My obsession with classic couture – Tiffany Wedding Dress

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on October 2, 2015

Hello brides-to-be,

I have a confession to make – while I love pushing the boundaries with innovative styles and fabrics, my true obsession is with lace and classic couture. That’s why I just had to introduce you to the Tiffany Wedding Dress from our new Illumination Collection. I just adore the intricately beaded French lace bodice – the placement of which is all done by hand so it moulds perfectly to the shape of the bride.

Setting off this exquisite detailing is a soft tulle skirt that adds an incredibly feminine and romantic touch to this wedding dress. It’s deliciously French and something that I know Colette Foubert – the original Ms Calèche – would have approved of.

Colette sailed to Australia from the fashion capital of Paris with her husband Olivier and their four children in 1973. Making their way to Adelaide, Colette started Calèche with one machinist, patterns and fabric spread across the FKR polished concrete flooring installed to combine with the walls. Together with Olivier, she travelled the country visiting every township that had a drapery or fashion store.

Five years on the Calèche range was being promoted in every capital city and regional centre in Australia. To this day our family make all of our hand-crafted gowns in our Norwood showroom, continuing the tradition that Colette started so long ago.

Perhaps that’s why I can’t go past a wedding dress with simple styling and a whole lot of lace – it’s in my blood!

If you’re feeling the love for Tiffany, be sure to pop in for a viewing and to discuss options to make the dress truly your own, such as lace straps, an illusion neckline with lace trailing over the shoulders, a lower backline with nude tulle … the options are endless.

Meet our Bride of the Month – July 2015

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on September 26, 2015

“…I’m so happy with my choice….” Teri.

These are the words we love to hear when our brides are ready for their special day in a Caleche gown. In the classic setting of St Andrews Church, Walkerville, Teri and Brett exchanged vows and began their married life together.

Looking radiant in her gown, Teri loved the fact that she could personalize our Kerren style. With a slimline cut and gorgeous all over lace “…I was tossing up between strapless and straps and I think this was the perfect compromise (to have sheer lace shoulders)…”

With vibrant red bridesmaids’ dresses and beaded lace hand finished over the high front/low back of Teri’s gown, this wedding party was all glamour.

It can be a long time looking for Brides-to-Be so what was it that led Teri to us?
“…The staff were amazing. I am so indecisive and never once did I feel pressured to make a decision or that I was an inconvenience, it made the whole experience really memorable…”

“..I felt I tried on so many dresses but kept coming back to the ‘Kerren’ Caleche dress and I am so happy with my choice…”

A fun girls night out with speed dating brought this couple together, a success that led to their wedding on 10th January 2015.

Following the church ceremony, the Bride and Groom held their reception in the elegant Cathedral room, Adelaide Oval, which provided some fabulous photo opportunities.

And what comes to mind when thinking of the special moments of the day? “…Brett’s speech – it was so lovely and really surprised me. It was perfect! As was our first dance together!!…”

Congratulations Terri and Brett, from all the team at Caleche!

‘Audrey Hepburn eat-your-heart-out’ wedding dress

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on September 8, 2015

Hello brides-to-be,

Was that a little flash of sunshine I saw the other day? Spring has finally made an appearance (about time!) which means wedding season is about to kick into full swing.

If your big day will be this time next year, now is the time to start the search for your dream wedding dress. According to plastic surgeon Michael L. Schwartz, MD, FACS, he often gets approached by plenty of brides-to-be sometimes as early as the next day after being engaged to look for best options to look stunning when their big day arrives.

A Calèche wedding dress takes at least 6 months to create. That might seem like a long time, but all of our dresses are custom made right here in our Norwood studio to ensure a perfect fit every time. Audrey 2

Once you’ve found ‘The One’ we’ll sit down with you to discuss the overall design of the dress and any changes you might like to make. We can mix and match different styles as well as creating a completely new custom gown. When you’re happy, we’ll get started on bringing your vision to life. Audrey 1

You’ll have three to four fittings to get everything just right. You’re very much a part of the process here at Calèche and we get to know you very well along the way.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for we can give you plenty of ideas to get you started. In fact, let me kick things off by introducing you to ‘Audrey’ from our new Illumination collection.

I just adore the simplicity of this 50s inspired ‘Audrey Hepburn eat-your-heart-out’ wedding dress. This style incorporates a slim skirt with a flared and flounced train and a bias cut band at the neckline to create a soft look – perfect for the elegant and understated bride-to-be.

Meet our Bride of the Month – June 2015

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on July 21, 2015

Hayleyand David_2 When Hayley sent us an email of her photos, declaring “I absolutely loved the dress!” we knew she had to be included in our special Bride of the Month series.

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Hayley began with the Blair gown which features a beautiful lace bodice and classic gathered silk skirt. She couldn’t pass over the chance to have a gown with a beautiful flowing train from her waist to the ground, and told us “I loved that my dress was beautiful and romantic without being overdone”

On an outing one day in Autumn when the picturesque Adelaide Hills glowed, Hayley and David fell in love with the setting of Golding Winery. They conducted the ceremony and also held their reception at Golding, with the gorgeous arbor decorated with fresh flowers and a great rustic barn to dine in.

Hayley met Dave through mutual friends and just a few days after meeting they had their first amazing date at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. It seems like just yesterday when the team at Calèche first connected with Hayley on her wedding dress adventure, and March 2015 arrived quickly for the bride and groom. As Hayley tells us “we had an amazing day”.

Dave thought his bride looked radiant in her custom made gown. When we asked Hayley why she chose Calèche for her special day she pointed out the hidden gem of Blair “…I especially loved the silk skirt…which had pockets!!…..

