Belle & Bunty Q&A

Belle & Bunty Q&A

I chatted to Hannah and Alice aka Belle & Bunty, who you may know for their fabulous insta account and gorgeous styling but did you know these best friends also have their own Bridal Boutique? I got all the goss...

Now you’ve been friends for a long time, how did you guys meet?  

We met while we were studying for our degrees in womenswear design and surface textiles at the London College of Fashion. We had a mutual love of vintage clothes, scouring charity shops and London markets, illustration and jacket potatoes! 

And you have a gorgeous brand, Belle & Bunty Bridal. Tell us more…. ??

Belle & Bunty was born out of our mutual love for fashion, colour, and a playful approach to design. We launched the brand in 2003 as a ready-to-wear label, which we showcased at London Fashion Week for several years, before gradually transitioning into a made-to-order bridal label. We now have a boutique in North London, and all our dresses are made locally by a brilliant team of tailors we’ve worked with for over 15 years. We also run our Instagram business, where we share styling tips and fashion inspiration, and we’re lucky enough to collaborate with some fantastic brands.

Did you design your own wedding dresses? Did you go for similar styles? What were they like? 

Our wedding dresses were quite different aesthetically, but both were made in our studio by our team and are still part of the collection today. When we started our bridal collection, there weren’t many dresses available that weren’t incredibly structured. We wanted to create wedding dresses that brides would not only feel beautiful in but also comfortable wearing. It was important to us that our dresses could be re-worn after the special day. Many of our brides come back to us to have their dresses shortened so they can wear them again, which is lovely.

Alice – I created ‘The Belle’ dress for my winter wedding. I wanted something glamorous yet understated. I knew I wanted a vibrant colour, and the red silk was perfect. Although the silhouette is quite lean, there are actually five metres of fabric in the skirt, which makes it perfect for dancing.

Hannah – I designed the ‘Bunty’ dress for my summer wedding, using a buttery cream silk chiffon. I’ve always loved that 70s festival aesthetic, and I wanted to create a dress that felt feminine and dreamy, while also being incredibly comfortable to wear. I love the billowy shirt and the delicate pleats around the waist and skirt.

How do you split your time between Belle & Bunty and Belle & Bunty bridal? 

Our bridal boutique is open for fittings and appointments from Thursday to Saturday, and we shoot Instagram content from Monday to Wednesday. Depending on the projects we have going on, we can adjust our schedule accordingly. Over the years, we’ve learned to multitask and juggle the many different aspects of our business — but it’s safe to say we’re always busy, and no two days are ever the same.

Would you say you have similar tastes in clothing? Do you share clothes? 

Yes, we do have similar tastes but quite different styles — which works well for our Instagram, as we often pick the same pieces but style them in different ways.

Hannah  I love trying out new trends and have a maximalist approach to styling. “More is more” has always been my motto.

Alice – I’d say my style is more classic, with a masculine edge.

Luckily, we can share clothes since we’re similar sizes — we basically have one giant communal wardrobe at our studio.

What’s your favourite season to dress for and why? 

HannahI’m a summer girl. I love the bright colours, the floaty dresses, and the chunky sandals. There’s something about warm weather that just lifts my mood — any excuse to wear bold prints and fun accessories. Summer style feels effortless but joyful, and I’m here for all of it.

Alice -I think I’m an Autumn girl at heart. I love the boots, the trench coats, and the blazers. There’s something about layering that feels so chic and put-together. I get excited about rich textures, earthy tones-Autumn style just feels timeless and chic.

What have you been loving wearing lately? 

Alice - I recently bought a vintage Mulberry Bayswater bag second-hand from Vinted. I had been searching for one for ages, and I’m so happy with it. It’s such a great design, so easy to wear and it fits loads in. I like that it already looks well-loved.

HannahSimilar story to Alice — I had been searching for a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag and finally found one on a second-hand site. It was brand new, an absolute bargain, and I wear it with everything. It’s such a classic piece that instantly elevates any outfit, whether I’m dressed up or just in jeans and a tee doing the school run. 

Fave designer? 

We’ve both always loved the label Chloé, which has had some incredible creative directors over the years. We love the brand’s free-spirited approach to design — their collections are consistently eclectic, with styling that feels effortless and playful. There’s a sense that the Chloé girl curates her wardrobe from a mix of influences, which really resonates with our approach to dressing. 

Fave high street store? 

That’s a really hard one. There are some brilliant stores out there doing amazing things with design and quality. We have just selected an edit with Oasis which we are really excited about- a capsule collection of all our summer hero wardrobe pieces. Reserved is one we’ve discovered recently that is really good for adding some trend bits to your wardrobe. Uniqlo is always brilliant for fabric and quality. Sezane creates really timeless pieces. There are some great finds to be had on the high street. We’ll keep an eye out for you! xx 

Fave piece from Scott-Samuel? 

Alice - Mine has to be the X large woven basket. I love an over sized bag and this would fit everything in. It’s a gorgeous colour and the leather is a nice twist on a traditional basket.

Hannah - I love the gold cross body bag which I actually have and wear loads. I wear it day to evening and as it’s metallic it goes with every colour. It’s a great piece.

You can find Belle & Bunty on Insta and their Bridal Boutique Belle and Bunty here.