Singaporebrides | Fashion

November 2012

Silhouette The Atelier @ Shangri-La Singapore

The classic film, The Age of Innocence, tells a tale set in 19th century upper-class New York. At a time when the city was developing rapidly both economically and socially, the elite still imposed on themselves a rigid set of rules, especially in terms of behaviour and fashion. It is from this spirit that the designers of Silhouette The Atelier have drawn upon for inspiration for their latest collection, infused with a touch of modernity. You will find old glamour in every rustle of soft tulle and delicate lace, but you will sense a new attitude in the boldness of colours used and the audacity to go big—really big.

With two potentially-conflicting muses, the passionate Countess Ellen and the demure May Welland, what gels the collection together is Silhouette’s excellent play on material and shapes.

The show started off brilliantly; while we first see the conventional cheongsam on the runway, the candy-hued dresses with contrasting floral lace and embroidery was rather refreshing. Even with what seems like a traditional sheath cut, the designers at Silhouette featured a variety of necklines such as the halter and the key-hole, as well as the graceful high collar. Immediately after, two gowns that left deep impressions were vivid yellow strapless gowns. Both had simple sweetheart necklines, but that’s where the similarity ends. The softness of tulle in the first gown is accentuated further in a train of thickly layered material, and on the shoulders, a shawl of glittery crystals, which offers a very rousing back view of any bride wearing it. The other gown, with a high waist and alluring slim cut, starts to get exciting below the knees, where it spreads out into a trumpet train. Beneath the stiff material, an interesting burst of layered netting catches the eye with every step the model takes.

While I have yet to see this catch on here, blush or nude gowns actually look great on Asians, especially if you sport a healthy tan. The colour brings out the glow of the skin and can work for both day and evening weddings. The stunning gowns have flattering sweetheart necklines, and spread out into well-structured ballgown skirts. The swirled and feathered details on the skirt are luscious and elaborate—the designers have really gone all out here. A slim black sash cinched at the waist adds a little personality for the sassy bride.

The classic white gown will never go out of fashion. It’s a tradition, an unspoken dress-code, perhaps, for the bride’s celebration of a new life. There are many ways to express happiness, as you can see from the images below, every fabric and cut can tell a lot about the woman who chooses to wear them. The sleek and elegant mermaid gown becomes more feminine with a tufted tulle train. The princess ballgown becomes more womanly and understated with a modern bow and elaborate lace. The white tulle on lace underlay combination gives a translucent quality to the gowns, and under the spotlights, the effect is spectacularly dreamy.

I did say this collection would be big, and so the obvious highlights of the show were the big ballgown skirts in all kinds of fabric, from the embroidered, to the dotted lace, to layers upon layers of tulle. The evening gowns didn’t pale in comparison; apart from the delightful colours, the evening gowns were just as elaborate in cut, fabric and design. Even if you hadn’t planned on having a big scale, ballroom wedding, just envisioning yourself in one of these gowns is enough to make you want to sit up straight and drink daintily from a cup of lapsang suchong. But really, you have to see and feel the gowns for yourself to know what I mean.

Watch the runway show

Silhouette The Atelier is at 20 Emerald Hill Road Singapore 229302. For appointments, call +65 6733 7197. For more information, log on here or e-mail [email protected].


Credits: Images by 9 Frames Photography. Runway footage by Substance Films.

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Silhouette The Atelier @ Shangri-La Singapore