In case you haven't heard, Irish bridal atelier Sharon Hoey has become the country’s exclusive stockist of Temperley Bridal - bespoke bridal couture by celebrated British designer Alice Temperley.
Known for an aesthetic that focuses on heritage influences, bohemianism, and a dash of roaring 20s, it’s no surprise the London-based designer counts a variety icons including Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, and Jennifer Coolidge as members of her 'Temperley Tribe’.
Ahead of Temperley Bridal’s launch at Merrion Street Lower, I sat down with the designer herself to discuss everything from the designer’s ultimate muses to bridal trends and tips for any bride-to-be.
Is there any celebrity for you that best represents the Alice Temperley muse?
"Honestly, the Alice Temperley muse would probably have to be myself," the designer jokes. "I mean, I wear it like 100% of the time, I know how it feels and I really use my clothes. So, I guess myself and the immediate people around me."
"I don't necessarily just pin it on one celebrity, but if it was somebody in history that would be Amelia Earhart; for her love of travel and adventure as well as for the leathery, utilitarian side.
"Or, it might be somebody who could easily wear my dresses, like Ginger Rogers, or someone who might be quite Victoriana in style.
"There are lots of spiritual references, but not one specific kind of celebrity muse. It's like a mixture."
How would you describe your brand's aesthetic in your own words?
"Eclectic, craftsmanship, timeless and surreal. And it's elegant, but with an edge; it's a perfect mix of sort of masculine and feminine, it’s not too girly and it’s not too masculine. It's kind of strong, but very beautiful."
You have such a wide range of clientele, from unconventional brides to the uber-traditional, was that always your intention?
"No, I think it’s just about personalities, personality and people. I have some who really like a more tailored look and some who like that kind of plainer, bias satin feel." "Some people love lace, and some people love sequins."
"Some people might like an embroidered dress for their ceremony, but want a sequined jumpsuit for afterward. Some people might want to get married in a sequin jumpsuit, that’s enough for them.
"I just think it's about however they want to feel. Being able to dress somebody in all those ways, considering body type or personality, while still upholding the key design traits that we have within our collection is something I thoroughly enjoy doing.
"Sure, there are things, obviously, that I would definitely avoid and that are just not Temperley at all – but luckily, we can almost always cover our Tribe."
What do you think aligns your brand with Sharon Hoey’s bridal atelier and when did this relationship ignite?
"It's a new relationship. I have a new girl representing me in sales, she brought me out here and thinks it's going to be the perfect partnership; it gives them a new offering, one that stands out from their more traditional options."
"There’s a change in the demand for bridal, and I think it's quite an exciting opportunity for both of us to be something new and refreshing, maybe even more contemporary. Obviously, Temperley Bridal is elegant and timeless, but it’s contemporary as far as, you know, the jumpsuits, the cuts, the sequins, the colourful flowers."
"I just think it's exciting to come in and to share that as well as to have one bridal specialist that can, you know, order things with tweaks and changes while understanding the guidelines for what is a very specific world, as we know."
Is there any emerging bridal trends that you're particularly fond of maybe coming up for summer?
"Slip type dresses for sure and more sequins, a lot more. We're also doing a lot of film noir dresses and tailoring tuxedo jumpsuits. One bride last week wanted a structured dress; an amazing, sculpted dress, and then she wanted a three-piece satin low-back one for the registry. And then, she wanted one really really short and covered in sequins for the grand finale".
"I think modern brides love really kind of getting their personalities across and being more individual. The trend is that people are not wanting ‘oh yes, bridal, bridal’, but instead a look with real person behind it."
How would a bride know that they found ‘the one’ dress in in your words?
"Normally, you try it on and this sort of emotional feeling makes it feel like a second skin, or you just feel amazing. It’s literally your body, enhancing all the best parts and making you feel amazing. It shouldn't feel uncomfortable like you're going to move around if something's pinching or falling out."
Any tips for brides-to-be?
"The biggest piece of advice I have for brides is that they should be wearing their shoes lots before their wedding day. The biggest mistake brides make, is saving their shoes for their big day.
"Wear things that you know that you're going to be really comfortable in sitting down, dancing and moving around, choose shoes appropriate for the ground that you're on. It’s all about comfort and making yourself feel the most relaxed you can for the biggest day because you've got to enjoy it."
Do you hold environmental responsibility as something that you believe is important?
"Absolutely. We use the best silks and the best laces, not all sequins are sustainable, but we're certainly using more and more sustainable options because there's more coming onto the market. I think wedding dresses should never be white polyester monstrosities, which quite a lot of kinds are.
"There's no skipping corners. They should be almost like a piece of art; they should be cherished heirlooms to be passed down through generations, the opposite of fast fashion. You have the chance to be able to use the best materials and you're making dresses to order so there’s no wastage."
"Bridal is probably the most sustainable sector of the industry if you’re doing it in a kind of artisanal way like we are. That’s what I really love about it; there’s no churn of seasons, so a best-selling bridal dress can be a bridal dress designed 20 years ago, like the honeysuckle dress I designed around the time of my wedding. Therefore, you're not really reshooting, redoing, resizing, or re-everything else, you're making something isolated and unique.
"It's just a slower, much more realistic way of doing things and that's really how all clothing should be approached."
