open back. You really dont need to have your whole anatomy showing, I find it much more appealing when a girl has her more feminine features on display... neckline, shoulders, back and curves.