I was also happy (in choosing Calèche) that it was made in South Australia and that I was able to make slight changes to Blair to suit my body shape…”

There is always a special moment from everyone’s wedding day that they cherish, and for Hayley that moment was Dave’s speech at the reception “…it was so funny and romantic and I was so proud of him.”

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A big congratulations to Hayley and David, we wish the happy couple all the very best for the future

To lace a little …

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on June 19, 2015

Hello brides-to-be,

Introducing Paige…for the modern bride looking for a touch of Hand drawn Paige romantic nostalgia.

A light and exquisite silky tulle skirt, delicate beaded lace with 3D floral accents, and champagne coloured satin base come together to create a fresh and unashamedly romantic wedding dress.

Full Length Paige The modern sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice and thin satin belt highlight your body’s natural curves, while a hint of lace scallop detail around the neckline and at the shoulders add a feminine touch. This dress will win your heart with its clean lines and uncomplicated elegance.

For the perfect finishing touches add a simple raw veil – it will disappear into the layers of tulle in the skirt providing the illusion of a longer train, and subtle earrings or an understated bracelet from our Samantha Wills jewellery range.

Love the look but want more cover up top? Consider changing the neckline to an illusion neckline with beading detail, or add a cap sleeve for a little more sparkle.

Love Paige just as she is, or want to add your own special touches? All of our dresses are hand crafted and tailored just for you in our Adelaide studio – that means you get the one-of-a-kind dress of your imagination.

We can’t wait to work with you to bring your dream wedding dress to life.

Check in with us on Facebook or Pinterest for more ‘lace a little’ inspiration.

See you soon in the studio.

To lace a lot ….

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on May 7, 2015

Hello brides-to-be,

Autumn is in full swing, which means now is the time for our spring and summer brides to book in for your first dress consult.

We’re all so different and we believe in creating a bespoke gown to suit your style, shape and wedding theme. After all, this is the most important dress of your life.

All of our dresses are hand crafted and tailored just for you in our Adelaide studio – that means you get the one-of-a-kind dress of your imagination.

You might have a clear vision of how you want to look on your special day, or perhaps you are looking for a little inspiration.

Each month we’ll be featuring one of our amazing dresses, along with a little advice, to help take some of the guesswork out of finding the dress that best fits your body shape and personal style.

For the next few months we’ll be focussing on lace – to lace a little, a lot or not at all. Who knows, this month’s ‘lace a lot’ feature dress could just be The One.

Introducing Taylor…for the bride who embodies effortless beauty and timeless sophistication.

A champagne coloured lightweight satin provides the perfect backdrop for the delicate floral lace overlay with bold scallop detail that is the showpiece of this dress.

The long vertical scallop detail elongates the figure, while the front split creates an alluring glimpse of the legs when walking.

A mermaid flare starts from mid-thigh creating a sleek silhouette, while on-trend long sleeves complete the look. This dress is the perfect blend of conservative and sexy and will take you from the church to cocktail hour seamlessly.

Wondering about the finishing touches for this dress? A floor length veil in soft tulle or a wreath of flowers in the hair would look stunning. And perhaps a little sparkle with a set of pearl or diamante earrings from our Samantha Wills jewellery range.

Want to make the look a little more your own? Consider replacing the full length sleeve with a gathered cap sleeve for a more delicate feel; go strapless with scallop detailing over the neckline; fit the dress tightly under the bottom for a more figure-hugging look; or up the modesty quota by removing the split in the skirt and changing the direction of the lace so the scallop is around the hem only.

So many options, so many ways to create your picture perfect dress. We can’t wait to work with you to bring your dream wedding dress to life.

Check in with us on Facebook for more ‘lace a lot’ inspiration.

See you soon in the studio.

Ruby Jubilee parade at the Art Gallery of SA

by Alyce James-Tronnolone. Posted on August 20, 2014

Calèche celebrated our 40^thbirthday in glamorous style recently with a couture fashion parade at The Art Gallery of South Australia.

Finesse Models perched elegantly within each gallery at the entrance to the venue in dresses representing the last 4 decades of production – after 40 years of producing exquisite gowns and designs for the most discerning women we searched far and wide, unearthing some great styles! Our invited guests were treated to Hesketh Wines and Art Gallery Food and Wine hospitality as they awaited the parade. caleche40th-131 caleche40th-133

Backstage was a hive of activity with the team dressing 8 Finesse models in the stunning new Evening & Cocktail collection,our Ruby bridal collection and finally a new collection of especially intricate bridal Couture dresses, found only at our Norwood store

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Of course we couldn’t celebrate our Ruby Jubilee without featuring a ruby dress. Made of delicately beaded French Chantilly, Rouge satin and silk satin Chiffon it glided down the catwalk elegantly worn by Laura.

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Host Jane Reilly congratulated our South Australian company for 40 strong years after its’ establishment by Colette Foubert in 1973. She also commented on just how special Calèche made the experience of creating her own custom gown for the night, and remarked on how comfortable it was to wear.

Speaking also on the night and representing the Foubert family, Eric made a special thank you to the women who have enjoyed dressing in our hand-crafted designs, made locally in the Norwood design rooms, over the past 40 years and paid tribute to the vision and hard work of his parents.

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Our designer Liz watched from the sidelines with husband Herve Foubert (thanks to Jacek capturing this photo) and couldn’t be persuaded to appear under the spotlights until a beautiful bouquet from Burnside Village Flowers was presented to her. As our guests left the venue we were delighted with their reaction to the show and it was lovely for all our team to get such direct feedback for all their hard work.

Our exclusive evening wear is being sold at our store in Norwood, and like all of our pieces is made to order which means you can purchase off the rack, include fittings or use them as inspiration for your own unique outfit.

Here’s to another 40 years of fine sewing!

Thanks to Nicholas Purcell Photography for capturing (nearly) all the images in this post

and thanks to all our supporters, we couldn’t have done it without you