The best Australian and New Zealand designers for non-traditional brides
IMAGE VIA @LOLA.VARMA/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL
Here comes the bride.
Getting married is a pretty big deal, so it’s important you feel like yourself when you’re walking down the aisle. Drowning in fabric that just doesn’t feel right or constantly readjusting a bodice that keeps riding up is less than ideal.
But if traditional bridal boutique shopping isn’t for you, there is an incredible selection of local designers creating pieces for brides that don’t necessarily want to opt for a ‘big white dress’.
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Whether you’re having a destination wedding with hundreds of guests, an intimate backyard ceremony or just popping down to the registry office, these Australian designers have something that will make your walk down the aisle feel more authentic to you.
Madre Natura
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Meaning ‘Mother Nature’ in Italian, Madre Natura is inspired by Mother Earth; nurturing and giving life to nature. Handcrafted locally in Sydney, the capsule bridal collection is comprised of simple, high-quality gowns, a two-piece set, a blazer and a silk top to match and match. With a focus on slow fashion and sustainable materials, Madre Natura makes bridal you’ll want to wear again.
Rue de Seine
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Rue de Seine is for the free-spirited bride. Setting the tone for unique bridal wear, Rue de Seine’s fabrics are all exclusively designed in-house to embody the bohemian spirit.
Lola Varma
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Lola Varma was founded by wedding photographer Courtney Illfield, who found that many women she photographed weren’t connecting with the traditional details and dated silhouettes offered by mainstream bridal brands. Her unconventional, minimalist designs are each made-to-order and designed with comfort and fluidity in mind.
Esse Studios
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Simple and elevated pieces for a fashion-forward bride can be found at local label Esse Studio. The label has a timeless approach to design and releases bi-annual editions. 98 per cent of its garments are made locally by over 10 specialty makers in Sydney.
Grace Loves Lace
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Grace Loves Lace is a local label making elegant bridalwear for ‘women of style, substance and passion’. The brand offers dreamy detailing, fluid silhouettes and lots of lace, naturally. With an extensive collection, there’s a design for every kind of bride.
Kyha
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Kyha’s contemporary wedding dresses possess a kind of regal elegance, characterised by structured silhouettes, romantic details and luxurious materials. Choose from ready-to-wear gowns, bridal separates and elopement dresses.
Karla Spetić
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Karla Spetic’s designs are all about evoking the romantic nature of bridal wear designs. The collection has a strong focus on unique details, including oversized bows, cutouts, sheer panelling and floral applique. And if you’ve already got the dress but want to elevate the accessories, there’s also a giant organza bow and crystal crown to choose from.
Nevenka
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Nevenka’s designs encapsulate Eastern European heritage and traditions. The brand’s dresses are playful, detailed and bold, all made in the brand’s Melbourne atelier. Pieces are released in limited-edition capsule collections, so keep an eye on the Nevenka Instagram for your dream dress.
Christie Nicole
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Christie Trowbridge founded Christie Nicole Bridal in 2016, building on her previous experience as a luxury lingerie designer. She started making gowns for friends, and this flourished into a made-to-order bridal business specialising in dramatic silhouettes, intricate beading and romantic details like floaty tulle sleeves, feathers and floral appliqué.
Maggie Marilyn
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New Zealand-born label Maggie Marilyn is not exclusively bridal, but the brand’s selection of simple, luxurious dresses is ideal for easy wedding celebrations. Browse the Forever collection for feminine gowns, floaty blouses and structured tailoring.
Honeymoon Studios
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Honeymoon Studios is bridal wear done differently. Naarm-based designer Andria Kiefer came up with the idea for the label after struggling to find an outfit for her own wedding. Disillusioned by the traditional styles on offer, she sought to create something that spoke to the modern, down-to-earth bride. With this in mind, the label creates inclusive, customisable and contemporary pieces that can be worn long after your special day.
Macgraw
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Designed by sisters Beth and Tessa MacGraw, Macgraw’s bridal edit evokes a flirtatious elegance through its use of texture and colour – these are dresses you’ll want to hold onto forever.
Beare Park
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Sydney label Beare Park creates high-quality dresses, blazers and pants. Drape yourself in silk and walk down the aisle in one of the label’s sleek designs.
Paris Georgia
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New Zealand label Paris Georgia creates sophisticated, custom bridal wear that celebrates the female form and combines luxury fabric with modern silhouettes. Its ready-to-wear line also has an array of excellent options for the modern bride – may we suggest the Audrey Mini Dress over the Bootleg Trousers, both in the shade Fawn?
Anna Quan
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Bridal and Beyond is, as the name suggests, local designer Anna Quan’s bridal capsule collection. The range prioritises modern, flowy silhouettes (there’s even a pair of white satin wide-legged pants) and is for the bride who wants their accessories to shine and their movement to be effortless.
