Today’s expert is the supremely talented Joy Morris (pictured above right with Cathy Thomas), co designer and director of Australian couture bridal house Pallas Bride. Joy Morris has been in the fashion industry for over 25 years and spent twelve years as a fashion buyer.

Pallas Bride create soft, romantic beautiful gowns which compliment the curves of the female body. Pallas Bride have dressed celebrites at award shows (most recently Fifi Box and Kylie Gillies at the Logies) and have even dressed TV brides such as Amanda Vale (played by Holly Brisley) on Home & Away.

I interviewed Joy recently to talk about the opening of the new Melbourne boutique Pallas Bride and the Pallas Bride ready-to-wear collection Ruby Pallas.

What inspired you to start creating wedding gowns rather than other areas of design?

Wedding gowns are a woman’s dream, what better piece to create. Also, we’re not just designing traditional wedding gowns, ours are quite fashion-forward.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Old Hollywood glamour, digging into the archives of some of the top designers throughout the world and Haute couture fashion. I’m constantly inspired to find a way to bring that old-style glamour into a modern context and make it relevant to today’s bride.

What are brides looking for in the upcoming season?

Soft, flowing gowns inspired by romance and with a strong emphasis on glamour.

What should a bride start with when searching for her wedding gown?

Research through bridal mags, websites, recommendations or anywhere else you can get the information from. This will help them decide which bridal house designers they are drawn to. From this research they can go and see the 3 or 4 that they are drawn to with some reference images about what brought them there.

What are the steps are involved when having a couture gown designed by Pallas Bride?

After the initial appointment where you will have discussed styles and shapes with us we would then begin honing the design. Many of our brides love many features of our various samples so we specialise in taking different aspects of gowns to create their perfect dress. For a couture gown you would then have 5 fittings and a beautiful dress rehearsal not long before the big day. The most important thing is to find the right shape for each bride and then making it work for her with styling elements. We want every bride to look perfect.

What are the features of your favourite wedding dress?

My favourite dress is always the next one I create so features are always changing. I do always love the unexpected surprise – a feeling of Paris meets Pallas that is one of our signatures.

‘Ruby Pallas’ is Pallas Bride’s made to measure line. What was your inspiration behind this?

We wanted to be able to meet a particular price range without compromising on the quality of our beautiful gowns or service. The Ruby Pallas range allows most girls this opportunity using similar fabrics to our couture range and still having a Pallas gown.

Pallas Bride is now open in Melbourne – what led to this?

Strong demand from Victorian brides.

Tell me about your new Melbourne boutique? What services will you offer the bride who would like a ‘Ruby Pallas’ gown? What services will you offer the bride who would like a couture gown?

Everything we offer in Sydney and Perth will be available to all brides in Melbourne. Our collection of gowns will be on display and whether a bride purchases a Ruby Pallas gown or a couture gown they will still get the same level of service and attention to detail as in Sydney or Perth.

What is your Number #1 Tip for brides to think of when searching for their ‘ultimate’ gown?

Know your figure and bring one person who knows you intricately. Someone who will give you an opinion without looking at it from their style but from what they perceive yours to be.

What do you love about Australian brides?

I love the way they embrace our philosophy of design and the fact that they are truly romantic about their weddings. These are beautiful traits to work with everyday.

Thankyou for joining Polka Dot Bride today Joy! The Melbourne Pallas Bride studio is open by appointment and located within the Lyall Residences at 18 Murphy St, South Yarra Ph (03) 9868 8203 or you can visit their Sydney and Perth studios. For more information view the Pallas Bride website.