On Thursday evening, a glamorous crowd of brides-to-be, fashion girls and London content creators gathered beneath the polished arches of Burlington Arcade for an intimate evening with Manolo Blahnik, celebrating the art of getting married in very good shoes.
Hosted inside the house’s elegant Burlington Arcade boutique, guests spent the evening discovering Manolo Blahnik’s latest bridal collection, a world of ivory satin pumps, jewel buckles, delicate slingbacks and impossibly chic kitten heels that feel made for modern wedding wardrobes. Alongside the brand’s iconic Hangisi styles, forever immortalised by Carrie Bradshaw and still one of the most recognisable bridal shoes in fashion, the collection now extends into elegant flats, soft blue satin styles and customisable bridal pieces designed to be worn long after the wedding day itself.
Quite simply, these are the shoes women fantasise about when they imagine becoming a bride. The shoes for the registry office look, the after-party dress, the honeymoon dinner and every anniversary that follows. Which is exactly why the evening’s conversation centred around the emotional pull of investment dressing and why certain fashion pieces become part of our identity.
Hosted by Kendra Leaver-Rylah, the evening’s panel brought together entrepreneur Hermione Olivia and psychologist Sabrina Percy for a discussion on confidence, self-expression and the psychology behind buying something unforgettable for your wedding day. From creating a wedding that feels genuinely personal to understanding why women emotionally attach meaning to pieces like a pair of Manolos, the conversation felt far more like a stylish salon than a traditional shopping event.
Naturally, there was also mention of the women who made Manolo bridal folklore in the first place, from Kate Moss and Pippa Middleton to Daisy Lowe and Venus Williams, not forgetting Carrie Bradshaw herself, still arguably responsible for an entire generation of women wanting a pair of blue Hangisis in the first place.
Guests sipped chilled glasses of Champagne Henriot whilst grazing on elegant canapés by Lettice Events, including black truffle and Comté gougères, ChalkStream trout tacos and beef tartare with truffle emulsion. Meanwhile, romantic florals by Kathryn Josey filled the boutique with soft whites and candlelight, transforming the space into something that feels wonderfully cinematic.
Photographer James Mason and videographer Nadia Abraham captured the evening, though one suspects most guests will already be busy photographing their future wedding shoes before the champagne has even reached the second pour.
A very chic evening indeed.
With special thanks to:
Hosts – @theweddingedition_ x @manoloblahnik
Panel – @sabrinacpercy x @hermioneolivia x @kendraleaverrylah
Florist – @kathrynjoseyflowers
Canapes – @letticeevents
Champagne – @champagnehenriot
Photographer – @jamesmasonphotography
Videographer – @nadiavideographer
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