Q&A WITH MEGA TALENT, DAVID FIELDEN

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to David Fielden's flagship store.  I got to chat to David and try on lots of gorgeous dresses, yippee!  If you'd like to see more about my visit and lots of pics, click HERE.  David was also kind enough to answer a few questions for me to share with you loveliess.  So here we go, a Q&A with the mega talented David Fielden!

David & I!

1. 3 words that describe you?

Emotive, Driven, Loyal.

2. Favourite creative place to visit in London?

Shepard's Bush Empire for the music and the Donmar Theatre for its outstanding theatrical production.

3. Your favourite place to travel? Does travel or anything else inspire your work?

Cuba, for its people. The Outer Heridies for its solitary and dramatic landscape. I'm inspired by everything around me particularly music, theatre and dance.

4. Your newest collection has an ethereal feel, yet the back drop to your show was one of destruction. What inspired this contrast?

We live in an intransigent world with world affairs effecting our everyday decisions and I wanted to capture this feeling and show that love will always win out. The back drop of urban destruction added a dynamic contrast to the ethereal quality of the dresses.

5. The models are wore lace skull caps, are these the next big thing for bridal wear?!

I'd like to think so.

6. I adore your dresses, they're elegant yet edgy. If I were to choose one word to describe your 2012 show it would be FIERCE! How would you describe the David Fielden bride?

A David Fielden Bride is a woman who has her own sense of style and truly wants to have a dress at the cutting edge of bridal fashion.

7. Do you have a favourite dress from the 2012 collection?

I never look back, so I am always more excited by the next collection I am working on.

8. What inspired you to produce a film for your current campaign? What is the meaning behind it?

I am very interested in exploring different ways of getting our brand accessible to a wider audience. The film uses movement and sound to give a new and exciting emotional connection to my collection and brand.





9. What happens when a bride orders her dress from David Fielden? The process? Can designs be slightly adapted if the bride requested this or is this a big NO NO?

We will try to accommodate changes where we can but ultimately the wedding dresses must stay true to the David Fielden style. We work closely with the bride to make sure the process is a stress free experience, and more importantly an enjoyable one. Once an order is placed measurements are taken and a bride will then have a further two fittings. We make sure we are on hand to offer any advice or help that is needed from the right shoe to the right underwear.

10. What is the price range of your current collection?

Prices Range from: £1700 - £5000.

11. Are you able to offer any advice to Peonies & Pearls brides about selecting their dream dress?

Always follow your heart...

12. Is there anything you would like to share with Peonies & Pearls readers?

The new 2013 Collection will preview in June in Milan. So be ready for an exciting change! Watch this space!


CREDIT: Campaign images provided by David Fielden

>> NEWEST SPONSOR & COMPETITION << NEDA LAHRODI-BLAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

This morning I'd like to introduce to Peonies & Pearls newest sponsor, the fab Neda from Neda Lahrodi-Blake Photography.  This lady is super talented and a wedding obsessive :)  I'll hand you over to Neda so she can tell you a bit more about herself and her exciting competition.....

I was walking down the high street, juggling my tea in one hand my iPhone in the other, when I received an email which really made my day. I'm sure people were looking at me wondering why I looked half crazy, laughing to myself.  I wouldn’t have noticed though, I was in my own little bubble of happiness. The email was from a couple who had booked me for a Beloved Shoot, the bride to be had really let her imagination loose for the theme of the shoot. I had thrown a few ideas her way, but wanted her and her fiancée to really own their Beloved shoot and make it reflect their personalities. The email contained Brighton as location (you had me at hello – I love Brighton), a couple who’s personality were just out of this world and who most importantly were willing to let their hair down. With the help of Pinterest we pulled together everyone’s ideas and were able to have such a fantastic day on location. The images included ice rink, an amazing bunch of balloons which Elizabeth from Bridal Musings ordered and delivered. Elizabeth is Amie’s cousin and was our fantastic stylist on the day. We also had a chance to photograph by the Pier and even in a second hand vintage book shop.

Needless to say we all enjoyed the day and ended up having a delicious meal at the pub afterwards discussing their amazing Carousel Themed wedding in September. Few weeks later I get this amazing message that the couple wanted to book me as their Wedding Photographer!

