Karen Walker Atelier is a strikingly broad-ranging collection of dresses and suits. There are long, elegant, dreamy dresses, shorter, fun frocks, and chic suiting.
There’s a fluid, silky crêpe de Chine, a highly textured bubble jacquard, a luxurious taffeta, a sweet dotted tulle, and a breathtaking botanical lace embroidered with glass beads. Fabrics have been sourced from Gratacós, a storied Barcelona company that produces textiles for couture houses like Chanel.
The collection is accessible, with shapes and fabrications that would flatter many different figures and all styles made bespoke for the client. What unifies this collection, and what you notice at first glance, is a certain nonchalance that is unusual in bridalwear, although thoroughly characteristic of Karen Walker, who has referenced the jauntiness of the 1920s and the free-spiritedness of the 60s in previous collections.
Some of her most enduring and beloved design flourishes are traceable — balloon sleeves, a swooping low back adorned with a floppy bow, pie-crust collars, a spaghetti strap, sweetheart neckline that I recognise from my best-ever party dress (a red chiffon babydoll dress worn to countless parties, that also somehow suits most of my friends). That party vibe is detectible here, too.
These are not starchy dresses for simpering brides who will be trapped at the top table beside a towering cake. These are danceable styles, some of which, Walker suggests, would look cool with some white Stan Smiths.
Karen Walker Atelier epitomizes a harmonious blend of exquisite craftsmanship, vision, and modern sophistication. It is also a testament to Walker’s unparalleled artistry and ability to translate her signature style into the realm of bridal couture. Every gown, meticulously crafted with the utmost attention to detail, showcases a harmonious fusion of classic elegance and contemporary flair.
Karen Walker Atelier can be viewed by appointment in the Karen Walker Bridal Suite above the Ponsonby Road boutique. To book, email the Karen Walker Atelier Directrice via atelier@karenwalker.com
