If you have visited Chic Vintage Brides before, then you will have almost certainly stumbled across the gorgeous gowns of Claire Pettibone and know that I am a huge admirer of her inimitable design style (you can see her past collections here). There is no doubt that Claire is a designer whose creations once seen are never forgotten. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting bohemia of the Edwardian era and decadent days of the Art Nouveau, her dresses epitomise the modern vintage aesthetic and her collections are never anything short of utterly divine – I quite simply adore them! And so many of you who have discovered her through these pages feel the same, but may have in the past been disappointed to discover they were out of your budget (they would have most certainly been out of mine too!) With the introduction of her diffusion line Romantique this year however, this is no longer the case and today I am excited to introduce you to her offering for 2016 aptly named ‘Into The Sunset’…..

Romantique is a collection of gowns with all the couture quality and signature style the designer is renowned for but at much more affordable prices, ranging from just $1,500 to $2,800. ‘Into the Sunset’, the 2016 collection, pays tribute to the untamed romance of the old wild west with elegant gowns inspired by pioneer and prairie styles featuring gathered high necks, scalloped lace edges and touches of black ribbon and lace throughout. For the unveiling catwalk the gowns, given names like Dakota, Prairie Rose, Maybelle, and Montana, were perfectly styled with cowboy boots and black leather cowboy hats. Whilst the bold styling may be a departure from what we’ve seen from CP before, these gowns are still unmistakably hers with their feminine flowing silhouettes, brimming with lace, fancy floral appliques, splashes of colour and breathtaking portrait backs. So, if you’re planning a rustic but elegant wedding in a meadow, barn or on the side of a mountain, one of these could be just the dress for you!…..

(Image Source Riley & Grey)

I love how she has artistically and delicately incorporated bold splashes of black in the form of lace and ribbons in such a way that adds drama without losing any of the romance. They are just perfect for the bride not wanting to wear the traditional ivory, but is understandably nervous of wearing solid black.

Whilst it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I absolutely love how Claire Pettibone always pushing the bridal boundaries. Never feeling constrained by the latest trends or fads, always sticking to her unique design aesthetic and signature style, yet somehow still managing to imbue each new collection with a distinctly fresh and unique feel.

This collection makes me think of the gorgeous Lauren Bush & David Lauren wedding *swoon* I can’t wait to see brides wearing these wild beauties! Which one is your favourite??

To find your nearest Claire Pettibone stockist pop here. You can see more from Claire Pettibone over on here website at www.clairepettibone.com and you can keep up with all of the latest collections, trunk shows and new by following her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and of course Instagram on which Claire does a fabulous job of reaching out to her brides, fans and followers.  So if you’re wearing a Romantique or Claire Pettibone gown don’t forget to tag #romantiquebride and #clairepettibone when sharing your images. You can share images of your dapper groom too by tagging him #romantiquegroom.

Amy

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