Flower Girls & Page Boys by Nicki Macfarlane

On the 29th April 2011, many of us were glued to our TV’s or even lining the streets of London waiting for that first glimpse of Kate Middleton, soon to be the Duchess of Cambridge, on her wedding day. After the excitement of seeing the all important bridal gown, we turned our attention to her sister and the four young bridesmaids. For any brides to be in the audience thinking how nice it would be to have a slice of the Royal pie, then you’re in luck!

Introducing Nicki Macfarlane, the designer behind the dresses, and her Cygnet and Swan collections!

The inspiration behind the two collections is about finding the right balance between younger and older bridesmaids. For the teenage girl facing a wedding at which she is forced to wear a frou frou dress it is an excruciatingly embarrassing time. We all remember our awkward growing bodies doing things against our will and making us feel uncomfortable, the idea of being the centre of attention is mortifying! Well, Nicki Macfarlane is trying to ease this tension and any family arguments by creating beautiful dresses that compliment each other through exquisite fabrics and detailing rather than trying to match them up.

By using contemporary colours such as Shell Pink and Duck Egg and striking hues such as Raspberry and Wisteria, you are sure to find a palette to suit everyone and made from fabrics such as silks, organza and lace, you can be sure they will be comfortable to wear and perfect for the most fashion conscious teenager! You can choose from 30 coloured silks and detailing includes Peter Pan collars, organza sashes and satin bows. Inspiration for the designs are taken mainly from the 1950s silhouette as well as  interpreting modern catwalk trends. As well as dresses for the girls, they also supply a full range of traditional page boy outfits which consist of smart trousers or French shorts, waistcoats and cummerbunds. The page boy outfits can either be colour matched or contrasted with the flower girl outfits depending on the effect you are going for and Nicki also offers a bespoke service for a completely individual look to your bridal party.

Silhouettes can be structured with full petticoats to give the dresses a truly 50s feel or can be floaty and relaxed depending on the theme of your day. The range goes from 9 months to twelve years old and can be as traditional or contemporary as you like. They also supply a range of accessories to add the finishing touches, pretty crystal and pearl hairpieces are on offer as is the availability of making one to exactly match your dress.

The collections are available in a wide range of bridal boutiques here in the UK, America, Australia and South Korea. Also available is a collection designed exclusively for John Lewis. Nicki Macfarlane will also be attending the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 14-16th June and will be at the Designer Wedding Show 12-14th October 2012.