When I first embarked on my dress search, I knew I wanted to take an eco-minded approach. As British ’s senior & features editor, I try to practise what I preach, and the reality of getting married in the 2020s is that millions of wedding gowns are purchased every year and the majority of them are worn for one day only. While the array of planet-friendly choices for brides may be on the rise, I still struggled to find “the one” – a dress that I loved, with the sustainability credentials to match, that was, crucially, within my £5,000 budget.
Then the pandemic hit. Our wedding date was scheduled for September 2020 and as bridal boutiques across London began to close their doors, I started to panic about whether I would be able to get a dress in time. That’s when a slip dress caught my eye.
The silk herringbone design perfectly suited my minimalist-leaning style, plus, as a longtime fan of the New York-based designer’s thoughtful and often pioneering approach, it was completely in line with my values. The only snag? There was only one dress still available, via The Outnet, and it was two sizes too big. Having consulted the Gabriela Hearst team, who were confident that it would fit with some alterations, I decided to take the plunge and purchase it.
The dress arrived during lockdown; I tried it on alone in my bedroom, ensuring my now husband wouldn’t see. After deciding to postpone our wedding to the following summer, the dress didn’t come out of its box again u.