Aliya

Aliya is built from a dense sheer fabric that holds volume and still lets light through. The bodice lies smoothly along the figure, the draping running diagonally from the bust to the hip and leading the eye down to where the skirt begins to open. The skirt is wide but not heavy: it stands on its own, and as you step it unfolds in large folds and returns to place. Along the hem the light gathers into a thin bright edge that travels with the fabric as you walk.

The shoulder line is made of waves laid by hand: the fabric is gathered into large rolls that pass over the shoulders and come down onto the arms. The fold above the bust repeats the same movement, so the top reads as one whole rather than a separate detail. At the side of the waist the draping is caught up and falls away in a soft cascade, giving the skirt its asymmetry. The back is closed, the line stays even, and the shoulders and neck are entirely open.

The dress works well at an outdoor ceremony and in a bright venue with plenty of air and somewhere to walk. For each bride we change the fit of the bodice and the height of the shoulder line, the skirt length for the heel, the volume of the hem and the length of the train; the shade is chosen from cool white to warm creamy ivory.