For White Stole's Creative Mashup of Couture Bridal Looks, Seattle’s premiere Fashion Photographer, John J Martinotti, created a collection of highly stylized Vogue-worthy fashion art photo images alongside renowned Wedding Photographer, Kelly Robbins, who created a second set of Oscar-worthy unforgettably romantic images. 

This modern twist on the traditional Bridal Rehearsal Dinner was the brainchild of Stylist, Curator and Producer Roberta Nasser and her White Stole Couture Collection as a Bridal Tea Party happening set in the old-world elegance of the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle, Washington on March 11, 2018 in anticipation of the upcoming Royal Wedding.   

Together, John and Kelly were the perfect pair to bring these dazzling visions of Couture Wedding and Evening Luxe in which each woman’s ensemble is, in and of itself, a representation of popular Wedding and Evening Themes - from Floral Garden and Romantic, to Vintage, Retro, Whimsical, Eco Conscious and Modern Urban Chic to Evening Glam -to life.  

Kelly is known in her universe of Wedding for mesmerizing and captivating views into the hearts, minds and souls of her subjects - and she did not fail our Royal Party. John is known in his universe of Fashion for stunning and jawdropping views into the hearts, minds and deep passion of his subjects - and he served glamour up on a Silver Platter to our Royal Party!    

The Over-the-Rainbow results show us how the “New Royals” artfully live, upending our conventional notions of either Plain-Jane Rehearsal Dinners, or Boring Tea Parties…and take us into the rarefied world of Celebratory Luxe.  As any “Special Wedding or Evening Gala Event” should!  
​
Upon viewing this series of stunning images, one might ask ‘Who here is the Bride!?” because each woman’s look reigns supreme unto itself, and is capable of taking center stage at the party.   

That, my dear, is precisely the point! 

See if you can choose!

Watch our blog for full Coverage of our photoshoot's celebration of the Royal Wedding Day!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Shawl and Foulard Wraps, Vintage Stoles, and Cape Boleros for purchase, or rental, on our website.

White Stole’s innovative Bridal Rehearsal Tea Concept created a mashup of Couture Royal Wedding Looks of Silk and Vintage Stole and Shawl Wraps by White Stole topping Couture and Custom Wedding and Evening Gown creations from Seattle’s celebrated Couture Wedding and Fashion Designers Lisa Marie Couture, Kimmi Designs, and Gustavo Apiti seated in royalty before an opulently-filled Coffee and Tea table-setting created by Vintage Wedding Curator Lisa Mayer of Vintage Dish Company and photographed here by Seattle's beloved Wedding Photograher, Kelly Robbins.
 
Completing the vision created of Couture Wedding and Evening Luxe in which each woman’s ensemble is, in and of itself, a representation of popular Wedding and Evening Themes - from Floral Garden and Romantic, to Vintage, Retro, Whimsical, Eco Conscious and Modern Urban Chic to Evening Glam - is a lineup of Seattle’s up-and-coming modeling elite: Erika Foster, Jessica Marie Boyle, Michelle Green, Meenal D’rock, Irene Adler, Kiara LeBlanc, Aliea Taylor, Keith Vowell and Sandeep Saksham.     

The beauty seated for this memorable event was highlighted with dramatic and flawless mastery by some of Seattle’s most sought-after Hair and Makeup Artists: Tracie Saunders, Magnolia Karlsson, Daniella Rosaline, Allegra Rege, Jordan Ross, Matt Lawrence and Mayra Ruiz.  

Watch our blog for more Live Coverage of our photoshoot's celebration of the Royal Wedding Day!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Shawl and Foulard Wraps, Vintage Stoles, and Cape Boleros for purchase, or rental, on our website.

With all the pomp, circumstance and ceremony fit for a proper Royal Wedding Party, White Stole did what it always does to celebrate Romantic Milestones by bringing together the chicest of Seattle models’ silhouettes with the luxe of silk, satin, lace and fine china, from old to new, to capture the times we live in.   

No matter the era, the best Couture Creations, and the gifted Photographers who have captured their allure, have always layered multiple elements and meanings into their work.  To that end, White Stole’s luxurious photoshoot brought their Creative Universe to celebrate the time-honored Bridal Rehearsal Dinner in the most Royal-fashioned way – with a high-fashion Tea Party!  

This modern twist on the traditional Bridal Rehearsal Dinner was the brainchild of Stylist, Curator and Producer Roberta Nasser and her White Stole Couture Collection as a Bridal Tea Party happening set in the old-world elegance of the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle, Washington on March 11, 2018 in anticipation of the upcoming Royal Wedding between an American woman, Meghan Markle, and a British gentleman, Prince Harry.  