With that story, let me tell you more about me.  I’m 'dangerous' on the phone according to my husband! I actually choose the word 'dangerous' for dramatic effect, in fact all it means is I spend way too much time enthusiastically talking about weddings with my Brides and sometimes Grooms. I love the wedding industry so much that my last bride felt I was ‘a wedding encyclopaedia’. In other words I know my peers; they have supported me enormously over the years and I only recommend the most lush people in the wedding world.

I have this super uber weird accent mostly because I grew up in Sweden, spending weekends at Ikea and driving a Volvo (not entirely true). Watching Fresh Prince in Bel Air (we are all guilty of this one) and having a New Zealander as a husband – well let’s say my accent has been influenced. I love chocolate and bribery in the form of chocolate is, never ever turned down – but please don’t feel obliged I’m trying to cut down.

A big part of my life is Photography, I love planning and day dreaming what I will capture. Some ladies might look at shoes, or bags or next holiday mine is more like what lens can I get my hands on, what focal length and what ideas I might come up with alongside my brides & grooms, that kind of thing. It makes me so happy beyond belief that I have chosen this path in my life. That I’m doing, what I adore and love. Even when the days are long and I’m tired I refuse to feel anything other than that I’m blessed. I started my photography career working on actress and model shoots and working with people, was really what made me jump out of bed. Wedding photography has all those things I love, a couple who are in love, a beautifully prepared day, stunning details, emotional speeches and cake (did I mention I have this sweet tooth I can’t shake off?). It was an easy transition to Wedding Photography and I have never looked back. It is a big responsibility and having got married myself only almost a year ago I know how important the memories are. I loved our wedding day, we really had a blast but once the cake had been devoured, the presents opened and all other wedding day related fun I knew I was dying to have the images from the day. I wanted to share them with my family and friends, to relive the day so to speak and laugh about the events. I therefore don’t take my role lightly.

I’m all about the candid images in terms of my style, I want everyone to look their best and the genuine caught in the moment expression makes my heart melt. The mother zipping up her daughter’s dress, the father leading her daughter down the aisle. Or the friend, who at one moment is in laughter and the next in tears, of beyond this world happiness for their friend. What I want all my lovely couples to have is a good experience from the time they get in touch with me and beyond their wedding date. I really want them to feel happy choosing me as their photographer, as much as I’m delighted to be theirs. Beyond all I hope they trust in my ability and experience to capture their special day. Feel free to get in touch to check my availability for your wedding day on hello@nedalahrodiblake.com and why not have a peak on my website HERE.

COMPETITION

If you and your fiancée would like to meet for a Beloved Shoot, so we can get to know each other, have a fun day out and make some fab memories then please don’t spend a second hesitating – enter now it is incredible easy and straightforward.

1. Tweet 'I want to win this Beloved Shoot Competition >> http://bit.ly/zmWW1N @peoniesnpearls @Neda_L_Blake'
2. Email hello@nedalahrodiblake.com with your best dessert bribery you think would win my heart (and stomach)
3. Include a brief summary of you and your finance as well as a picture of you both
4. Send it over to me pronto

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Deadline for entries is 11th March 2012
• Winner will be announced Wednesday 14th March
• Couple will need to be available for engagement shoot in London
• The engagement shoot will need to take place anytime between March – May 2012 and don’t worry about the weather our venue will be indoors and weather permitting outdoors as well
• The winners must agree to the use of the photographs on blogs, websites, publications for promotional purposes

>> P&P GURU << MAKE UP TUTORIAL - SMOKIN' NATURAL

This weeks guru post is from the lovely Bex from Becca Make Up.  She's showing us lucky ladies how to get a smoky but natural look that's perfect for your big day!

STEP 1

Prepare your skin for foundation by highlighting with MAC Strobe Cream and apply MAC Prep and Prime for skin. Now put on foundation, (I used MAC studio fix fluid foundation in NW20 ) with a flat foundation brush – Ruby & Millie do a good one that is not too pricey. Buff out any lines and even out your base with a good fibre-optic foundation brush such as MAC’s 188 brush. Now apply concealer to any problem areas, I used MAC Studio fix in NW20. I generally apply my concealer to the under eye area, around the nostrils where it is slightly red and my chin to hide redness. You can also use your concealer to prime your lids ready for shadow and it will even out the colour of the lids. As with the under eye, the whole eye area is delicate so work the product in either with a brush or by patting it on taking care not to drag.

