2018 Theia Bridal Collection at Folkster

Theia Couture designer, Don O’Neill, unveils 2018 collection of bridalwear at Smock Alley Theatre

And Folkster Bridal are exclusive Irish stockists!

On Sunday I attended the press brunch at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre to see the new 2018 Theia bridal collection available at Folkster Bridal. The planning and styling of this entire event was amazing! The venue, the music, the dresses, the food, the set up…everything. I now want to get married at the Smock Alley Theatre, wearing a Theia gown from Folkster. I can only imagine all the brides who attended the two sold-out runway shows afterwards felt the same.

Contemporary | Boho | Glam

If I had to choose three words to describe this collection, they would be it. Contemporary, boho-glam {with some strong Game of Thrones influences.} Maybe it was because the new collection was unveiled the day before the new season of GOT, or maybe it was because one of the models looked much like the Queen of Dragons herself, Daenerys Targaryen. But there were some beautiful dresses {and capes} that wouldn’t look out of place on the Khaleesi.

Inner Goddess

Don doesn’t design for a particular bride in mind, but for every woman. He believes every woman has an inner goddess that a lot of women don’t even know is there, no matter what their size or shape. Despite showcasing a stunning collection of bridal gowns {and bridesmaids!} for next season, Don insists it’s not him, it’s not about the dress, it’s about how a woman feels when she wears one of his dresses.

“It’s my job to make a dress that when a you look in the mirror, the goddess comes out, you feel alive and have your own ‘ah-ha’ moment looking in the mirror thinking, ‘oh my god, this is amazing, I feel amazing!” – Don O’Neill

Elegant Glamour

Some of my favourite gowns had elegant v-necklines, fur stoles and capes with subtle shoulder pads {GOT-esque}. The collection has something for everyone, which isn’t an easy feat within a bridal collection! Both the simple, elegant crepe gowns and heavily adorned and embellished beaded dresses hugged the figure in all the right places and gave each model the most amazing bum! As the dresses came down the runway, many had very simple, elegant silhouettes. And once I saw them closer up, the embellishment and detail was incredible, which gave the gowns an elegant, understated glamour.

It’s all about the cut

When I asked Don if it was down to the cutting or the placement of beading and embellishment that gave all the models wearing his gowns the most pert, peachy bums; he said it’s both. He cuts the fabric on the bias {every curvy girl’s best friend} and mitres them at an angle so they elongate the body and contour the butt. The secret to even the simple, unadorned crepe gowns is in the cut, how it’s moulded to the body. Don does a special cut at the back of the knee that gives a flare at the bottom of the dresses lending a drama that works really well with veils and long trains.

The crepe dresses are very simple and it’s all about the cut. Then the other gowns have very simple silhouettes but have intricate beading where he really carves out the body and plays with light and shade. That’s what makes this collection really stand out. The understanding of both the female body and embellishment collide in a breathtaking collection of bridal gowns.

“On your wedding day, you’re walking up the aisle, the back of your dress is important and I want you to look sexy but also elegant.” – Don O’Neill

Simple, Sophisticated Elegance

When designing this collection, Don said Audrey Hepburn was always at the back of his mind, because she stood for simple elegance. She never tried too hard, she kept it very clean and very simple. Don is from Co. Kerry but has lived in New York for the last number of years. When I asked if this had influenced his design aesthetic, he said it has added a sort of sophistication to his designs – which is clear to see in the Eve, Lenni {below} and Hayden gowns.

“A lot of my silhouettes are very simple, they’re very clean. It’s about wearing it beautifully. Like Audrey Hepburn, she wore clothes beautifully.” – Don O’Neill

Magical

What Don loves most about designing for brides is being part of their magical day. Don got married in 2016 in his home town in Co. Kerry and said the day is such a magical one, every detail is so important, surrounded by love. His best piece of advice for anyone getting married, was something he and Pascal were advised to do on their own wedding day. And that is to take a few minutes to yourselves, just the two of you. Take a deep breath and realise what your day is, what’s happening and just share that moment together.

“To be the designer brides chose to wear on their wedding day and be part of, for me it’s about magic. The whole thing, life is about magic and for most people magic is hard to achieve or attain. But everybody achieves it on their wedding day. To be part of that euphoria and to be a part of the sparkle and the magic, for me it’s such an honour to be chosen as their designer and part of their day.” – Don O’Neill

Up Coming Trends

Separates

Separates featured a lot in this bridal collection by Theia Couture, and Don believes they are becoming a big part of bridal wear. A lot of girls are liking separates because they can get to wear both or part of it again. It’s still a beautiful embroidered, beaded or flowy lace top {for example} that’s suitable for a wedding day but they can be worn separately to create new outfits to be worn again and again. There’s a lot of girls who want simple but they also want something extra special in the separates category.

Boho

The boho trend is continuing but there’s a bit more elegance coming into it {que boho-chic blogs like this one!}. It’s not so undone, the girls still want the glamour element. Even though it’s boho and very much like, ‘I didn’t try too hard’ but they want that understated glamour – which is what I think works so well with Folkster’s style.

Is the jumpsuit the new ballgown?

Although Don’s bridal jumpsuit didn’t make an appearance down the runway at the Folkster Press Brunch, I had spotted it on his website. I’ve seen a couple of these pieces peeking through bridal collections, especially from American designers. So I was keen to know if he thought the jumpsuit was the new ballgown. Within the 2018 collection, there’s a off-the-shoulder crepe jumpsuit which also comes in ivory lace. Perfect for the alternative or same-sex bride, who doesn’t want to wear a dress but still wants to look elegant and feminine.

“The jumpsuit is important for me. It’s in my evening wear collection and does really well. I’ve been doing it for years {a bit like the two-piece} because I just think they’re so cool and chic. The world is eventually catching up!” – Don O’Neill

I would like to say a huge thank you to Folkster for inviting me to this incredible event, not to mention the fab goodie bag and food. I’d also like to say a special thank you to Don for taking the time to talk me through his collection and wish him the very best of luck and congratulations! The 2018 collection is available at Folkster Bridal in Kilkenny. Check out the Theia Couture website for up coming trunk shows and a list of global stockists.