The vision created of Couture Wedding and Evening Luxe in which each woman’s ensemble is, in and of itself, a
representation of popular Wedding and Evening Themes from:
Floral Garden and Romantic, to Vintage, Retro, Whimsical, Eco Conscious and Modern Urban Chic to Evening Glam.

​Being high-season around the world again for a Royal Wedding, White Stole created this collaborative event to span both the fashion and the wedding industries in Seattle, WA, taking a fresh look at this theme from a truly 'American' and 'Seattle' viewpoint.  

Watch our blog for more Live Coverage of our photoshoot's celebration of the Royal Wedding Day!

View White Stole’s entire collection for size and color ranges of Stoles, Shawl and Foulard Wraps, Vintage Stoles, and Cape Boleros for purchase, or rental, on our website.

We have seen them on the runways, but of all the elements within designers’ bridal collections, it is the Stole in it’s many forms that is truly outstanding.  Alongside the traditional Veil, the Stole is irreplaceable for the bride who wants to feel like a fairy princess on her “I do” day.

This “must-have” gives a royal touch to the wedding - a princess allure that each of us look for on our big day.  An elegant detail, light and sinuous, capable of enchanting our guests during the triumphant walk down the aisle. Short or long, the Stole Wrap or Stole Cape is present today in all variations, from tulle, lace, organza, and chiffon, in white, pastel, or stunningly bright colors. Extremely light, the Stole lends an elegant touch that gives fluency to the bride’s movements.

More sophisticated is the Stole Wrap in embroidered or appliqued lace. The Stole Wrap becomes an essential accessory for every respectable bride, useful to conceal jaw-dropping necklines or shoulders, and when the time is right, to uncover them and be able to enjoy the party.  Truly infinite are the combinations of materials, from cashmere-silk blends for those who are always cold, to tulles that give soft volume to figures, to chiffons and silk satin for the most luxurious touch.

Reserved for true dreamers is the transparent and very delicate silk chiffon Stole Cape that enriches the shoulders with see-through grace and elegance. It is well- known that the details make the difference in elegance itself.

View White Stole's entire collection of Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

The elegant inspiration of a flowing Stole as a formal wrap of expensive fabric wrapped around the shoulders over a long dress or ballgown, created from silk or natural fabric, and of a length long enough to be draped across either shoulders, or around arms or neck has survived in all cultures throughout the ages. 

A Stole Wrap is typically narrower than a Shawl, and of simpler construction than a Stole Cape, and is typically worn loosely around the shoulders. Lighter materials such as silk and chiffon are simply finished or cropped, hemmed and bound.  Heavier materials such as fur and brocade are typically lined.  A Silk Stole is essentially a small version of a ladies’ Stole, made of silk. Though these garments or accessories aren’t always made of silk, they are typically manufactured with similar quality fabrics.

A Stole can also mean a fur or set of furs.  For formal wear, a finished length of fur using pelts from more than one animal is worn over a suit, dress or gown.  In this case, the word Stole stands alone or is used in combination: Fur Stole, Mink Stole.  A Stole is typically narrower than a Cape or Wrap.  The Fur Stole is kept fastened and held together at the front of the collar. Unlike a Silk Stole or Shawl, which is wrapped loosely around a lady’s shoulders and occasionally the neck, a Fur Stole is manufactured to fit the body more snugly

Similar to a Shawl, the Stole Cape typically uses more material length and covers more of the upper body. Also occasionally referred to as a Stole Wrap, the Stole Cape is likely to be found in a wide array of materials and colors, but the most common type of Stole Cape is typically made of fur.  Some popular dressy styles of Stole Capes might include ostrich feathers, marabou, or other material. The feathers can come in various colors, although black, brown and white are generally the most commonly seen.

In addition to making an elegant fashion statement, all types of Stoles have been used to show respect while in a church or in a formal setting, such as for a Wedding, where it might be inappropriate to display bare shoulders or a low-cut gown.

Historically, Stoles were considered ceremonial dress worn for special occasions or at formal events such as weddings, coronations, graduations, parades, religious rites and galas.  Besides the Wedding Dress, throughout history the formal dress code of ceremonial dress has included the Ermine-lined Cloak, Crown and Septer of a King or Queen, Tribal Dress, Suit of Armor, Military Dress, Liturgical Robe, Graduation Gown, and Robe and Wig worn by British judges.  The Stole as an ecclesiastical vestment consisted of a narrow strip of silk or other material worn over the shoulders or, by deacons, over the left shoulder only, and arranged to hang down in front to the knee or below.  The Stole as a long robe was worn by the matrons of Ancient Rome. 