STEP 2

Using a contour brush I applied a flat bronzer (no shimmery effect) to sculpt my face and add cheekbones! To do this suck your cheeks in and follow the shadows that form, follow them from the outside in gradually tapering off towards your nose. I also add a bit to the bridge of my nose to give the illusion of a more ‘button like’ nose. This part is different for everyone, depending on features you want to play down or up. For example you may have a wide nose and to give the illusion of a narrower nose, the colour should be applied down the sides of the nose, not on top. You can also make the face appear narrower by applying the product predominantly around the sides of the face. A great product for this is MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in medium / deep. Finish this step by applying blusher to the apples of your cheeks, I used Make Up Store blush in Sugarpink.

STEP 3

Prep eyelids (if you haven’t already applied concealer to them) using Benefit’s Lemon Aid – I love this product as it magically evens out the colour banishing redness and darker areas plus giving a great base for eyeshadow to be applied. Shape and fill in brows using a good pencil such as Lord & Berry’s Magic Brow in 1706. To know where you brows should end, take your pencil (as shown in the pic) and rest on the side of your nose following up to the corner of the eye – brows shouldn’t normally extend past this point. Apply your pencil in short feathery motions to mimic natural hair growth. If you prefer you can use eyeshadow to fill in your brows, just choose a matching shade or one shade darker and use a small slanted brush.

STEP 4

Shade the whole eyelid with an iridescent shadow slightly paler than your skintone to blend with the other shadow and also highlights your brow-bone – I used MAC’s Shroom shadow. I’ve used a fluffy shadow brush for this step to give a soft ‘wash ‘ of colour.

STEP 5

Line eyes with a soft kohl pencil – I find Lord & Berry’s Sketch pencil in black fantastic, it’s really intense colour and soft texture makes it really easy to blend. When lining your eyelids take your finger and place on the brow bone gently pulling upwards, this ensures the liner is tight to lashline. It also doesn’t matter if your line isn’t totally perfect as it’s going to get smudged anyhow! I flicked mine out slightly for a more feline appearance, this can be made more or less dramatic depending on how you want it.

STEP 6

Blend the eyeliner with a pencil brush such as the Models Own Blending Brush. There should be no harsh lines left as this will be the basis of the ‘smokey’ look.

STEP 7

After you have done this take MAC shadow in ‘Kid’ and apply over 2/3 of the eyelid just up to below your brow bone and focus on the outer corner of the eye, there should be more depth of colour here. Next take a slightly darker shade and take your pencil brush to apply this along your lashline and contour your eyes by applying from the outside corner along your crease gradually tapering towards the inner eye. Now blend the colour so you still have the intensity along the lashline and crease but again, no harsh lines. I finished off the look with a liquid liner, a really easy one to use is MAC’s penultimate eyeliner in black – it’s basically like a felt tip pen so less room for error.

STEP 8

Curl lashes and apply mascara – a really good budget buy is Max Factor’s Masterpiece Max mascara, I use it all the time. At this point you could also apply false lashes for a more dramatic effect. I tend to get very shiny skin so I apply MAC Blot Powder to combat this mainly in the T zone, this can normally be found in my bag too for quick touch ups on the go. It doesn’t get cakey even if it is re-applied all day, it’s a great product. You could also use another product from MAC, the prep + prime loose powder is great at setting make up once you are done. I sometimes use this and follow with blot powder later on if my skin gets shiny when I’m out.

STEP 9 

That’s it, you’re done…

You can make this look more or less dramatic to suit you by the heaviness of any liner, the depth of the colours used and whether you decide to use false lashes or not so have fun with this and adapt it suit you!!

>> YOU & ME WEDDING RINGS << CAST FROM YOUR PARTNER'S FINGER, SO YOU ARE ALWAYS HOLDING HANDS

For a couple looking for unique and personalised his and hers wedding rings, the interior of the finished ring holds an impression of your partner's finger, which will encircle yours forever.

These hand-finished rings are available in gold, silver, white gold or platinum with your choice of polished or unpolished exterior surface and all rings are finished to have glowing polished edges.  You can also select from two widths: slender (0.3cm) or broad (0.7cm) with prices starting at £600.

Rings can be created in two simple ways.  Couples can come to our studio in Bloomsbury central London or we can send you out a specially-designed impression kit.  The kit includes full instructions and moulding materials, along with a ring measure (a wooden reference ring that models your chosen width and depth) and a robust set of return postage boxes.

Available directly from www.patricklaing.com or www.notonthehighstreet.com/patricklaing

Such a gorgeous sentiment! xo

 Impression Kit

Rings and gift box