Known for their very own vintage style wedding dresses, Bridal Times caught up with the British based “House of Mooshki” Designer, Phil Woodhead to give us his professional analysis on Princess Beatrice’s vintage wedding gown.
When asked about his view on vintage style wedding gowns, Phil says, “We at House of Mooshki are constantly inspired by the mid-century silhouettes and styles in our bridal wear. We love that Princess Beatrice chose a vintage couture gown originally worn by HM The Queen in 1962. In her position as a constitutional head of state, The Queen was always perfectly dressed for every occasion and the timeless gown designed by Norman Hartnell has been beautifully brought up to date for 2020.”
Phil adds, “What I particularly love is that by adding a puff sleeve to the straps, Stewart Parvin and Angela Kelly also gave Beatrice’s wedding gown a 1940s silhouette. The addition of the band of satin to the hem of the wedding dress is a striking detail, which is something we have actually included in our 2021 collection, designed last year without any knowledge of Beatrice’s gown choice.”
Princess Beatrice Gown, Sketch by Phil Woodhead
“Overall, I think the whole wedding outfit was perfect for the bride and perfect for now. We are in uncertain times and the effects of the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic are being felt by more and more people on a daily basis. To re-purpose a vintage gown is a sustainable and unique way to look your best on your wedding day.”
So what does Phil consider “Vintage”? Phil says, “Vintage is an all encompassing term that is now used for clothing from the early 1990s. For me, vintage is between 1900-1960 and some key pieces up to the 1980s. Our signature look at House of Mooshki is based around the typical Dior “New Look” silhouette which came out in 1947 and stayed for around 15 years afterward. It’s a shape that flatters almost every body type and emphasizes the good points on every woman’s figure. Fabric choice can take the dress from sleek and sassy to cute and girly and we cover all bases with our designs. We do like to include other periods of fashion in our references but the 1950s is what we love, what we do best and what our brides adore.”
Portia Gown
Hannah Gown
Rhonda Gown
For brides that are unsure of going for the vintage look on their wedding day, Phil says, “There are so many ways for a modern twist to be added to a vintage wedding dress. If you are lucky enough to be able to find a 1930s/1940s bias cut gown or with a strong shoulder, it’s perfect for now. Adding a striking pair of shoes or some modern costume jewellery would bring it right up to date. Vintage gowns from between the 1950s and 1960s are nearly always timeless in style. In particular, mid to late 1960s designs are sleek and tailored giving a streamlined silhouette much like Cynthia, Cora and Francine in our Mooshki collection.”
As to which vintage era is Phil’s personal favorite, Phils says, “ I’m quite well known for my love of the 1980s. My favourite instagram account is @whatalexiswore which documents a chronological timeline of every outfit Joan Collins wore in Dynasty. Nolan Miller, who designed every outfit the whole female cast wore was inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, much like I am.
“This influences my design immeasurably as so many elements of the 1940s and 50s were themes in 80s fashion. The strong shoulder, the nipped in waist and the perfection of a matching hat and gloves to each outfit is the elegance that is personified by a Mooshki Bridal, Occasionwear and Grace Philips dress.”
We would like to thank Phil for his sketches and insight on vintage style gowns.
For further information on the House of Mooshki and Grace Philps collections, visit House of Mooshki