Tag Archives: style

The latest in Caleche Event and Evening Wear

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White Tie Event Gown

White Tie Event Elegance            Image by photographer Nicholas Purcell

 

Black Tie Gown

Black Tie Lace   Image by photographer Nicholas Purcell

The 2015 Adelaide Fashion Festival was a great success for South Australia and we were proud to be invited to be a part of the Couture Culture Parade in the Hindmarsh Square Marquee. While it’s fantastic to see our Event and Evening Wear designs on the catwalk, these gowns will be custom made especially for our customers. How are they a great place to seek some initial inspiration for you’re own creation?

Going to the most formal of occasions a White tie event? Be inspired by this lace and tulle gown – choose a sparkly beaded lace, pop on a long silk tie sash and be a standout in the crowd.

What about a Black tie celebration. Choose a chic cocktail dress or a long evening gown – I suggest starting with this sexy yet covered style. Once again the choice of lace can dramatically alter the look of the gown, how about navy? The front split is a bit of wow when you’re moving.

Cocktail Gown

Elegant at a Cocktail Function Image by photographer Nicholas Purcell

What if your invitation says cocktail dress? Start with this peplum gown of amazing 3-D tulle and beading, shorten it to just below the knee and away you go! Have fun dressing up with great accessories and a pair of killer heels.

Semi-Formall Outfit

Semi-Formal Outfit         Image by photographer Nicholas Purcell

Semiformal or neat casual is possibly the hardest one to choose an outfit for. Depending on the time of the event, you’re really mixing formal and casual. A hot night could be a great time to pull on some dress shorts with this sheer lace top, or grab our satin box pleat skirt that just shows your ankles and top with a t-shirt and glam belt.

Beach Formal Dress

Beach Formal simplicity Image by photographer Nicholas Purcell

 

 

 

 

Lastly, something like beach formal suggests an elegant beach wedding, or destination event (think on the beaches of Mexico!). Dress to impress, but also dress for the elements – sun, sand, and water – like our dress with a midi length skirt inspired by this Bridal style.

Whatever the event, we’ll help you arrive in a beautifully hand-crafted outfit that has been made for you. Seek inspiration, bring your ideas and talk to our designers about creating the event or evening wear outfit you’ll adore.

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My obsession with classic couture – Tiffany Wedding Dress

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Hello brides-to-be,

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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.

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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.

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Meet our Bride of the Month – June 2015

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Hayleyand David_2When 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”

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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.

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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”.

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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

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To lace a little …

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Hello brides-to-be,

Introducing Paige…for the modern bride looking for a touch ofHand 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 PaigeThe 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.Bodice lace detail Paige

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.

Lace back detail PaigeLove 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.

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Ruby Jubilee parade at the Art Gallery of SA

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

caleche40th-176 Here’s to another 40 years of fine sewing!

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

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