Our Top Picks from the Karen Willis Holmes DREAMERS Trunk show!
We have been loving all the fresh Karen Willis Holmes goodness in store this week and last while we are pleased to host the KWH Dreamers Trunk Show. Along with our classic faves, we’ve enjoyed seeing Karen’s new lineup and marvelling at the fact that even 20 years on in this ever-changing business, Karen is able to produce inventive, stunning, timeless styles for the modern bride.
As we’ve been enjoying the KWH beauties on our racks, Amy and I have selected a few of our personal faves that we’re excited to share with you today. As a deeper dive into the collection and a nod to these beauties, here are the styles that we just can’t stop talking about.
DAISY
Daisy combines a lot of classic elements with a modern twist - which we love. She sports a thicker strap with square bodice at the front which compliments both petite and larger busts. The intrigue of the woven detailing with separates the bodice from the skirt is dreamy, and once you hit the pleated skirt you’re totally in love. She’s cute, timeless, not fussy in the least - and oh we love her so. For those of you (and gosh darnit, both of us) who love an a-line skirt that gives you a bit to play with, Daisy is your girl.
VIVIENNE
If you’ve ever had dreams of being Drew Barrymore’s ‘Danielle’ in Ever After, holy Toledo, Vivienne is your gown. We had a beautiful bride who was getting married on a clifftop in Gerringong come in and fall in love with Vivienne the other day, and we couldn’t have suggested a better gown for her and for the vibe. Vivienne is romantic but still very low maintenance. The boning in the bodice gives structure and shape in a way that won’t make you feel the need to adjust and readjust all day, and the sleeves are just ridiculously fun. 11/10, highly recommend.
ESTHER
Okay. This is a controversial choice for a concept store and brand like Mrs Fray to select. Why? Because it’s the most skirt we’ve ever seen within these concrete walls. Why else? It’s strapless (whoa whoa whoa, slow down, Andi). But none of these things deter us from loving her so, and we’ll tell you why. Esther is part of Karen’s Bespoke Collection, made out of a daring fabric that almost resembles a semi stiff (but somehow deliciously comfortable) mesh netting. The structure from the fabric choice and also the bonding in the strapless bodice means support like you wouldn’t believe and completely overcoming the problem of a strapless which is hiking the top up all day (not a great look in photographs). The moment Esther stole our hearts was when we realised the main dress component underneath is in the shape of a tapered cocktail dress, down to the floor. So all that skirt mesh goodness becomes an almost see-through aura above that very sleek dress shape underneath (whaaaaat). So Esther might surprise you, but she surprised us all, and for that we cannot get enough.
BRIDGET
More on the vein of our brand and our ethos for a contemporary bridal concept store in Canberra, Bridget stole our hearts straight away. The heavyweight stretch fabric is incredibly comfortable, flattering, and demands a great shape on the female form straight away. The high neck is one of its kind in the collection and stunning on a set of bridal collar bones. If you’re worried about the higher neckline covering too much of your sass, never fear, because the cut outs are here to bring a bit of intrigue back to the table (without you having to stress about eating bread with lunch or not). More of a train gives Bridget that classic bridal silhouette and gives you a shape you won’t regret in 5, 10, or 25 years.
DIAMOND TRAIN
Back to the controversy ladies, because, again, the Diamond Train brings to the table way more fabric than we generally have here within the walls of Mrs Fray Canberra. BUT, lend me your ears for a moment because the Diamond Train is a bit of fancy fun that you just might fall in love with for your wedding day look. We’re all about bridal separates here at Mrs Fray, because we love a look that is versatile and gives you options to change things up throughout a wedding day if that is your jam. The Diamond Train is worn like a belt and gives your frock a detachable wedding train to take on and off for different portions of your wedding day marathon. Let me say that again… detachable… train.
She provides a next-level layer of bridal silhouette for the big and fancy acts of the day (ceremony, tearful vows, photos on said clifftop, etc) and then can be removed for the less formal parts of a wedding day (Negroni cocktails and dance floor boogies). Or you can just keep it on all day if you’re a fan of a versitile and playful accessory. Also, have you seen what this shape can do to change the whole look of a minimal sequin KWH gown like the Anya? So a bit of fun you can attach or detach as easy as a quick clip - we are all about that.
We have had so much fun playing dress ups with you these past couple of weeks and we look forward to meeting the rest of you in store this weekend for the Karen Willis Holmes Dreamers Trunk Show at the Mrs Fray flagship store in Canberra.
xx Andi & Amy
