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The Gilded Age
Little wonder Patrick Chan (Chief Designer), Mel Chen and Jordan Ong (spokesman) are more often than not compared to legendary designers Badgley Mischka. It's not so much about how you should look at your wedding, it's about how you want to look. "Badgley Mischka have always been an inspiration to us. Thus, it is not surprising that 2006 marks the triumphant return of the duo in the high fashion scene in New York (Great work, boys!)," says Jordan.
To execute the look, Patrick places high emphasis on material (only the super luxe will do!) and form (voluminous, luxurious, and oh, did we mention, voluminous?). Imagine, Patrick urges, yourself in a sweet full tulle skirt, topped with a lace corseted top. Now imagine the fine details that make all the difference: a rich burgundy velvet ribbon on the natural waist-line, finished off with a vintage crystal brooch. The effect is nothing short of spectacular! The tricky part is opening up the minds of local brides, smashing their preconceived notions of how a wedding dress should look, and giving them a taste of classic, timeless gowns made the way they're meant to - with only the best materials. To The Wedding Present, this means a rich confection of pure silk duchesse satin, silk taffeta, Elizabeth silk satin - all 100% silk of course - rather than the polyester material so prevalent in the local bridal scene. "Local brides tend to go for a cookie-cutter look - a safe gown design which involves minimal risk - always bordering on a sweet demure look or a sexy bare-back number," sighs Jordan. In contrast, the talented design duo are current advocating delicate beadwork on voluminous outlines, with precious embellishments painstaking worked by hand.
Childhood aspirations aside, this is about the modern Cinderella - elegant, old-school style that's as much in vogue now as it was in the past and will be in the future. "The subtle beauty of works from great old design masters like Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass are coming back in a big way!" adds Jordan. It's the coming-of-age of the Asian bride - now increasingly well-heeled, well-read and street-wise. Gone is the need for virginal detailing and safe, boring silhouettes. And who better to lead the wave than Singapore's bridal trendsetters? "Our latest collection is all about a return to old-school, charming style and a timeless classic look for the modern bride. We truly wish to dress chic and confident brides rather than outlandishly fashionable ones. For 2006, it's a gorgeous return to the classics," says Jordan. "As they say - class never goes out of style." The Wedding Present, 25 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089839, tel: 6327 4423, website: www.weddingpresentbride.com |
The moment you step into The Wedding Present, you can't help but melt into a world of fantasy. There's nothing fancy in this atelier but the gorgeous dresses that wait longingly, rails upon rails of them that line the plush boutique. Here's where wispy dreams of fantastical dresses - the ones you coveted as a little girl - come true, literally. 
But unlike the American pair, gowns from The Wedding Present are infused with a sensibility that eludes the maximalism of a Badgley Mischka one. "While our evening gowns are fashioned after Badgley Mischka's opulent and heavily embellished look, we are now a lot more concerned about the basic structure of the gown with much cleaner lines especially with our wedding gowns." The simplicity of American bridal house Amsale, famous for their elegant, to-the-point cuts, come to mind. "Much as 2005 fashion is about excess, 2006 will see a return to old school elegance the likes of timeless ice princess Grace Kelly and silver screen goddess Audrey Hepburn." 
In line with the runway trends, The Wedding Present are deliberately steering away from saccharin-sweet embroidery, syrupy satin ribbons and organza, preferring, instead, to lavish their voluminous full satin gowns with a generous helping of beadwork and inventive tailoring techniques. Think ruching and neat pleats. Banish thoughts of Pollyanna ribbons. Welcome, instead, velvet ribbon accents, in jewel-tones of moss green, jet black and ruby red, provide the ultimate luxe effect. Vintage brooches and pearls provide just the right amount of bling and enchantment to a simple evening silhouette.