Hampton Park designer Bryony Whittaker will soon open a couture store in the south east. Left to right, business partner Olivia Sissing, Ms Whittaker and model Simone Sissing
By Rebecca Fraser
WHILE most eight-year-olds were dressing dolls, Bryony Whittaker was busy designing haute couture of her own.
The budding dress designer, now 25, said fashion had been a big love of hers since childhood.
The talented Hampton Park local cites French fashion icon Coco Chanel as her big inspiration and now plans to open a couture store in Dandenong with friend Olivia Sissing.
Ms Whittaker was awarded the VCE textile award when she studied at Eumemmerring Secondary College’s Hallam campus and has since completed a fashion course at Box Hill Institute of Tafe.
She recently entered the Australian Masters of Fashion Awards, formerly the Australian Gown of the Year, for the third time and was a finalist in the traditional bridal section. The gown is now being taken across the country and will be featured in 32 fashion parades.
Ms Whittaker also entered the contemporary bridal and evening wear section and in previous years has been a finalist in the traditional bridal, evening wear and fashions-on-the-field section. The traditional dress was the fullest gown on the night and had to be transported in two pieces due to its size.
It took four weeks to finish and Ms Whittaker said they were still putting on the finishing touches as the model prepared to hit the walkway.
Ms Whittaker conceded that being a dressmaker had its stressful moments and both she and Ms Sissing had pulled an ‘all nighter’ before the fashion awards.
However, she said the satisfaction and sense of achievement she felt when she finished a gown made all the effort worthwhile.
Ms Whittaker said she kept a close eye on overseas fashion trends and was always looking at old fashion books, some dating back to the 1920s.
The new shop will be called Rose Elise Couture and Ms Whittaker said they were currently searching for a suitable location.
Both girls met while working at an Armadale bridal designer and Ms Whittaker said they were keen to share their designs with the southeast suburbs.
“We wanted to hone in on the south east because there is nowhere you can get tailor-made dresses. With us, brides can say ‘OK, I want a bit of this and a bit of this’ and get precisely what they want and be 100 percent happy,” she said.
For further details about Rose Elise Couture call Ms Sissing on 9753 5519.
