Irish designer creates a Taylor Swift-inspired bridal collection

RTÉ News​

2 days ago

Earlier this week, Rachel Morgan, owner of The White Gallery luxury bridal boutique, introduced her brand new collection of luxury mini-dresses at a dazzling event in the Canal Court Hotel and Spa in Co Down.
Hosted by luxury brand consultant and founder of Danu Collective, Aisling McVeigh, the evening was a dream for brides-to-be shopping for their 'bridal era'.
Inspired by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour - a global concert tour that saw the singer celebrate the many chapters of her colourful career - The White Era is a collection of mini dresses that aims to carry brides through their year of celebrations.
Speaking with RTÉ Lifestyle, Morgan said that the collection was directly inspired by the Cruel Summer singer, having experienced the Eras tour with her daughters.
"Taylor had a massive influence on the name," she confirms. "We've seen her twice now, and we just absolutely love her. She's such a powerful, strong woman."
"The White Era is all about the bride during her bridal era," she continues. "From the minute that you get engaged - the engagement party, the day two celebration, all of the occasions where she would choose to wear white."
With Swift now in a long-term relationship with boyfriend Travis Kelce, and engagement rumours swirling, the Northern Irish designer says she would "actually die of excitement" if the singer wore one of her dresses in the future.
Although the collection celebrates the indulgence of celebrating a major life event, the designer says she is mindful of the impact that the fashion industry has on the environment, and has tried to keep the range as sustainable as possible.
For example, one of the dresses is designed to be styled in a variety of ways so that it can be worn on multiple occasions by the bride-to-be.
"You invest in one key piece, but if you wear it with the bow or the gloves or anything else, it will carry you through your bridal era," she explains.
After the big day, it could also be paired with colourful accessories that would make it less bridal and more timeless. Gone are the days of buying something for one wear only.
"Each piece is made to order, so we're not over-producing," she explains. It's made in our own atelier, so that everything from the pattern cutting to the finishing details is done by the one seamstress."
"It's so lovely for people to support Irish design," she adds, applauding the array of talent that Ireland has to offer. "There's so much choice out there, and it's lovely to have the option of choosing something that has been made here."
With over a decade of experience, Morgan says that these recent designs were created as a solution to the problems that many of her clients were facing, particularly in recent years, with multiple celebrations becoming more commonplace.
"They want something special for their engagement party, the rehearsal dinner, or a lot of Irish get married abroad but want to have a gorgeous legal ceremony in city hall, and they want something special and elevated to wear to that event.
"Then there's day two, or some brides want to change into a mini in the evening because they want to enjoy their wedding party, and sometimes that's hard in a full-length ball gown."
RTÉ 2FM presenter Doireann Garrihy was one of the first brides to wear a mini dress from the collection, and Morgan says she was thrilled to have her wear the brand.
"She was one of the first to wear it, and she wore it so beautifully," she says. "It's just really special. We're 14 years open in bridal, and we just have so many brides looking for something different that reflects their personality."