Lara Ashley

This course, which will introduce you to each stage of the design process from bride-to-be profiling to finished illustrations, is perfect for anyone planning to make their own wedding dress or having a wedding dress made for them. As you work towards a portfolio presentation showing the theme of your wedding including outfits for the bridesmaids, you will investigate trends in bridal wear and keep a visual journal of ideas including magazine cuttings, sketches and fabric swatches. You will visit websites and wedding dress shops to compare prices, assess which styles are best for your particular body shape and note which of your favourite looks have already become mainstream. You will explore specialist suppliers looking for suitable fabrics and trimmings and learn how to carry out simple tests to identify which fabrics are 100% silk and which are very good imitations. You will learn how to adapt a dressmakers pattern changing elements such as sleeves, necklines and dart positions. You will be introduced to basic fashion design development techniques learning how to personalise a fashion template, draw details such pleats, frills, flounces collars and cuffs and use marker pens to colour your sketches as you consider alternatives to the traditional white dress. As a feature of this course, which will also be of interest to anyone considering a career in fashion, you will have an opportunity to discuss your final design with a sample machinist who specialises in bridal wear production. No previous experience is needed.

Lara Ashley has worked in the bridal industry for over 14 years, helping to create new collections and evening wear styles worn by celebrities such as Katherine Jenkins and Stacey Solomon. She now works as a freelance bespoke designer, pattern cutter and sample machinist for both bridal wear and the fashion industry.