Archive for October, 2011

A Visit to the British Embassy, Vienna

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Last week William, Ben A and Jennifer took the new Richard Designs collection to a small exhibition held at the British Embassy in Vienna.

Vienna Exhibition 2011

Held in very grand surroundings which complemented the Victoriana collection theme very well, visitors from all over Central and Eastern Europe attended. William said, “We really enjoyed visiting Vienna and speaking with customers from all over Europe. We met retailers from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and beyond. They were very impressed with the quality of design and workmanship, and we really appreciate them all coming to visit us at the exhibition.”

Vienna Exhibition 2011

The trade show was organised by the UK Trade & Industry team in Vienna, with the aim of promoting British brands in Europe. If you are a European retailer and would like to find out more about stocking the Richard Designs accessories collections, please contact us.

Vienna Exhibition 2011

Finally, we would like to thank the UKTI for inviting us to show at this exhibition. We are proud to be designing and manufacturing in the UK, and this was a wonderful way to display our work.

Bestselling Tiaras, Veils & Jewellery from the launch of the new collection at Harrogate

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

The Product Galleries have been updated with new collection pieces! See them here:

Today we are sharing with you the bestselling new veils, tiaras and jewellery from the BBEH in September.

The new collection was such a hit at the show, with both existing and new customers being drawn in by the beautiful Victorian displays. You were literally transported to a Victorian boudoir on Stand M33, as dressing tables and wardrobes bursting with treasures were waiting to be explored.

The new collection’s Victorian-Inspired theme was extremely popular, working well with current gown trends. Thank you for all of your feedback on the new collection. If you haven’t yet let us know your thoughts and would like to, just email us at info@richarddesigns.co.uk, give us a call on 01353 661600 or leave a comment at the end of this post. We always listen and act upon the feedback from our customers – it is invaluable to us, so thank you! To find out more about the inspiration of the new collection, see our current trends page.

But now let’s see the bestselling new styles. These are the must-have items so if you missed them at the show or couldn’t make it to Harrogate at all, make sure to call Jennifer and make an appointment with Ben or John who can show you the collection in your own shop (with no obligation to buy and no minimums!)

Jewellery

Cuff Bracelet P575B

Cuff Bracelet P575B

Silver Cameo & Swarovski Pearl Necklace P580

Silver Cameo & Swarovski Pearl Necklace P580

Silver Cuff Bracelet P576B

Silver Cuff Bracelet P576B

Victorian Style Necklace P583

Victorian Style Necklace P583

See these and more new styles in our Jewellery Gallery

Wedding Veils

Lace Wedding Veil C368C

Lace Wedding Veil C368C

Embroidered Pearl & Diamante Wedding Veil C356C

Embroidered Pearl & Diamante Wedding Veil C356C

Lace & Soft Veiling C366C

Lace & Soft Veiling C366C

Lace Wedding Veil C353B

Lace Wedding Veil C353B

The fact that several of the bestselling new designs are lace show just how important lace is this season. With dress designers using it in abundance, it is no surprise that you all loved the lace veils we had on display at the show.

See these and more new styles in our Wedding Veils Gallery

Tiaras & Headdresses

Pearl & Crystal Comb TR1415A

Pearl & Crystal Comb TR1415A

Filigree & Crystal Side Tiara TR1379A

Filigree & Crystal Side Tiara TR1379A

Side Tiara TR1372A

Side Tiara TR1372A

Silver Lace & Pearl Band TR1362A

Silver Lace & Pearl Band TR1362A

See these and more new styles in our Tiara Gallery

Remember to give us a call or email if you want to stock these unmissable new items in your shop. John and Ben are both currently on the road with the new collection and are looking forward to seeing you all soon.

If you are a bride and are interested in wearing Richard Designs at your wedding then see our How to Buy page.

Introducing New Blue Ribbon Shrugs & Jackets

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

The new Blue Ribbon Shrug collection was launched at the BBEH in Harrogate in September. The shrug range is just what brides and bridal shops are looking for – beautiful styles handmade in England with the well-respected, high-quality Blue Ribbon label.

Blue Ribbon Stand at the BBEH

Shrugs have been sought after by brides since the Duchess of Cambridge wore an elegant long-sleeved lace shrug at her royal wedding to Prince William. Shrugs not only embellish a dress, but provide several different looks for throughout your wedding day.

