Monthly Archives: December 2016

December 23, 2016

Top 5 Kosibah Destination Brides for 2016.

By Kosibah

Hi there, thanks for checking out this blog post. As the end of 2016 draws in, I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to look back at Kosibah Real Brides who got married in a different country from which they usually live.

This is more pertinent to me as a bridal designer who has recently relocated to New York from London after successfully running my business there for 25 years.

It’s a huge leap of faith to have a destination wedding because even if you have the most efficient and well connected wedding planner, you are still physically removed from where your dream day will take place.

I’ve had the great privilege this year to work with some amazing brides to create couture gowns for their destination weddings. I’m pleased that at least getting their couture gown made is one thing they can be part of from start to completion.

Here is the list. Please let me know which is your favourite Kosibah Bride or wedding destination.

1.Kosibah Real Bride Louise. Destination: Cape Town, South Africa.

Louise wore a couture full skirted bridal gown with a beaded, corseted bodice and a tulle skirt bustled behind with multi length layers, stiffed at the hemline with horsehair crinoline.

2. Kosibah Real Bride Funmilayo. Destination: Venice, Italy.

Funmilayo wore a couture fishtail gown. It had a removable chemise with 3/4 length sleeves which she removed for the informal part of the wedding reception.

3. Kosibah Real Bride Amina. Destination: Chateneauf-de-Grass (near Nice), France.

Amina wore a silver gray French Lace and Duchesse Satin couture gown styled to reflect her Nigerian heritage. The corseted gown had a fitted skirt with a detachable tulle overskirt.

4. Kosibah Real Bride Julianna. Destination: Santorini, Greece.

Julianna wore a couture bridal gown featuring an illusion tulle bodice embellished with Lace appliqués and a modified fishtail skirt in soft tulle with a cathedral train.

5. Kosibah Real Bride Layal. Destination: Lake Como, Italy.

Layal wore a couture bridal gown with a fitted beaded Lace bodice with an intergral corset and delicate covered buttons over the dress zipper and dropped shoulder strap sleeves. The fishtail skirt was made up of over 50 meters of Tulle gathered into rose swirls and ruffles on the surface fabric of Duchesse Satin. A matching cathedral veil with hand stitched Lace edging completed the ensemble. Photos by Jide Alakija.

I look forward to reading your comments. Thank you.

8 Comments | tags: bridal gowns, Cape Town wedding, couture, Couture Bridal, Couture bridal gown, couture wedding dresses, custom bridalwear, destination weddings, Kosibah, lake como wedding, luxury bridal, New York bridal designer, New York couture designer, New York wedding dress designer, Nigerian bride, santorini wedding, Wedding dresses, wedding inspiration | posted in Events, Ideas and Inspirations, Ideas and Inspirations, Real Weddings

December 13, 2016

Kosibah Real Bride’s Ruby’s sumptuous wedding.

By Kosibah

I was introduced to Ruby through her wedding planner Mati Gono of Just As Planned and she was very excited when we met at my London Atelier because even before Mati recommend me, she had been following Kosibah for years (this is ALWAYS a great start for me!).

As usual with all my clients I wanted to know from Ruby what elements of a couture bridal gown would tick all her boxes. She said she’d like a really long train, a fitted fishtail gown with lace detail and an open back.

RUBY’S wedding service in the glorious St Paul’s Church , Knightsbridge and had her reception at the nearby Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane stunningly decorated and coordinated by Just As Planned.

Ruby has become a very good friend to me and and evangelist for Kosibah.

Side note, her train is the longest of a Kosibah couture bridal gown so far.

Are you following my Instagram page? If not, please do so and say hi under the latest post on there. Thank you.

Enjoy the beautiful photos from RUBY’S wedding some taken by myself and some by Jide Alakija of Alakija Studios.

Ruby in the Kosibah London studio at her first toile fitting.

Design assistants in the Kosibah studio cutting out Lace appliqués and embellishing them with Swarovski diamanté crystals.

The magic tool that allows us to affix diamanté unto fabric, called a hotfix wand.

Ruby back in the studio for her second toile fitting. All the minor fitting issues that showed up at the first fitting are resolved and this toile is the revised version. This couture process is what assures a perfect fit.

The embellished appliqués are then pinned into place on the toile. They will eventually be carefully replicated on the surface of the actual dress fabric by hand. A process that takes more time and skill than you want to think about.

The bridal shoes just HAD to be Swarovski diamanté embellished Loutoutins!

The Dress!

Close up of the sheer back in tulle with hand stitched appliqués and covered buttons. Gave the illusion of a deep plunging back whilst giving the right support.