Bianca Spender’s New Bridal Line Is Non-Traditional, and Might Make You Feel Like You’re Floating in Silk

“I’ve never really related to traditional wedding dresses,” says Sydney fashion designer Bianca Spender. “They can often feel quite formal and structured with a lot of applique and embellishment. I’ve always wanted something that’s very fluid and has movement.”

You could say Spender has now granted her own wish, with a new bridal line aimed at non-traditional brides and bridesmaids. Taking inspiration from her own extensive archive , Spender has reimagined some of her best-selling designs in luxurious silks and satin crepes to create a collection of 15 bridal styles and six bridesmaid dresses and gowns.

“I wanted to be able to dress any type of bride – whether you’re having an intimate ceremony or wearing a piece to events surrounding the nuptials,” she tells Broadsheet.

Each style champions the Bianca Spender brand, with the designer’s signature intricate draping, ornate twist detailing and relaxed tailoring running throughout.

“There is an element of water within the collection in the way the pieces drip off the wearer, captured through volume and drape,” Spender says. “This collection was one where we didn’t hold anything back, from the silk linings to the metres and metres of fabrics, but at the same time it’s all meant to gently float with you.”

Moving into the bridal category was a natural evolution for Spender, whose designs have been a long-time fixture at weddings and formal occasions, as well as on the catwalk at Australian Fashion Week.

“We have a very loyal client who comes to us for our modern take on occasion-wear,” she says. “We’ve had many requests for bridal and bridesmaids’ pieces from our clients over the years, and I am so pleased we can finally share this collection with them.”

Spender was also drawn to the idea of creating something more extravagant than ready-to-wear, that would connect with women on a deeper emotional level and endure beyond a seasonal trend, she says. “As a designer, you don’t hold anything back when it comes to crafting bridal gowns – from the ultra-luxurious fabrications to the amplified volume and decadent drape.

“My pieces have been a part of our clients’ special life moments for the past 15 years and I am always so touched by the stories of how women connect to the clothes they wear. There is a real intimacy to it, and with bridal you can connect so deeply to women, create a dream and captivate an audience. That’s what my clothes are all about.”

Bridesmaid styles will be available at Spender’s boutiques in Armadale in Melbourne and Mosman and Double Bay in Sydney, while the bridal collection is offered exclusively at Double Bay, where the designer will tailor and hand-fit the gowns herself.

“I am so thrilled to be intimately connecting with women in the lead-up to their most special day. It is the ultimate compliment to accompany them down the aisle and make them feel their most special.”

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