Catheine Middleton Lace Wedding Veil

The range from Blue Ribbon includes both long and short sleeved styles…

SH5-2 Cap Sleeved Lace Jacket

SH5-2 Cap Sleeved Lace Jacket

SH2-2 Long Sleeved Lace Shrug

SH2-2 Long Sleeved Lace Shrug

SH1-5 Short Sleeved French Lace Shrug

SH1-5 Short Sleeved French Lace Shrug

…a variety of fabrics including lace, chiffon, organza, silk and tulle…

SH4-8 Polyester Dupion Jacket

SH4-8 Polyester Dupion Jacket

SH1-10 Zinc Silk Dupion Short Sleeved Shrug

SH1-10 Zinc Silk Dupion Short Sleeved Shrug

SH1-7 Short Sleeved Organza Shrug

SH1-7 Short Sleeved Organza Shrug

…and various embellishments such as pretty flowers or elegant pearls.

SH1-9 Tulle Shrug Flower detail

SH1-9 Tulle Shrug Flower detail

SH1-7 Sleeve Cameo Detail

SH1-7 Sleeve Cameo Detail

SH3-4 Pearl Sleeve Detail

SH3-4 Pearl Sleeve Detail

Every style can be made in any fabric, each available in a wide range of colours.

SH4-5 Riviera Silk Organza Jacket

SH4-5 Riviera Silk Organza Jacket

SH1-10 Antique Plum Silk Dupion Shrug

SH1-10 Antique Plum Silk Dupion Shrug

SH4-7 Geranium Silk Dupion Jacket

SH4-7 Geranium Silk Dupion Jacket

Sizes aren’t a worry either as all are available in a full size range, including size 20 and above.

Just as with Blue Ribbon Petticoats, each style comes with a small blue ribbon sewn inside for that special touch and your ‘something blue’.

To see more of the Blue Ribbon Shrug & Jacket collection, see our new gallery.

If you missed out at the Harrogate or Chicago shows, give us a call on 01353 661600 (UK) or 888 858 3457 (US) or email info@richarddesigns.co.uk and we can send you a brochure, or arrange a no obligation appointment with one of our company representatives for you to see the styles in your own shop.

If you are a bride and would like to see the Blue Ribbon Shrug range in your local bridal shop, see our How to Buy page.

Bestselling Bridal Fascinators, Jewelry, Shrugs and Petticoats at the National Bridal Market, Chicago 2011

Friday, October 14th, 2011

Did you miss the recap of the bestselling Veils and Tiaras from the National Bridal Market, Chicago? See it here.

As promised, we are back today revealing the most popular bridal fascinators, jewelry, shrugs and petticoats from our visit to the Chicago show last month. Even more orders have gone out this week to our new and existing customers and we hope that you like the new samples. Of course if you have any questions or feedback, Maria is always available on the phone (888 858 3457 toll-free) or email (maria@richarddesigns.co.uk) for a chat.

Now for the bestsellers…

Bridal Fascinators

Fascinator style F224 oozes sophistication and class. Simple yet striking the feather and filigree detail that sits on the side is finished off perfectly with a delicate birdcage veil.

F224 Ivory Fascinator

The FQ40 has been popular for several seasons, so it was no wonder people snapped it up at the Bridal Market. Delicate feathers and complementing crystals make this a classic style for brides and mother of the bride.

FQ40 Pebble Fascinator

The F225 is a really sweet style. The spotted tulle bird cage veil would work really well with a 50s style dress and the glitzy disc and bouncy flowers make this a fun piece to wear. Of course this style, as with all of the fascinators, can be made in different colours for different occasions.

F225 Ivory Fascinator with birdcage veil

Like the F224, the F227 is small and easy to wear. The striking silver detail on the base works well with many current gowns and the feather flower is also on-trend.

F227 Bridal Fascinator

Jewelry

The P583 necklace, earring and bracelet set is part of the Victorian Inspired collection, and combines many of the key influences of the era. Laces, cameos, sequins, filigrees and buttons have been layered by our designers and then finished off with a twist of pearl and crystal strands.

Victorian Inspired Bridal Necklace P583

The P538 jewelry set was released in March this year, and caters for the bride who wants to make a statement with her jewelry. Elaborate twists of various sized pearls and crystals make up this set.

P538 Silver Ivory Jewelry Set

P584 is similar to the P583 but is simpler and makes a feature of the Swarovski pearls at the neckline. The necklace ties together with a soft silver ribbon for an extra touch of texture and glamour.

Victorian Inspired Necklace P584

The cuff bracelet P575B is a simple way to make a statement at your wedding. The magnetic clasp means it is easy to dress your brides in the shop as it simply snaps shut – no fiddling required!