The lithograph plate posted here showing a variety of ways of wearing shawls in early 19th-century France (ca. 1802-1814), is redrawn from various early 19th-century sources by Durin for Albert Charles Auguste Racinet's Le Costume Historique (1888), and shows the myriad, exquisite ways the Silk Stole Wrap has been worn over the ages.

View White Stole's entire collection of Stoles, Silk Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

​It was perhaps the iconic wedding spectaculars of Princess Grace in buttoned-lace gown and veil designed by Oleg Cassini, or Princess Diana in her silk taffeta embellished-lace gown with opulent sleeves, tied with bows, and followed by its 25 foot train that most encouraged the romantic “Princess Bride” look, making it a major fashion impression on the world.

Whatever the dress, historically, luxury has been stated by the display of jewelry, as well as the selection of colors embroidered on opulent fabrics or that accessorize the visage of the bride. 

Whether her love is displayed in her hair with a mantilla, veil, or hat, in diamonds, or with the opulent luxury of a silk or natural Stole enveloping arms and shoulders, wearing “lace” remains a timeless image.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

​In their review of modern 
Wedding Gown history, many have noted that the era of the best weddings in the world began with the iconic, elegant weddings of Jacqueline Bouvier in a floor length ballgown with simple train designed by Oleg Cassini in 1953, Audrey Hepburn in a tea length gown in 1954 and Princess Grace in a lace-buttoned sheath in 1956, many designs created by Oleg Cassini.  

These images launched our taste for modern elegance and simplicity in wedding attire, and led to our universal love of such modern classics as the A-line silhouette, the Camelot dropped waistline, Asymmetrical, One-Shoulder, Grecian, Empire, Halter, Sheath, Backless, Ruffle, Bow, Ribbon, Mermaid, Corset, Pick-up, Bustle, Sash or Strapless gown with specific neckline details of the Sweetheart, Bateau Neck, Notch, Collar and Cuff styled gowns. 

Whatever the skirt shape, from voluminous to a delicate flowing Empire, the neckline, and what encircles it, is the element of the dress that draws the eye toward the face of the leading lady.  

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Those who study royal wedding history have noted that Queen Victoria’s gown in 1840 is referenced as the royal wedding dress that popularized the color "white."  The choice of white goes back to Roman and Grecian times, representing purity.  Queen Victoria’s white satin ball gown with lace overlay skirt and 18 foot train adorned with fresh, fragrant orange blossoms, which she also had in her hair, became the style in the mid 19th century.  The significance of wearing white became an extravagant gesture, and created the need for a special, one-time-only symbolic and treasured keepsake that the wedding dress became. 

The Edwardian Age followed the Victoria Age, and was named for the charming and fun loving Prince Edward, who came to the throne in 1901.  Linked with the French ‘Belle Epoque’ period, this time is often referred to as a romantic golden age of long, sunlit afternoons, garden parties, big hats and a time of elegance and beauty just prior to the Great War.

Whether the royal wedding was lavished with a traditional full length gown and court train embellished with cloche style lace headdress as seen in the 1936 Wedding of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, or with 10,000 pearls and a record 15 foot silk tulle train adorned by her mother’s diamond tiara as seen in the 1947 Wedding of Princess Elizabeth, wedding traditions have been embellished by lavish tiaras and trains, capes, shawls, stoles and mantillas over the ages.

As America has followed Europe, our taste in wedding attire has been influenced by the famous royal weddings of England, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Greece or Portugal - traditions that have constantly been set…and reset…according to one's personal sense of beauty.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.

Any study of fashion can not be separated from women’s fashion history and an understanding of the beginnings of Haute Couture literally meaning “high-quality sewing.”  Paris had been the center of couture since the 19th Century when couture was transformed from a craft into business, and high art. 

Women’s fashion had been put on ice during WWII from 1939 to 1944.  During the occupation of Paris in 1940, many fashion houses were forced into war-related industries.  The progress of the war made it necessary to prohibit all superfluous material and labor.  America followed Britain in clothes rationing with L85 restrictions, promoting the approved ” Victory Suit” with its narrow styling as being more practical and patriotic. 

The Allied Nations were at a loss when Paris fell because they had looked to Paris as the World Capital of Fashion since the 17th Century.  Despite materials rationing on both sides of the Atlantic, some 20 Parisian couture fashion houses violated the wartime silhouette during this time and continued to produce approximately 100 models per year – primarily for wealthy collaborators or for export to Germany.  From Designers to Apprentices, the French declared they had fought to keep Parisian Couture alive because it represented a Parisian industry of prime importance, a means of employment…but most importantly, because it preserved Haute Couture in the eyes of the world.

View White Stole’s entire collection for size color ranges of Stoles, Stole Wraps, Vintage Stoles, Stole Capes and Shawls for purchase, or rental, on our website.