Marco and Kikka, the design pair behind ready-to-wear brand, 16Arlington certainly know how to make a wow dress. It was only natural then, that they’d offer their very own take on bridal. But this time, it’s for the bride with some bite.

The collection, which consists of 20 pieces, offers a range of silhouettes from their signature short halternecks, to sexy floor-skimming strapless numbers, and a three-piece Bianca Jagger-inspired trouser look for the suited and booted bride. The line also incorporates their signature stand-out design elements, bring forth sharp collars and feather trims, along with soft iridescent sequins. Yes, the collection offers romance and glamour, but in true 16Arlington style, the designs are underpinned by the subversive.

The price points of 16Arlington Bridal range from £895 - £2,700 and will be available exclusively on 16arlington.co.uk and MATCHESFASHION.com. There will also be a chance to have by-appointment fittings in the London atelier, along with bespoke alterations previously only offered to international talent including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Solange Knowles, and Billie Eilish.

“As part of our Wedding Edit offering we are incredibly excited to launch an exclusive bridal capsule of ceremony and reception-worthy styles from 16Arlington. The collection includes sequin mini dresses, feathered gowns and glamourous, satin separates - perfect for our customer who wants to make a statement on their big day.” Natalie Kingham, Global Fashion Officer, MATCHESFASHION

Felicity Carter: Tell us about the 16Arlington Bride collection, how it came about..

16Arlington: It's been a dream of ours since we started out to propose Bridalwear, ultimately you take things one step at a time; launching felt really right for 'right now' - partly because so many brides are having to plan their weddings for the second or third time after lockdown hell. We know that people want to dial up the joy. We really wanted to present bridal as a true luxury fashion offering, to completely shake off any of the stuffiness that surrounds the traditional bridal market. Ultimately our intention's always been to be where our woman is having the most outrageous fun... and what better place to be present, than on her wedding day. We wanted to focus on the fact that the capsule was not only intended for the big day, but also everything that surrounds it and lots of occasions, long after. These pieces feel to us like some of the most special we've designed. 

FC: What was your approach to bridal?

16Arlington: We wanted to create something for the modern bride - our audience don't tend to be wallflowers, and so we went quite boldy into the design process. Women are such fabulous creatures and that feeling really lives at the core and heart of 16Arlington; we never ceased to be inspired by glamorous, eccentric, fearless women. We wanted to offer something very much outside of the stereotypical bridal box and embrace inclusiveness in all respects whether that is to walk down the aisle in a full-length gown, opt for a mini, a three-piece suit or even a slouchy pyjama-like set with our signature collar and feathered cuffs. It's a concise and focused edit - twenty pieces - but we really feel there's something that speaks to all corners of our audience. 

FC: How long has it been in the making?

16Arlington: It was really interesting to see over the course of the past year how the mindset of the modern bride has shifted into a much less traditional space. We had an overwhelming reaction to a lot of our core infinite styles in white within our collections. Brides were opting for more low-key ceremonies, and outfits that matched. This timing really triggered a fire that was already burning, and the organic demand pushed us to officially launch bridal. We genuinely can't wait to see people wearing it. 

FC: What shapes can we expect, and how have you incorporated your RTW signatures into this collection?

16Arlington: We're working with our brand’s key ingredients. We wanted 16ABRIDAL to feel like a completely symbiotic extension of our ready-to-wear. The capsule's a selection of anchor styles that we know our woman responds to, and lots of new silhouettes - the one thing which all the shapes have in common is a sense of movement. We approached the building of this line with a lot of care around how our woman would feel and move whilst wearing these pieces for her big day... That's what was really at the forefront of the design. Feeling amazing, and looking it too. 

FC: What’s the process for bridal, from appointments to alterations?

16Arlington: We're incredibly excited to be opening up our London studio for all brides to come by appointment and alter, adapt, or create completely custom bridal looks from the capsule. Developing custom looks is truly our favourite thing to do, it's what gets us up in the morning... so we can't wait to open the atelier doors. Bridalwear's going to be a year-round offer; Our intention is to continuously evolve and grow the edit organically - learning from our audience along the way. We're also really honoured to have had the support of the team at MATCHESFASHION.COM in the launch of this new category; they're housing an exclusive edit. Natalie Kingham's been an invaluable sounding board on this project - essentially encouraging up to dial up the fabulousness at every turn!

See more on 16arlington.co.uk and MATCHESFASHION.com.