Bridal show with The Dead Skull Dress from Beyond Burlesque

Contemporary couture label Beyond Burlesque, headed up by Vivienne Westwood's specialist corsetiere designer Belinda Chorley, previews two fabulous new Day of the Dead skull motif dresses at the Weird and Wonderful Wedding show on Saturday 13 April at the Bristol Science Centre.

Designer Belinda Chorley heads up this specialist bridal and couture house and she is the go-to designer for fashion insiders in search of bespoke luxury. Belinda's path to luxury couture is informed by her own progression through club culture and fetish wear to high-end couture which has seen her appointed as Vivienne Westwood's specialist corsetiere, an affiliation that has cemented her graduation to luxury couture. She has had the privilege of dressing a cast of international leading ladies in Beyond Burlesque including Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson, Rebecca Bottone and  Greta Scacchi.

Belinda will be showcasing two Day of the Dead gowns at the Wedding Show. One will be crafted from silk in coconut lime green & Persian Rose Pink, this bespoke dress will feature incredible laser cut skull motifs and a laced up corset.  It is fashioned from double crepe silk satin draped over Belinda's signature corset base with a classic 1950's bust line combined into a waist reducing girdle. The softness of the bias cut drape provides contrast to the hard structure of the corsetry.
The laser cutting is courtesy of Joe Geoghegan who worked on Keira Knightley's emerald green Atonement dress. The second dress is a tea length in bright green changant taffeta shot with blue and features hand printed skull motifs.

The inspiration for these new gowns comes from Belinda's love for the vibrant colours of Mexican Day of the Dead iconography. Belinda Chorley says: "The skull is a fascinating motif that symbolizes death and rebirth. It's an archetypal image that cuts across cultures and I am interested in the juxtaposition of beauty and the macabre."