SPOTLIGHT ON KATE HALFPENNY
Kate Halfpenny’s jaw-droppingly beautiful skirts and Mikado trouser suits break with bridalwear tradition
Meet the celeb bridalwear designer
When Kate Halfpenny launched her bridalwear brand in 2005, she was already a sought-after celebrity stylist and costume designer working with the likes of Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett and Shirley Bassey. She’d make the odd bespoke gown for her friends, but it was designing two of the three stunning dresses that actress Emilia Fox wore on her big day that propelled Halfpenny London into the spotlight.
Fast forward to 2020 and, as Halfpenny explains, ‘I’ve gone from working out of my front room to having three ateliers! I often have to pinch myself. We see hundreds of brides in our shops and I design up to 15 bespoke gowns a year – I have the most incredible team who all have the same vision as me.’
The exquisite dresses in Halfpenny’s collections are designed for real women, with clever interchangeable pieces that can be worn on their own or as stylish layers, creating an individual look for each bride. She says designing wedding attire is ‘such a collaborative process, and a real privilege’.
After numerous requests for bridesmaid outfits, Halfpenny launched the Sister collection, an online-only range consisting of nine pieces in chic shades of navy, pink and slate grey.
When Halfpenny got married, the rule book went out of the window. ‘I just mood-boarded how I wanted it to look and my bridesmaids took over from there,’ she explains. Myleene Klass played the harp, Diptyque scented the air and guests serenaded the bride and groom with Bohemian Rhapsody. Any advice on acing the big day? ‘Be the best version of yourself and just rock it!’