Jessica Charleston

Trusted for 10 years

Driven by a lifelong passion for fashion and costume, it was whilst working with fabrics in India that I realised my future was in designing wedding dresses, giving me a chance to indulge in creating beautiful clothes for romantic personal journeys . I followed courses at London College of Fashion, and then decided an MA in Bath would really allow me to explore my creativity before setting up my own design studio.Growing up, I often felt as though I was born into the wrong era, as a result my designs often draw on influences from ‘La Belle Epoque’ through to the 1930s, an era of extravagance and adventure, exploring themes of discovery and timeless elegance.Keeping an eye on current trends, I’m also constantly looking out for gems of inspiration in antique markets and vintage boutiques, in films old and new, and in museums and exhibitions of both historical design and cutting edge innovation. The V&A in London is one of my favourite places to while away the hours. I’m also passionate about fabric so I take great pleasure in sourcing gorgeous fabrics to work with. I always prefer natural fibres to man made and now there are more and more opportunities to use sustainable resources such as bamboo, often mixed with silk it has the most increbible softness and properties which make it truly kind to your skin.I’m such a stickler for quality that I can’t resist lining my dresses with silk. I believe that how the dress feels is as important as how it looks. These little hidden luxuries can make you feel even more special on your wedding day.