Flora · A village church and a garden, Oxfordshire. October 2023. Photograph by Ellie Gillard
Flora
Jenny Packham · “Eden” · 2023
Flora & Charlie
Flora and Charlie met at work in 2016 and pretended for two years that they had not. They married in October at the church in the village she grew up in, walked back to her parents’ garden afterwards with everyone following, and had ninety people, a lot of candles, and one dog in a bow tie.
The dress
Jenny Packham has spent three decades making the beaded slip dress her own, and “Eden” is the late, quiet version of it: silk satin underneath, a beaded tulle sleeve laid over the top, and no structure at all. It is the least architectural gown in this wardrobe and the easiest to wear.
Why I’m letting it go
“I loved it and I danced in it for eight hours, which I could not have done in anything stiffer. It should be worn again by someone who wants to do the same.”
Hemmed for a 51mm heel, with 4cm of allowance left. The closer a shoe sits to that height, the less has to be altered.
A slip shows every millimetre and this one has four centimetres of allowance. Match the hem and do not improvise.
Two centimetres up. Possible, but the hem will need letting down and there is not much in it.
She danced for eight hours in it. A flat is not a compromise on this dress.
Suggestions only. We do not sell shoes and we are not affiliated with any footwear brand.
Reserve a fitting and we will hold this gown off sale for you. Alterations are arranged after purchase, with our tailor, once the gown is yours. We don’t cut a dress that isn’t.
