It is such an exciting time of year for wedding bloggers and brides-to-be alike,  as we start to get glimpses of the latest bridal collections for 2015. I always wait with bated breath for the latest offering from Jenny Packham, Claire Pettibone, Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier….I could go on, but you know what I mean. Those designers you just know are going to wow and delight with their vintage inspired or forward thinking designs. What I love just as much though is when I stumble across a designer who grabs my attention for the very first time, and I am bringing you just one of those today – I know for a fact you are going to love this stunning collection of boho and vintage wedding dresses from French bridal designer Delphine Manivet as much as I do…..

Full of timelessly elegant gowns, flowing bohemian dresses, short but chic designs – and even the ever so on trend trouser ensemble! The collection is perfect for the bride looking for a unique wedding dress with a quirky edge and a dash of vintage charm for their wedding. I love how Delphine has cleverly used sleeves throughout many of the designs in the collection to evoke eras gone-by from Edwardian to the 1970s! Whilst her signature style of creating beautiful separates keeps the collection unmistakably contemporary. And her inspiration for the collection? Why that would be you of course! “Every day is an opportunity to gather inspiration. Of course I look to fashion past—the fine stitchwork on Marie-Antoinette’s dresses, the ingenuity of Jeanne Lanvin—but it’s also very much about the women of today, observing them and striving to understand what makes them feel beautiful.”

If the name Delphine Manivet is new to you, then let me tell you a little bit about her…… A French Designer, originally from Nice, she attributes her love of vintage style to her mother. Inspired by her to begin designing, it was her grandmothers who gave her the skills to pursue her passion – one knitted and the other was a couturière. Delphine told French magazine À Nous Paris, ‘I must have been about 7 years old when my career began to take shape. Because of these women I discovered lace, raw materials, and I was fascinated by antique dresses, tea-coloured nightdresses, fabrics of the past..…’ When she was 21, she left Nice to pursue her dream of becoming a designer in Paris, taking courses at the Mod’Spe fashion school. She soon found herself working at Rochas, and as it happened, beginning a search for her own wedding dress. When she couldn’t find anything that felt right for her, she decided to design her own and so a brand was born. Just two years later, in 2005 Delphine Manivet debuted her first bridal collection of 5 dresses. She is now one of the biggest names in French bridal couture and is fast becoming the designer of choice for fashion forward brides!

I love Delphine’s unique view on bridal wear, her imaginative mix of fabrics in her separates, pairing the everyday with luxury to create a gown that looks as comfortable as it does beautiful! “Each collection is a search to find a balance between dream and simplicity. To me, a wedding gown should have sense of airiness, authenticity, and a streamlined silhouette. I also enjoy marrying modern with vintage, like the way an old, yellowed lace looks next to bright white cotton.”

Delphine creates her dresses of only the very best fabrics “Calais lace, mousselines, pleated silk, and embroideries are all part of my world. I have a profound admiration for the centuries-old mills with whom I partner with; it’s fuelled my passion for beautiful fabrics. I feel as if I’ve inherited a fragile, disappearing art.”

Oh and here’s an interesting little tidbit for you – all of Delphine’s wedding dresses are given men’s names! Want to know why? “For me, it’s a way to pay tribute to the man who is never included in the process of choosing or making the dress, but counts in the choice for sure.” Whilst Harold may not seem to me the most apt name for the gorgeous gown above, it is kind of cute!

Oh yes, this collection epitomises Parisian chic! Do you have a favourite? I think mine is Ozgur with its long sleeves and devore velvet polka dots. If you love these gorgeous gowns, just wait until you see her 2015 Signature Collection! (can’t wait? then take a sneak peek here)

Are you smitten? To find your nearest Delphine Manivet stockist look here  on Delphine’s website. You can also follow the designer on Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

Amy

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Designer ~ Delphine Manivet

Photographer ~ Laure Bernard

Interview Source ~ BHLDN you can read it here