I got to know designer Natalie Gladman at Madeline Isaac James a couple of years ago from bumping into her at various bridal trade shows, and had the opportunity to get to know her even better after she commissioned us to do her new website (which is of course a thing of beauty… *modest cough*).  Seriously though, we’re pretty proud of it – it has cool effects and uses some of the latest in web technology.  Anyway, that is NOT the point of this post, for those of you whose eyes are now glazing over.

When I think of fashion designers, I tend to imagine slightly frosty, uber-fashionably dressed, look-you-up-and-down divas who can shrivel your brain back into infancy with a stare.  So I’ve always been of two minds about whether I wanted fashion designers as web design customers – the sleepless nights and weeks of counselling didn’t really seem worth it.  BUT WAS I WRONG OR WHAT.  I’ve since dealt with two bridal fashion designers, one of whom was Natalie, and both experiences have been so pleasant, they’ve set the bar as Clients-Who-You-Normally-Only-Dream-Of.  The second designer is a bit under wraps at the moment, but I’ll talk about them in a few weeks once their new site is launched.

Natalie told me a story about one of her MIJ brides that sums up how beautiful her gowns are.  This particular bride, (due to be getting married within the month) was driving past the Madeline Isaac James Farnborough boutique when she spotted one of Natalie’s designs in the shop window.  Screeching to a stop, she ran into the shop and breathlessly insisted on trying on the sample in the window, which she fell instantly in love with.  She’d already bought her wedding dress, but ended up buying the MIJ dress to wear instead…!

Below are a few of my favourite MIJ designs. View Madeline Isaac James website for more.  Natalie’s also on Twitter – you can follow her here.