Bridal Cuff Bracelet P575B

Blue Ribbon Petticoats & Shrugs

The Bridal Market was the first time we showed our range of Blue Ribbon Petticoats & Shrugs to our US customers and we are pleased to say that you all loved them! Their femininity, high quality finish and sensitive design means they were a real hit!

The fishtail petticoat BR11 not only has three layers of net but also incorporates one hoop to make it easy to walk on your wedding day.

Fishtail Petticoat BR 11

The simplest style, the a-line BR1 has two hoops and a frill, and will work with many dresses.

A-line Petticoat BR1

BR8 is a stunning style perfect for gowns that are shaped at the hips and flare at the hem. It also has a hoop to keep the net away from your legs.

Flared Petticoat BR8

The most popular shrug at the Bridal Market was the SH1-9 which is a short sleeved style with fine tulle, flowers and diamante. This shrug can be made in a wide selection of colours to match any gown.

Tulle Shrug SH1-9

Tulle Shrug SH1-9 Detail

All Blue Ribbon petticoats and shrugs come with a small blue bow sewn into the design for your ‘something blue’!

See more Shrugs in our new shrug gallery.

Of course the new belt range was just as popular in the US as it was at our UK show. See the bestsellers here and the full range in our wedding belt gallery.

If you are a bridal wear retailer in the US and would like more information about our accessories, call Maria on 888 858 3457 or email maria@richarddesigns.co.uk

All of the above styles are also available in the UK, Europe and Scandanavia. For more information, brochures or an appointment with our company representatives contact Jennifer on 01353 661600 or email info@richarddesigns.co.uk.

If you are a bride and would like to wear Richard Designs at your wedding, please see our How to Buy page.

National Bridal Market Chicago: Recap and Bestsellers 2011

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Those of you that came to see us at the National Bridal Market in Chicago at the end of September should already have started receiving your orders and we hope that you are pleased with your new products. The new Victorian-inspired accessories collection has been extremely popular with our UK customers and so we were pleased to be able to bring the new collection to Chicago this year.

Richard Designs at Chicago Bridal Market

The four day show was a real joy for us to attend. With lots of international and US designers and manufacturers showing, we soaked up the fashions and style of American Brides. Everyone was so welcoming and we look forward to returning next year!

So now what you’ve been waiting for…the bestsellers from the show. Un-missable information if you are a US bridal retailer and couldn’t make it to the show!

Veils

First off, the veils. The C325C was very popular at the show. Its scalloped edge and diamante detail sections all around the edge makes this veil easy to match with any gown, adding subtle sparkle.

Wedding Veil Diamante Edge C325C

The show stopping C360A is part of our Victorian Inspired collection. This veil has two combs, which can be placed separately to create a bouffant effect.

Two Comb Veil C360A

The beautiful silver button detailing finishes off the veil perfectly.

Two Comb Veil C360A Detail

The C310A was also popular, with some of you asking for it with a detachable train – perfect for a bride who wants to wear a long veil for the ceremony and a shorter veil in the evening. The diamante detail on the C310A is beautiful and matches many silver beaded areas of current gown styles, and the drop on each scallop adds even more sparkle.

Silver detail plus drop veil C310A

And last but not least, the Royal Wedding Inspired C353C was, not surprisingly, also very popular. Inspired by the lace applique and silk wedding veil that the Duchess of Cambridge wore at her wedding to Prince William, this veil is bordered with beautiful French lace, hand applied here in the UK.

Royal Wedding Inspired Veil C353C

Tiaras & Headdresses

The side tiara TR1023A is perfect for a bride who wants on-trend headwear that is easy to wear yet makes a statement, no wonder it was so popular at the show!

Silver Crystal Side Tiara TR1023A

The TR1361A is beautifully delicate and textured with layers of fabrics, crystals and pearls.

Victorian Inspired Headdress TR1361A

TR1361A Modelled

For those who want a softer look, the TR1036A is a great twist on a side tiara. Delicate feathers and silver crystals sit on the side of a head for a modern touch. This headdress can also be made in many different colours for bridesmaids or mother of the bride!

Feather Bridal Headdress TR1036A

The TR1302A band is a must-have for any bridal shop window. The graduating silver crystals on a comfortable band creates an elegant look that works with many styles of gown.

Silver Crystal Hairband TR1302A

Silver Crystal Hairband TR1302A Modelled

Come back on Friday when we’ll reveal the bestselling bridal fascinators, petticoats and jewelry from the Chicago show!

If you are a US bridal retailer and would like to see the new collection, just give us a call on 888 UK VEILS (858 3457) or email maria@richarddesigns.co.uk.

If you are a bride and are interested in wearing Richard Designs for your wedding, see our How to Buy page.

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