The Dress

This Karen Willis Holmes 'Raven' off-the-shoulder dress from the current 'Bespoke' collection is so beautiful. The dress retails for $4,490 and it was purchased for my wedding from the Karen Willis Holmes Melbourne boutique. Here's the weblink if you'd like to check out the dress on the Karen Willis Holmes website (noting that the dress on the KWH website is styled with a different belt): https://karenwillisholmes.com/product/raven/

I wore this dress to my wedding for only 2 hours - my husband and I eloped, just the two of us, so the dress was only worn at the ceremony and for photos afterwards (ie. it wasn't worn at a reception or danced in). The dress was designed and handmade in Australia. It's made from Dublin Crepe which is quite a substantial fabric that has a beautiful feel to it.

I had a custom thin plain belt made by Karen Willis Holmes (the 'Milano' belt) in the same material as the dress. This belt cost $190 and is 1.25 cm wide and is sewn into the front of the dress, and features a small button at the back of the dress that acts as a clasp (note there is no buckle on the belt). The belt feature is subtle but beautifully enhances the waist definition of the dress. Please refer to the photos.

I'm normally a size 10, and this dress was made in a standard Karen Willis Holmes size 10 for me. I had the dress altered so that it fit me a little better (ie. it was taken in slightly to create a sleek 'fit and flare' look), and bust cups were sewn into the bodice. The length of the dress was altered so that it was the right length for my height, noting that the length of the long train at the back of the dress was maintained. (Refer to the video for a clear view of the amazing long train, noting that this video was taken when I first tried on the dress at the KWH boutique, prior to alterations being completed). Discreet finger loops were added to the bottom of the dress to allow the train to be lifted off the ground for ease of movement. Please refer to the below section for more details on the alterations.

The condition of the dress is almost perfect - it was professionally dry cleaned straight after the wedding for $490 by Syndal's Bridal Dry Cleaners ('Certificate of Dry Cleaning' can be provided). They did an excellent job, however, please note that there are a few very small marks at the very bottom of the dress that weren't able to be removed, however, they are not very noticeable. Please let me know if you'd like any photos of these marks, or any other photos of the dress (I have lots!).

I wore a long ivory veil (cathedral length) with the wedding dress that was not purchased from Karen Willis Holmes. I'm happy for the buyer of the dress to have the veil as well, if they would like it. Please let me know if you'd like any photos or further details about the veil.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to see any additional photos. I would love for this stunning dress to be worn at another bride's wedding. I tried on many dresses prior to my wedding and this Raven gown was the most perfect dress for my big day - I hope it will be someone else's dream wedding dress as well.

Description of the dress from the Karen Willis Holmes website: A timeless style that’s universally flattering, the Raven gown is a fit and flare wedding dress with a soft V-Neckline and an off the shoulder bodice. Simplicity meets visual interest with this stunning gown; the material is luxurious and sleek but also features gorgeous seamlines that frame your figure and add a unique feature. Raven’s back features elongating linework all the way from the beautiful low back to the train, while the bodice showcases linework that hugs your curves in all the right places. Raven’s crepe fabric is comfortable and elegant all at once, and a perfect match for your big day, whatever the season or location. Simplicity in your gown means you can create a look that’s all your own, whether you choose to style Raven with a modern touch or traditional elements.

Alterations

The dress was altered by an experienced professional dressmaker who specialises in bridal couture:
- The waist of the dress was reshaped a little to fit my silhouette
- The vertical seams over the backside area down to the thighs were taken in slightly to create a more defined shape
- The bottom of the dress was re-hemmed to suit my height (I'm 167 cm tall and wore 6 cm heels), maintaining the length of the train
- The off-the-shoulder sleeves were reset slightly to fit my shoulder width comfortably
- A-size bust cups were sewn into the bodice of the dress (these can be easily removed)
- Discreet finger loops were added to the bottom of the dress to allow the long train to be lifted off the ground when walking.

I would highly recommend the dressmaker who completed these alterations. If you are located in Melbourne and require alterations to be made, I'd be very happy to share her contact details.