A new bridalwear business is launching in Plymouth and will be bringing dresses from some of the country’s top designers and a bit of Knightsbridge glamour to the city.
The Ivory Lounge is opening, as all “non-essential” retailers are unlocked, in Whimple Street in the city centre and is already receiving interest from post-lockdown brides-to-be.
It will stock dresses from top London designers such as Ellis Bridals, Kelsey-Rose, Halo & Co Accessories and award-winning Suzanne Neville – who has dressed Tess Daly, Amanda Holden and Little Mix.
“We are only doing British designers,” said Ivory Lounge founder Lei Turner. “We aim to offer a high-end bespoke bridal experience so that every bride leaves feeling incredible. And we are taking bookings already.”
Mrs Turner, an entrepreneur behind a number of Plymouth businesses already, got the idea for the Ivory Lounge when Sam Cox closed her Barbican bridal business in March 2019 for family reasons.
“There was a gap in the market,” she said. “Sam was so good and well loved and when she closed it left a massive hole.”
So Mrs Turner decided to work on a plan and has now secured some of the UK’s top designers, including the very high-end Suzanne Neville, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, and has also created bespoke wedding gowns for Christine Lampard and Katherine Jenkins.
The Ivory Lounge is even planning a Suzanne Neville trunk show in June, with some of her most desired gowns in Plymouth for 12 days.
Bespoke dresses ordered in Plymouth will be handmade in London with a turnaround time of four to six weeks.
Other designers being featured at the Ivory Lounge include Ellis Bridals, which has been operating since 1912, and Halo & Co Accessories, which has worked alongside many international designers.
“We wanted to bring a little bit of Knightsbridge to Plymouth,” said Mrs Turner. “Very shiny, a bit of glitz. And we won’t compromise on service.”
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There are off-the-peg dresses too, including sought-after Kelsey-Rose designs, and Mrs Turner said: “We have decided to cover all eventualities because we don’t know what the market will be when we come out of lockdown.
“But we’ve been told there is money around brides still want to look fabulous and where they have saved money on having a reduced size (of event) they may want to put it into looking fab.
“And we have found a fab location, I couldn’t turn it down,” Mrs Turner said. “It’s nice to see Whimple Street looking so opulent.”
Mrs Turner also runs Plymouth businesses MLT Recruitment, Glasshouse Media and, with husband Mitch Turner has been a driving force for the Plymouth Armed Forces Awards.
She has brought in experienced manager Eleanor Seaborne to run the store, which is an Armed Forces Covenant signatory and offers military discounts.
