Featured Collection + Interview: 'She Dances Amongst the Trees' by Vellos Bridal
When it comes to finding the wedding dress of their dreams, down-to-earth brides seek out elegance over extravagance.
They desire beautiful fabrics, the perfect fit and those unique but timeless details that celebrate their female form. It is this bride in particular which Designer and Owner of Vellos Bridal, Maria Apostolou, had in mind when she began her own business back in 2002.
Fast-forward to the present-day and Vellos Bridal has become to go-to destination for brides-to-be who are looking for a design beyond the 'cookie-cutter' wedding dress. Based in the Sutherland Shire in NSW, Maria has had the privilege of helping hundreds of women to feel "elegant, luxurious, fabulous and confident" on their big day.
From the abundance of positive comments and testimonials from over-the-moon brides, it is evident that Vellos Bridal's success can be narrowed down to three important elements: experience, individuality, and trust.
Not only has Maria had countless years of experience working within the fashion industry, but she also prides herself on being able to spend one-on-one time with each client to ensure her creation is exactly what they've dreamed of. And as for trust? Hundreds of beyond-happy brides are no coincidence!
Here at Whim, we're incredibly excited to show you the latest, beautiful collection of wedding dresses from Vellos Bridal. Titled 'She Dances Amongst the Trees', this new assortment of designs have been heavily inspired by the notion that “like all things in nature, every woman is beautiful”.
You'll find some gorgeous images from this collection sprinkled throughout this post, as well as one other exciting thing - an interview with Vellos Bridal's Designer and Owner Maria! Let's get started...
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Q: When did you first begin Vellos Bridal and what motivated you to do so?
A: I began Vellos Bridal in December 2002. My motivation was that having worked in the fashion industry for several years, I was realising more and more that production was going off shore and we were constantly trying to cut costs, meaning that fabric quality and detailing was being compromised to achieve the end price. It also meant that designing meant sitting at a computer all day. Yes, there was a small amount of sketching involved, but that was where the opportunity to be creative ended. I love fabric, I love playing with it, draping, moulding and creating something new. Basically I love design.
Q: How would you describe Vellos Bridal in just three words?
A: Bespoke timeless elegance.
Q: We love your new collection titled 'She Dances Amongst the Trees'! Please tell us more about the experience you had putting together this collection? What was the inspiration behind it?
A: The Vellos Bride is elegant and fuss-free, she loves simple clean lines but still wants the detailing and fit of a couture gown. By this, I mean that there is a lot more to a Vellos gown than meets the eye. For example, while my gowns may appear to have minimal embellishments, I use only high quality fabrics, laces and trims and there are lots of internal detailing involved, for example, I do lots of internal corsetry and beautiful button fastenings as opposed to zippers.
Many of my laces are draped directly onto my bride at her fitting so that every flower, leaf or swirl sits exactly where it looks best on her body. With this being the focus of all my dresses, I have noticed that I have attracted a very specific or niche market. Most of my brides have outdoor weddings, often in gardens and estates with acres of greenery around them. I love working with these girls and wanted to create a range of dresses that suited them specifically. In my mind I imagined woods, hills, long grass, a light breeze and all the beauty of nature and then thought the only thing more beautiful is the way a bride glows on her wedding day. From that, the idea was born: “like all things in nature, every woman is beautiful”. From there, the design process just happened.
Q: What advice would you offer to brides-to-be who are about to start looking for the dress of their dreams?
A: Bring along lots of pictures of what you like, as it helps your designer guide you through the design process and helps in choosing which samples to try on. Dresses don’t necessarily look the same on the rack as they do on the body.
Keep an open mind - I often see girls who had a specific style in mind, but found that what they thought they wanted and what they were comfortable in and looked best on them wasn’t what they expected.
Q: Lastly, where can our readers find out more about Vellos Bridal?
A: You can view more of our gowns and real brides on www.vellosbridal.com.au and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
My studio is based in the Sutherland Shire in Sydney. You can view and try on gowns by appointment and perhaps let me design a gown exclusively for you.
We want to thank Maria for taking the time to shed some more light on Vellos Bridal, and we really do encourage you to engage with the beautiful label through the website and social media links above!
Fancy seeing more images from this gorgeous collection? Click here!
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Image credits: Photography: Sevenish Photography | Make-up: Vanessa Louise MUA | Hair: Hair Appeal and Beauty Collection | Model: Eleanor Tolman