Bride To Be? 16Arlington Has Your Back
After a year of cancellations of all different kinds (weddings, parties, funerals...the list goes on), people are ready to celebrate, especially those who have been engaged far longer than planned thanks to the pandemic. There's a lot to prepare before the big day, and finding the perfect dress comes at the top of most lists. The cult London label 16Arlington, known for their glamorous and eccentric gowns trimmed in feathers and sequins, worn by the likes of Adwoa Aboah, Lena Dunham and Solange Knowles, are giving wedding dress shopping a whole new meaning with their first-ever bridal collection.
16Arlington give the traditional white wedding dress their own unique spin for the contemporary woman looking for something a bit different. Marabou feathers, sequin and satin bring the brand's more-is-more signatures to the aisle, with feathered veils reaching up to four metres long. White basks in all its glory, as photographer Markn Ogue captures the magical new line in a campaign styled by Ella Lucia.
Marco Capaldo and Federica Cavenati, the design duo and couple behind the brand, have long wanted to make the leap into bridal. After months of seeing their ready-to-wear designs doubling up as wedding dress attire, the pair recognised the demand for something devoted for the big day, but which can also be worn again as dance floors begin to re-open. 16Arlington Bridal invites brides-to-be into the brand's London atelier for in-person consultations, offering a more specialised and bespoke experience than with the main line. The collection, however, will also be sold exclusively with MatchesFashion and on the brand's e-store. The luxury retail platform's Global Fashion Officer Natalie Kingham said in a statement: 'As part of our Wedding Edit offering we are incredibly excited to launch an exclusive bridal capsule of ceremony and reception-worthy styles from 16Arlington...perfect for our customer who wants to make a statement on their big day.'
'Since we founded the label, it’s been our intention to be wherever our "woman" is having the best, most riotous fun...We can’t think of a more meaningful vote of confidence from a customer than to choose to wear 16Arlington for their big day, and so naturally we approached the building of this line with real care. We wanted it to feel extra special - we have a really clear idea of what our audience wants from us. This collection is focussed, seductive and current - and it’s exactly the right amount of naughty', Capaldo and Cavenati explain.
Fashion's infatuation with the wedding dress and all things love and beauty goes way back. Always laced with underlying themes of escapism, brides-to-be have always been a muse, no better exemplified than as the traditional closing look of haute couture shows. Fascination with bridal wear is a timeless one that never gets old - SHOWstudio previously held a conversation chaired by Lou Stoppard with the V&A museum on the history of wedding dresses between the 18th and 21st centuries. Over the past few years, many contemporary London brands have seen their designs double up as wedding gear, from 16Arlington to Di Petsa, to Molly Goddard, who also recently launched a dedicated bridal line.
Both 16Arlington Bridal's new collection and campaign are transcendent in their approach to love and everything beyond. After all, all you need is love.
