One of Punk Rock Bride’s newest gowns: the “Rachel.” Photograph courtesy of Punk Rock Bride
In a few days, the Washingtonian Bride & Groom team is heading to New York to check out the newest in bridal fashion. At Bridal Market, as it’s called, we’ll view back-to-back runway shows of all of your favorite designers—and of course give you the inside scoop on Twitter, Facebook, and this blog starting Friday.
We’re particularly excited to see Stephanie Ward’s new collection. The DC-based designer behind Punk Rock Bride has made a real splash on the wedding gown scene with her unique, relaxed-chic looks, so we asked her to tell us a bit about her new 2012 collection that will make its debut at Bridal Market (and give us a sneak-peek at one of her newest gowns!).
“This year, I experimented with a lot of new fabrics and techniques,” says Ward. “Of all the collections I’ve done, I believe this one comes the closest to achieving my goal of creating less traditional, more fashion-forward wedding dresses.”
“There are a few common themes that tie the new dresses together—the use of angular details, the layering of multiple fabrics and unique textures, and playful variations of hemlines. To me, unique details are what makes a gown special, and it’s what I aim to incorporate in all of my gowns.”
The gown above is called “Rachel,” and it’s one of Ward’s favorites.
“It’s the first wedding dress I’ve created using the draping technique, which is basically designing something directly on a dress form as opposed to drafting patterns—it allows for a lot more freedom and spontaneity,” she says. “This dress is also made out of one of my favorite fabrics of all time: silk faille. It’s very structured, but also has a soft billowy texture to it. ‘Rachel’ incorporates all the qualities a wedding dress should have—style, sophistication, and a little bit of whimsy.”
For more information on Punk Rock Bride, visit its Web site, and don’t forget to check back here (as well as on Twitter and Facebook) starting on Friday for all your New York Bridal Market updates!
