Courte Collection

 

When we laid eyes on Courte Collection we immediately fell in love. With years of experience, the talents of Anastasia of Carte Blanche Bride and Tania of Tania Stokes Couture have combined to create a collection of dresses for women of many shapes and styles, who are seeking sleek silhouettes, chic fabrics and an impeccable finish. Courte Collection is all of this and so much more.

Courte Collection aims to dress women for their dream day and beyond. While many will love the designs as a reception dress, they are equally perfect for a court-house wedding, bridal brunch, and following your dream day, these gowns become a staple piece you can wear over and over again.

Made-to-order in Melbourne, Courte Collection puts sustainability at the forefront of their fashionable pieces. Keeping it capsule, and using recycled fabrics for their designs and offcuts for their elegant accessories, Courte Collection will not only make you look good, but feel it too.

Tania and Anastasia have generously shared with us how this collection came to be, the ethos behind the brand and how brides can get their hands on these gorgeous gowns.

 

 

Anastasia and Tania we were so thrilled to see that you’ve collaborated on Courte Collection together, how did this collaboration between you come to be?

Anastasia: I met Tania almost 10 years ago, when I was consulting with a client on her bespoke wedding dress. I was blown away by Tania’s workmanship, passion for her craft and easy-going nature. We have worked together across different businesses and projects ever since. During COVID we connected over the consistent requests from friends and clients about party dresses for their wedding that still eluded them. We decided to create just that and do it together!

Tania: Anastasia has a keen eye for style and her ability and experience in the fashion and bridal industry is extensive. It was an easy discussion and decision to  get together to produce the capsule collection. We both had such enthusiasm and enjoyment working on the business it was  an easy and uncomplicated process. The designs came together pretty quickly!

 

Tell us, what is the ethos behind Courte Collection?

Accessible, well designed, petite collection of dresses for reception wear but not limited to that occasion. The dresses being in ivory were aimed to be an extension of the wedding trousseau. We liked the idea of the garments being made in Melbourne, made to order and supporting local trades. This collection is for women of many shapes and styles with a sustainability thread woven into the fabric of the brand. We hope to cement Courte Collection as a brand of impeccable finish, sleek silhouettes and chic fabrics.

Courte Collection’s ethos is to create bridal-meets-evening wear pieces that can become timeless wardrobe staples long after your wedding day.

 

 

Who or where do you look to for inspiration when it comes to creating the designs?

Anastasia: Combined, we have over 35 years experience working with clients of all ages and styles. Our inspiration really comes from the needs of women we have worked with. Who is wearing each dress? How does she want to feel? Where is she going? What does she need? We both naturally have a European, pared-back design and style aesthetic that designing together is really seamless and exciting.

Tania: Yes, pared back is what we really like and allowing the client to be wearing a garment that doesn’t ‘wear’ her! Inspiration for me comes from meeting clients day to day and seeing their lifestyle, incorporating those aspects into designs to suit the occasions but also the feeling of wearing a garment that is made with care and thought.

 

 

What we love is that your designs can be worn for all sorts of occasions and time and time again, share with us examples of where and when the designs can be worn. 

Anastasia: We have created styles that are versatile and timeless. We want our clients to buy their piece for their intimate wedding ceremony, townhall wedding or dance floor change and then feel just as comfortable throwing it on with some flat shoes and a leather jacket for Saturday lunch with their besties.

One of our very first clients purchased Courte Collection’s Amiel – the reversible plunge neckline dress – for 3 separate events surrounding her wedding. She first wore it for her Hen’s Day with the Luxe bow at the front, then as her elopement wedding dress and finally a few months later for the family get together to celebrate their wedding. One dress, 3 ways. Magic!

Tania: These dresses are what I would consider classic styles, so to have a piece in your wardrobe that is worn at many different occasions with different styling can offer a multiple of options. We love that our dresses are simple, well cut and with added accessories, can be dressed up or down.

 

 

What kind of person/bride do you think your beautiful designs will most appeal to?

Anastasia: For someone who wants a great cut, with timeless appeal and versatility. We have designed most of the collection without a waist seam to allow for varying shapes and sizes. If you are short waisted, long-waisted or even no-waisted they look ultra stylish. Our dresses range from AU6 to AU16, and we offer a bespoke service for sizes outside this to include as many people as we can.

Tania: Our dresses are comfortable and mostly a relaxed fit so it’s not surprising that they would appeal to many clients especially if they are purchased for the dance floor part of the wedding day!

 

 

You place an emphasis on sustainability, how does Courte Collection do this?

We were very conscious when it came to designing this collection, keeping it capsule means less wastage in sampling. Each look can also be personalised with our add-on bows and hand shaped flower brooches – and now ostrich feathers. We spent 6 months searching for recycled fabrics with the right quality and wearability. The recycled fabric industry is growing so quickly, and we are always on the look out for new technologies that offer that sustainable edge. It’s exciting to watch and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

All our designs use very little fabric and the offcuts are saved to make the Luxe and Chic bows as well as the Cravate accessories in the collection.

Currently we keep the production numbers very small with made-to-order only. Our design and manufacture process is local and within the Melbourne city limits. So very small amounts of additional resources including freight, fuel and postage.

 

 

Are your designs made-to-order? If so, what is the process?

Keeping our designs made-to-order means no wastage for pieces that will never be bought or worn. We have clients ordering from interstate and overseas online, plus we meet with clients in the Carte Blanche showroom or Tania’s atelier for those wanting a bespoke fit.

This year, we are introducing limited stock of our Top Sellers for immediate purchase. However, we have such a quick order turnaround time – only 4-5 weeks! – that for event the most urgent orders we can usually accommodate.

 

 

What is the price point for Courte Collection?

Our dresses start at $665, the new floor length options from $1,975 and the accessories between $120-$295.

 

 

And finally, what’s your favourite design and why?

It’s like asking who is your favourite child! We seriously love them all as they each fill a different gap. The Brigitte dress has definitely been a surprise favourite the subtle cut and seam details, especially when paired with the Cravate deconstructed bowtie is super sexy while being comfortable and versatile.

 

We think you will agree that Courte Collection have created a sleek, minimal and timeless collection of designs that are perfect for your own dream day and beyond. For your own perfect piece, head here.