Ladies and Gentlemen, the mistress of dresses: Ms Zoe Lem

The process of selecting the perfect dress for that magical wedding day is a challenge in its own. With 15 years of involvement as a fashion and celebrity stylist, Zoe Lem has launched a collection of dresses embracing vintage styles from the 1920s to the 1960s. 

Before choosing the perfect dress, the day begins with a consultation with Zoe. After identifying the bride’s body shape, be it pear-shaped or hourglass, she then takes into account the most flattering silhouette to maximise the bride’s shape, height and colouring.

Speaking from experience, Zoe says, “Many brides come with a decade that they love and are desperate to recreate but unfortunately it doesn’t always love them, so it is best to find the perfect shape from whichever era and then adapt it, style it to suit the bride style, taste and wedding ideas.”

Having worked as a freelance stylist to celebrities for over ten years, with the likes of Myleene Klass, Cat Deeley and Robbie Williams, Zoe has also shared her styling knowledge with television shows such as The Clothes Show, The Wright Stuff, The One Show and Channel 4’s Faking It.

How did this passion in vintage clothing all begin? Well, her mother was a big influence, loving clothes and fashion herself. “I was brought up on charity shops, markets and finding great bargains in unusual places. I am very inspired by vintage clothing and the 20s through to 50s.

If there was one article of clothing that every woman should own it’s a pair of magic knickers, Zoe advises; the ones that roll all the way up to your bra. It’s all about flaunting what you consider are your best assets and subtly camouflaging the rest.

Zoe looks to style-icon Marilyn Monroe on occasion for inspiration. Her sexy and feminine style embraced the concept of a voluptuous woman. This was one woman who did not shy away from her curves, but used it to her advantage.

In Zoe’s wise words to follow: “Just because a trend is out there does not mean you need to indulge. Stick to styles that suit your body shape.”

To find out more and decide whether you are more Audrey Hepburn or Elizabeth Taylor in style, browse through her collection for yourself here. 

Pooja Sahny
Photos: Courtesy of Ms Zoe Lem