Timeless elegance

Wedding dress designer Ritva Westenius has been at the forefront of bridal design for more than 30 years, during which she has grown to iconic status in the industry. Sarah-Jayne Cassells finds out more about this timeless wedding dress designer...

Ritva started out designing her own label in a very small way making wedding dresses in Tunbridge Wells with a small team, but demand for her bridal designs quickly grew. She says: "My signature label grew organically. I was particularly interested in costume and textiles. In the early days my shop in Chelsea London was a meeting place for young Sloanes and my clients ranged from debutants through to duchesses.

"I have always worked hard. Designing, and making wedding dresses I love. Putting passion, care and attention in every gown means they soon get noticed by fellow fashion connoisseurs. My first double page spread in Vogue was a bit of a crowning moment though!"

Over the years the Ritva Westenius brand grew and Ritva enrolled the help of her daughter Chenca Williams into the company.

"Chenca my daughter is an invaluable part of the Ritva Westenius brand and it has been a joy to watch her grow as a wedding dress designer over the past ten years.

"Chenca had a long and successful career as a dancer, but needed a new creative outlet and with having spent years wearing some of the finest costumes in the world she had an extraordinary eye for creating show stopping gowns, and so decided to go into designing."

This mother and daughter team is very special, they approach things very differently and often have opposing view points, but that diversity creates an energy in the design studio and in the end they create a jaw droppingly stunning bridal gown.

On working with Chenca, Ritva says: "We are constantly moving forward creatively and evolving our designs and that is due to the push and pull nature of our relationship. Chenca creates wedding dresses from a performer's point of view. Her bridal designs are dramatic statement pieces and with her sophisticated eye for figure-flattering style, these gowns are hugely popular amongst brides. She has an uncanny understanding of shape and line and ability to see what is best suited to any particular figure shape."

Just recently Chenca produced her very first line under the Ritva and Chenca label. The Ritva and Chenca label marries the cut and class we come to expect from the Ritva name with Chenca's theatrical flair, for a collection that delivers individuality.

Ritva says: "With Chenca's flamboyance and my simpler aesthetic we have created a label that combines precision tailoring and flashes of fashionista madness. The idea grew out of our working relationship together and soon picked up speed. The Ritva and Chenca wedding dresses form a very directional part of the collection and mean we can cater to a more diverse audience of brides."

On her own bridal creations, Ritva is known for her clean lines, meticulous construction, simple sophisticated elegance, beautiful fabrics and excellent fit. "I think you've got to follow today's fashion, and so I stick with my very simple silhouette and incorporate bridal trends into that, without veering too much towards being cluttered with masses of frills and embellishments."

Of her new 2011 wedding dress collection, Ritva says: "My new bridal collection is full of beautiful tailoring and cut, elegant clean lines and unexpected detailing. In 2011 and particularly due to the Royal Wedding I think we will see more stylish tailoring with exquisite fabrics such as silk liquid satin, Chantilly lace, silk taffeta and organza overlay."

With the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton happening in a few weeks, Ritva said that she would create a dress for Kate that would be 'something elegant, simple and dramatic'.

"I would choose a structured fabric like satin, taffeta and lace detailing. I would keep her look simple and young."

Most recently the television actress Amanda Redman wore a Ritva Westenius wedding dress on her wedding day, but Ritva says: "My dream client would be the French actress Marion Cotillard. She has an amazing sense of style and makes her outfits her own. I love women who have individuality in their dress sense.

"I love seeing unexpected designs and detailing. I think Gwen Stefani's Givenchy wedding gown was the perfect choice for her rock personality."

Giving advice to brides looking for their wedding dress, Ritva said: "Do not try to see 4000 wedding dresses before making your decision. A few select bridal designers that appeal to your aesthetic will be plenty. If you see too many wedding dresses you will get confused. Take your time but try not to start too early in your search. Listen to the help and advice of professionals.

"The whole process can be overwhelming and it's hard enough to find a wedding dress that suits your personal tastes without trying to please everyone else. Take a select few to see the bridal gowns you love, bringing too many opinions can make it even harder."

To see more of Ritva's wedding dress designs and stockists visit www.ritvawestenius.com.

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