Color Wedding Dresses
I've always been captivated by color as a tool for self-expression, so designing color wedding dresses felt natural from the very beginning of my journey in dressmaking. I have conducted extensive research on dyeing silk fabric, exploring both natural dyes and non-toxic pigments, as well as silk painting techniques.
If you're drawn to color for your wedding dress, I'd love to help! Whether you envision a subtle touch or a bold splash of unexpected shades, together we can create a truly unique design.
no two the same
Do you dream of a colorful wedding dress?
COLOR AND DYE TECNIQUES
All of my dresses can be colored because I only use natural fibers, which are perfect for being painted and dyed.
Depending on which dress design you choose, I can add color in a wide range of ways, from full color, layered tones, dip dyed effects, cloudy watercolor paintowork.
THE COLOR BATH
The most intuitive and immediate dye technique is the full-color bath.
I usually start with the fabric before it becomes a dress, soaking it in a dye bath of the desired color and stirring regularly to ensure uniform distribution. Once the dyed fabric has been washed and dried, it can be transformed into a beautiful fully colored wedding dress.
The resulting color is always rich and delicately nuanced, never as flat or unnatural as commercially dyed fabrics. Each color bath is unique, making every dyed portion of the fabric distinctive.
For instance, I use this technique to dye all my natural white silks to various tones of ivory, using black tea leaves.
DIP DYE TECNIQUE
Dip dyeing, also called Ombré, allows me to obtain gradual shades of a color or multiple colors.
One part of the wedding dress or piece of fabric to be colored is immersed in the color bath. A gradient can be achieved by slowly dipping the fabric so that the lower part is darker, gradually becoming lighter and then disappearing.
Alternatively, I can fully submerge the bottom portion of the garment and let it sit still, allowing the color to soak more irregularly.
By using this method, I can create shades of varying intensity and I use for all my ombré wedding dresses.
PAINTING ON SILK
Another technique I frequently use for my colored wedding dresses and accessories is hand painting the silk, layer by layer.
In this case, the fabric is not soaked in a dye bath; instead, the pigments are applied using a paintbrush, sponge, or by pouring the color directly onto the fabric to create cloudy watercolor effects.
Compared to other techniques, hand painting offers greater control over the areas I wish to color.
It allows me to mix different hues and play with the layering and transparencies to create truly stunning effects, such as full rainbow transitions, floral designs, geometric patterns, or soft, watercolor-like shading.
Dip dyeing emerald green
ABELIA, Color Wedding Dress Separates
Anthericum in Blush
HEDERA in Gold, a Color Wedding Dress
HELIANTHUS in Orange, an Ombré Wedding Dress
HYPERICUM in Blush, a Glamorous Pink Wedding Dress
Lunaria in Sage
Narcissus
Plume
TARASSACO, Comfortable A-Line Wedding Dress Separates
Natural Dyes
Natural colors are obtained directly from plants, flowers, or as in the case of the beautiful rose tones of the Cochineal, from insects.
Plants such as Solidago and Yellow Onion dye the fabric of a bright yellow and warm gold respectively; purple cabbage give it a dusty blue color. Artichoke ranges in colors ranging from aqua green to a bright, vivid green, depending on its freshness and variety. A flower like Rudbeckia leaves us with a warm, mossy green while the Poppy gives fabric a delicate shade of lilac. The magical Cochineal yields tones ranging from pink to fuchsia.
When looking for the perfect ivory hue of our bridal wear, I turn to Black tea. It gives fabric a beautiful, warm ivory color and can be applied on all my fabrics and laces. If I mix the tea with the cochineal I get the most delicate of blush colors.
These are just a few examples: the combinations and creative possibilities are infinite!
Non-toxic Colors
When I want to have absolute control and immediacy, I use non-toxic powder colors, selected after careful testing. They give me clear, easily controlled, and extremely stable colors that are resistant to washings.
The colors are fixed on protein fabrics such as wool and silk with white wine vinegar. By mixing primary colors together, I can create any shade I want, from the most delicate, subtle tones to the most saturated and bright colors.
Wedding dress re-design
Transforming your Larimeloom wedding dress with color: a reusable bridal look
With an eye to a more conscious wedding planning, and a fully sustainable wedding dress purchase, I offer a service that will transform any of my wedding gowns into a garment that you can re-use again and again after your wedding.
In addition to the changes that can be made to the design itself, color is one of the most immediate ways to transform a wedding gown into a more casual dress, to be worn on important occasions or in everyday life. This way your dress will be a part of your life for years to come.
Any of our outfits, shortened where necessary and refreshed with a touch of color, magically becomes a precious and practical garment to be use in a variety of occasions.
The transformations and color options for your dress depend on the style you choose to create. If you're interested in transforming and coloring your gown after the wedding, we can keep that in mind as we design it together.
I also offer this service remotely, just send me your dress after the wedding, and we can schedule a call to discuss every detail to give it new life.
Here you can see the Hedera, a floor-length tunic wedding dress, in ivory silk.
After the wedding the client, to make it suitable for everyday wear, we shortened it to a becoming length just above the knee, separated the top layer from the bottom layers and dyed it a light grey. The two layers of crepe de chine of the under-dress, together with the belt, we dyed a stormy blue-grey.
The effect of the two overlapping colors and the transparencies they create give depth and richness to the finished outfit. Additionally, all three elements can be worn separately: the base dress is a pretty simple blue tunic; the sheer overlay can be styled with pants and a tank top for a breezy summer look. The belt can be paired with other outfits.
Are you curious about what you've read?
CREATE YOUR PERSONAL wedding DRESSES
What I offer is a very unique and personalized process for creating your wedding dress.
Each gown is made to measure based on your specific measurements, starting from my designs and your inspirations. Get in touch, and let’s get started!