Crowned In Couture
Here comes the bride, all dressed in… white? Blush? Ivory? There is such a litany of options when it comes to wedding dresses that it is hard not to feel overwhelmed, not to mention overcoming the crippling fear of not finding ‘the one’. Bridal stores offer affordable, ready-to-wear options, however, you may find that you are limited in customisation options and miss that personal touch that some brides crave. Enter the world of couture, where exclusivity, personalisation and uniqueness shine. Here, Emily Axford from Melbourne Wedding & Bride sits down with Elide Valente, owner of Bonita Couture, to delve deeper into the world of couture dressmaking and discuss the expertise she has garnered over her forty years in the industry.
Synonymous with original designs, high-quality craftmanship and unparalleled service, Bonita Couture has become a well renowned name in the Melbourne wedding industry. Having opened on the 24th of October in 1984, Bonita Couture has now provided brides with breathtaking, one-of-a-kind gowns for four decades. Bonita Couture had humble beginnings in the Preston Marked Arcade where Valente started the business with her sister, Alida, in a small boutique that designed and made-to-measure gowns. The sisters soon outgrew the premises and moved to Sydney Road in Brunswick in 1988 – a must-see and highly popular bridal precinct – where Bonita Couture has thrived, making wedding gowns, mother of the bride and groom dresses and dresses for other red-carpet events.
Cutting-Edge Creations
The term ‘couture’ brings to mind custom clothing, high-end fashion, unique designs and superior materials, all of which represents the pinnacle of fashion artistry, emphasising exclusivity and personalisation. Naturally, Bonita Couture embodies it all. “The most rewarding aspect to be in the wedding industry is to make a bride’s dreams come true with a personalised gown exclusively for the individual,” Valente notes.
Due to societal norms, design trends and personal taste, the shape of the wedding industry changes with every passing year and bridal fashion is no different. From the opulent ball gowns of yesteryears to the sleek, modern silhouettes of today, bridal fashion has evolved dramatically. Having had forty years in the industry, Valente has seen it all. “In the 80s there were puffy sleeves, puffy veils, overdecorated gowns and going away outfits,” Valente reflects, continuing, “now, the more classical and simple lines are in and brides are keeping the wedding gown on until the end of the night, or opting to have a short dress for the after party.” Growing and changing with the times is a vital part in all wedding businesses which is done effortlessly with couture dresses as it is largely based on the bride’s personal taste.
“My advice to brides is that they should ask themselves that if in years to come when they look back at their wedding photos, would they still love what they have chosen to wear on their wedding day?” Valente remarks. At Bonita Couture, Valente assures us that their dresses “maintain an individual and elegant look that is timeless.”
Sketch to Stich
As a couture gown is created personally for you, the process that goes on behind the scenes is a bit different than purchasing a dress off-the-rack. “When I design a dress for a bride, I first listen to her likes and dislikes, then I ask for her budget and her inspirations. After that, I will give her a few different options with sketches and fabrics,” Valente explains. Due to the level of detail and intricacies that creating a couture gown involves, Bonita Couture requires brides to give approximately six to twelve months’ notice – longer if they are dressing the whole bridal party. This allows enough time to make sure every detail is exact, with the making of the gown to begin approximately five months before the wedding.
The process for fitting a bride is in-depth and tailored to ensure every detail aligns perfectly with the bride’s vision, creating a truly personalised experience. Not to mention that Valente’s method is tried and tested as it “has never changed over the years.” It begins with a calico fitting, where the basic shape of the dress is made from inexpensive fabric (calico) to test fit the design and ensure that the bride is happy. At the second fitting, the foundation of the dress has been put together and Valente discusses embellishments with the bride. The third and final fitting is reserved for finalising the gown and accessories. This reliable process goes the extra mile in ensuring that every bride leaves with a dress that feels uniquely hers and perfectly crafted for her special day.
For a stunning, high-quality result, only superior fabrics and other materials such as lace should be utilised. “We have access to fabrics and laces from Italy, France as well as options for more affordable fabrics from Australia and other countries,” Valente elaborates.
Heritage and Horizons
Memories serve as a tapestry of growth, reminding us of both our triumphs and challenges and with forty years of knowledge and wisdom, Bonita Couture certainly has much to look back on. “We have so many fond memories of happy brides and beautiful red-carpet gowns created for VIPs and award nights,” Valente reflects. “We have had a team of beautiful and loyal dressmakers that have worked for Bonita Couture over the decades and feel they have all participated in making Bonita what it is today.” Bonita Couture has also accomplished many accolades over its forty years and Valente describes how special it is to see “many original brides come back as mother of the bride or groom, with their daughters to have their second generation of brides.”
Looking to the future, Valente assures us that Bonita Couture “intends to keep the high level of quality and bespoke gowns with a very personal approach that we have maintained over the forty years of the life of the Bonita Couture brand.” Growth is another element already underway at Bonita Couture with Valente’s very talented sister, Alida, adding beautiful designer range of hand-made bags, either ready-to-buy or made to order to complement each outfit.
Photography by Allie Claire Creative.