Looks from Trish Peng’s luxurious collection of pure silk bridesmaid dresses
There’s something irresistibly sophisticated about pure silk, and when handled under the discerning eye of wedding gown designer Trish Peng, the luscious fabric is elevated to something even more exquisitely special.
Trish Peng has never been afraid to push boundaries, from her attention-grabbing reversible wedding dress collection (2019) to thinking smartly around sustainable bridal gowns by launching consignment store Yours Truly (2021) and to extending her size inclusivity with sample sizing up to a size 22.
Her latest venture is a memorable collection of bridesmaids dresses in 100% silk, offering timeless silhouettes with thoughtful respect shown to all body types. Dresses are made to order, available in 25 different colourways, and in sizes 6–30.
Delicate detailing gives each dress a subtle presence and the theme clearly revolves around understated elegance. Better yet, these pieces are designed for a more sustainable future than the average one-wear bridesmaids dresses of old, with timeless design elements offering a versatile piece, which has a life beyond the wedding party – from cocktail parties to a girl’s night out.
Also launched this month is a stunning mini dresses collection, delivering show-stopping style for weddings through to living on in the wardrobe as the ultimate party dress.
FashioNZ catches up with Trish about her new bridesmaid collection.
Can you sum up the process of designing and creating a new collection like this?
It was a bit of a process designing bridesmaids dresses, as we usually just work with white fabrics. Working with different fabrics meant we sampled the range three times to ensure it was perfect, as some fabrics were too thick and some wouldn’t drape well.
What challenges and rewards does working with 100% silk present?
Silk is a natural fabric, which means it can have more flaws, making it more challenging to sew, but it’s so worth it, as it’s such a luxurious fabric, comfortable and lightweight to wear, and looks stunning.
Are you most inspired by silhouette, fabric, or colour – or a combination of all three?
A combination of all three. When we designed the collection, it was to complement the Trish Peng bride, with silhouettes and necklines that would look stunning next to our wedding dress collection. Colour-wise, we have offered more than 25 colour ways so there’s something for everyone.
Where does the design process begin?
We search for inspiration and ask our brides what they are looking for. The collection was designed by Trish, Ashleigh McTaggart, and Monica Ishak. Starting off with sketching and then sampling in cotton fabric to perfect the fit, we went through three rounds of samples until we were happy with the fit and overall look.
What encapsulates the key looks this season?
Classic with a bit of playfulness, we’ve added detachable bows to a few of the styles. As most of our wedding dresses have fabric buttons, we also added this detail to the back zip of some of the styles
What creative part of this collection did you most enjoy?
The photoshoot was so much fun and seeing the collection come together. It’s always a pinch-me moment seeing the collection come to life.
The stunning mini dress collection delivers show-stopping style
Can you offer some insights into some of the carefully crafted design elements?
We design around the Kiwi woman’s body. So our silhouettes are designed to skim the body and accentuate the waist. Gentle ruching and wrap skirts for the woman conscious of her midsection, and soft flutter sleeves for the arms. This collection is also size inclusive from a size 6 through to 30.
Your thoughts on the versatility of investing in a timeless silhouette
They are such a timeless classic design that they can definitely be worn again. The silk is so luxurious that it will be a forever piece.
What is your advice for bridesmaids/wedding parties around choosing a bridesmaid dress?
Find a balance of a style that the bride loves but that the bridesmaids will feel comfortable in. Complement the colour scheme of the wedding.
What are your tips for caring for a 100% silk garment?
We recommend dry cleaning silk and a gentle steam rather than an iron. Be careful about jewellery snagging.
Images supplied