L’eto Bridal
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L’eto Bridal’s 2022 collection Into the Night, with its floaty dresses in sumptuous silks, is for the modern bride who’s still a romantic at heart. Its previous collection, Slow, featured plunging necklines, strapless gowns and modern, two-piece sets.
Van Der Kooij
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The puff sleeve has seen a revival in recent years, and we’re certainly not complaining. For those who are fond of the puff, local label Van Der Kooij recently released a line of wedding-appropriate silk dresses with sleeves that do all the talking. The line is available in a range of bold colours, proving that brides need not be constrained to traditional white.
E Nolan
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Melbourne-based label E Nolan makes made-to-measure garments, with a particular focus on expertly tailored suits. If you’re looking to subvert tradition, there’s nothing more understated and effortlessly cool than wearing a custom silk suit on your big day.
Michael Lo Sordo
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It’s all in the details with Michael Lo Sordo’s bridal range; think crystalline embellishments, luxurious silk satin fabrics and eye-catching slits and ties. Our favourite is the Charlie Bias Halter which is sure to turn heads with its dramatic low back.
Alex Perry
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Iconic Australian designer Alex Perry’s bridal range is sleek and classic, with strapless dresses made out of Japanese satin. These dresses will never date and will let your accessories do the heavy lifting.
Ellery
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You’ll feel like a piece of walking art in one of the conceptual bridal designs from much-loved Australian label Ellery. Its asymmetrical and expressive styles – there’s even an all-leather dress! – are made-to-order, and are guaranteed to make you stand out in all the right ways.
Silk Laundry
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Silk Laundry believes in understated romance and draws inspiration from the iconic ’90s slip dress. The label has a made-to-order bridal line as well as beautiful, wedding-appropriate styles throughout its other collections. Plus, its dresses and suits are made from the highest quality silk, so you know your purchase will last long after your special day.
Jillian Boustred
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Sydney designer Jillian Boustred’s Wedding Edit is a range of sophisticated linen designs, available in soft colours for brides and their bridal parties. If a low-key beach wedding is on the cards for you, these lightweight, breezy styles should be right up your alley.
Lilia Cass
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Lillia Cass’ collection of minimal bridal separates is designed to mix, match and layer. The local designer uses Japanese drape pattern-making methods to make these special, re-wearable pieces.
Rebecca Vallance
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Rebecca Vallance’s designs bring a touch of flirty fun to simple flattering shapes and combine structured tailoring with luxurious fabrics. Our favourite is the Genevieve Puff Sleeve Midi Dress.
Toni Maticevski
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Toni Maticevski’s tightly curated bridal collection is dramatic in all the right ways. Or, if you’re feeling colourful, you could opt for one of the Australian designer’s more elaborate and unconventional gowns from his ready-to-wear collection.
Harriette Gordon
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Fremantle-based designer Harriette Gordon produces unique bridal pieces that feel poetic and feminine. The label’s most recent collection, Sonnet XVII, is inspired by art, film, poetry and places. A new collection, Midnight Oeuvre, is launching next month.
Lillian Khallouf
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Designer Lillian Khallouf aspires to bring subtle luxury to life for the modern woman. Her bridal wear ranges from all-out ball gowns with heavy lace detailed skirts to sheer mermaid style slips that suit a more intimate and sensual romantic affair. Lillian Khallouf is all about offering timeless, quality gowns and tailoring for special occassions.
Spell Bride
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Romantic and bohemian, Spell Bride is the bridal collection of the Byron-born brand of the same name. Its whimsical and fun dresses are inspired by nature, travel and rock and roll. Influenced by the Fleetwood Mac song ‘Gypsy’, Spell Bride designs feature bell sleeves, lots of lace and swishy skirts to make you feel ethereal. The collection also includes camisoles and robes to create the perfect bridal pre and post-wedding looks.
Bo & Luca Bridal
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Vintage-inspired, hand-beaded gowns are Bo & Luca’s staple. The brand’s bridal collection is a blend between ’70s hippie and soft, Southern glam. Key features of the collection are sheer sleeves, layered skirts and long trains all in soft A-line silhouettes. The label also offers some unique options for those seeking two pieces sets and backless gowns.
Alca Line Brides
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Founded in 2018 by Sydney-based designer Amy Clyne, Alca Line Brides is all about being bold, playful and alluring. With unique options including the Whitley sheer metallic gown and the Delia sheer lavender layered dress.
Christopher Esber
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Sydney-based designer Christopher Esber is known for his sophisticated, contemporary approach to womenswear, with a focus on high-quality materials and feminine silhouettes. The label’s designs take an almost underwear-as-outerwear approach – think artfully twisted fabric, boning and lace.
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