Weddings

The Aussie Duo Who Are Revolutionising Plus-Sized Bridesmaid Dresses!

by Rosie McKay

Melbourne-based bridesmaid boutique, The Bridesmaid Studio is now available online with prices and sizes unimaginable!

Cat Pope and Bonnie Sinclair, founders of The Bridesmaid Studio recently announced the launch of The Bridesmaid Studio’s online e-commerce platform where you’ll find affordable designer gowns made to order, and oh-so easily.  

This is a revolution for Aussie brides and their bridesmaids who can now buy from anywhere in Australia!

Not only that, the made to order enables a wide variety in both size (US sizes 00-32) and price previously unprecedented in the Australian bridesmaid market. 

The brick and mortar studio located in Prahran, Melbourne is the premier location for international bridesmaid collections within Australia. Founded in 2017, The Bridesmaid Studio offers Monique Lhuillier, Amsale and Jenny Yoo bridesmaid collections direct from New York City.

They also offer a wide range of expert guidance and content through its blog including an informative and exclusive range of expert interviews entitled The Wedding Insider Series. 

We chat to Cat Pope below.

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Why did you decide to launch The Bridesmaid Studio?

Both my business partner Bonnie and I have worked retail in the past and know from that how hard it is to dress a group of women in the same thing. When we got to the phase in our lives where our friends etc were getting married the conversation seemed to keep popping up about how limited Australian women were in this area. When I myself got married I sourced my dresses from New York. It took one showroom visit and that part of my wedding was dealt with in one fell swoop. I couldn’t believe these options weren’t available back home so Bonnie and I decided to open up our store to solve this problem for everyone!

What is your point of difference?

We have 2! Firstly we have an amazing size range spanning from size 00-32. We can literally have your whole bridal party fit in one go. No one has to go elsewhere for bigger sizes. 

Secondly, our price point is so much more realistic than some of the Australian labels that are popular for bridesmaid dresses.

What do you love about the process of helping brides find dresses for their maids?

It's so easy! The goal when planning a wedding is to keep ticking things off your list and moving forward with your planning as there is so much to do. People can be stumped for months trying to keep everyone happy with their dresses but we have such a huge selection it’s easy to nail it in one 1 hour visit.

What do you love about the brands you have on board? Why did you choose them?

All 3 designers constantly produce new and exciting styles per season so the offering is constantly growing. We have so many styles available that everyone finds something that suits their body. We love that the designers listen to the customer feedback and make dresses for real women. For example, we always have bra friendly styles and recently added a group of maternity styles to each range too.

What is one of the most memorable experiences you have with a customer to date?

I think each visit has been pretty memorable as you are really a big part of the wedding planning process for the brides. They always send pictures and thank you’s after so it’s amazing to experience the whole process with them. Bonnie provides a really elevated service to our brides in store. She is on a first name basis with all of them and helps with everything from finding matching shoes online,  helps look into cover-ups and takes note off colour themes or flowers being used to help make that day that much more special. 

What are the bridesmaid dress trends for 2018?

Bridesmaid trends continue to include a mix n match approach. This could be a group of blue shades rather than the same colour being used for all girls. People also like to highlight the Maid of Honor with a sequin gown. 

What colours have been popular and why?

Jenny Yoo’s “Caspian Sea” is popular for the cooler months. It’s very elegant. Blush and pinks are always popular year around. We also like that some ivory or white tones are becoming popular too.

What are your top 3 tips for finding bridesmaid dresses to suit different shapes?

Tip 1: Let them choose themselves. 

I think the best way to approach it is to determine the fabric or designer that you want first, then let the girls look at the selection within that and have them narrow down a few styles they would feel confident it.  If all choose a style they like but it’s within your choice of fabric and colour they will look cohesive for photos and all be happy.

Tip 2: Choose a long style. Hands down the longer styles look so much better in photographs and then everyone can also wear their favourite or most comfortable shoes.

Tip 3: Ask advice. We can always advise on styles great for certain shapes. Email or call us with any questions as we here to help!

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Credit: All imagery courtesy of The Bridesmaid Studio
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