The British designer reveals her new diffusion collection for 2015 and explains why its a real family affair…
“The inspiration behind creating our new diffusion line ‘Maddy’ was my daughter Madeline,” says Madeline Isaac-James designer Natalie Gladman. “I wanted to create a new collection that felt yound, fresh and exciting with a certain joie de vivre!
“In addition, I firmly believe that all brides should be able to wear a silk gown on their wedding day, so with this in mind, the majority of gowns in the Maddy collection are finished in silk. All have fantastic inner construction and support, yet are priced at a very affordable price point for most brides (just £995 to £1,399) without compromising on the finish and quality that the signature collection Madeline Isaac-James is also renowned for.”
“The direction of both my signature collection and the Maddy diffusion line was inspired by a visit to the National Gallery in London, where Madeline and I were both struck bu the colour and passion of Turner’s paintings of seascapes and sunsets,” says Natalie.
“This resulted in a collection that used different elements to invoke the same feelings – silk chiffons and silk tulle for their fluidity and movement, freshwater pearls and crystals on bodices, and distinctive laces with subtle shimmers that reminded us of mother-of-pearl hues.
“The collection is elegant and classic in design, enabling brides to create a look that truly reflects each individual bride’s personality – and styling the gowns with different accessories can create a very vintage feel or a modern contemporary look.”
“I am delighted that my daughter Madeline has not only been the inspiration behind the collection, but has also been involved in the design process for a number of gowns,” adds Natalie. “Indeed, the concept and design of five of the gowns in the collection were created by Maddy herself! From the initial concept, to picking up a pencil and paper and sketching her designs, to choosing fabrics and embellishments, Maddy has created some very beautiful designs which both her and I are very proud of.”
“As with all my collections, it’s difficult to choose favourites between the gowns as I love each of them for different reasons, but from the Maddy collection I would say that my top four gowns are the Aurea, Astrid, Anahita and Zivena gowns. Each are quite different in look and feel, but all of them are very flattering for most body shapes, and key of course is that they all look fabulous on!”
“The Aurea is a silk chiffon ballerina length gown – perfect for showing off a pair of killer heels! We love this gown because it can be worn in a very vintage or contemporary way, creating each look with carefully chosen accessories.”
“The Astrid gown is a fuller-skirted gown with a pretty lace bodice – again very flattering on most body shapes. The Anahita and Zivena gown are more whimsical in design, with the softest silk chiffon used in different ways to create quite different looks. I especially love the flow and movement of the silk chiffon in the skirts, and the interesting back of the Zivena dress.”
Thanks Natalie! The Maddy collection is available from selected bridal retailers throughout the UK (see www.maddybridal.com for more info) or the entire collection can be viewed at the Madeline Isaac-James flagship boutique in Hampshire. Plus, you can follow on Facebook and Twitter!
