The BIG INTERVIEW with La

Novia’s Liliana Dabic

Your Scottish Wedding: How did you first start working in bridalwear? Was there a particular moment when you knew you wanted to do this as a career?

Liliana Dabic: I have always loved fashion since I can remember. My mum used to make clothes for me and was a huge influence. I was so fascinated with the construction of garments and how a piece of fabric could transform into something amazing. After studying fashion design I knew I wanted to create luxury garments. I eventually opened a small boutique in Morningside in 1996, producing my own collections of ladies’ eveningwear. I always dreamed of specializing in bridalwear and with this experience I finally gained the confidence to rebrand my business and establish La Novia bridal boutique in 2007. A dream come true!

YSW: We know that La Novia stocks designers including Élysée and Modeca but when did you launch your own Oscar Lili and Liliana Dabic lines?

LD: I first launched the Liliana Dabic bridal line in 2005 alongside my eveningwear collection and then it expanded to become La Novia’s very first in-house collection.

Oscar Lili was launched in 2016 and the brand has its very own boutique in Morningside as well as being sold through La Novia. I wanted to introduce a versatile collection of bridalwear including separate pieces, that would allow brides to get creative, mixing and matching their own customised look.

YSW: What is the inspiration behind the latest Oscar Lili collection?

LD: Our latest collection takes inspiration from nature. We combined laid-back silhouettes, unexpected textures and organic botanical laces; taking inspiration from the beautiful Scottish landscape. We want to create a collection of effortless bridal gowns for the modern bride that can be worn anywhere, whether it is a woodland, beach or more traditional venue.

YSW: Do you have a favourite gown from the Oscar Lili line? What makes it your stand-out dress?

LD: The ‘Grace’ dress. This colourful wedding dress is for our brides who want something totally different! It is made from a unique wildflower inspired lace, which our boho brides love. The voluminous sleeves and floaty A-line silhouette make it a beautifully easy to wear style, versatile for any wedding style or season. bold, modern twist. They love luxury details which they can customise to express their individuality, and aren’t afraid to make a statement with their gown. waste. We also work closely with our suppliers to source the best quality sustainable and recycled fabric options. Our priority is creating beautiful, bespoke wedding dresses that have a minimal impact on the environment.

YSW: Where did you draw inspiration from for the latest Liliana Dabic collection and do you have a favourite?

LD: I took inspiration from elegant and timeless bridal styles and the collection has a vintage feel which is updated with bold, contemporary details. The ‘Amy’ dress with the ‘Neve’ overlay is my favourite look from the collection as it is two looks in one. This is a classic Duchess satin ballgown with a chic Bardot neckline that makes a statement on its own but also allows the bride to express her individuality by adding the vibrant skirt overlay for a modern twist.

YSW: What is your best tip to brides when looking for their wedding dress?

LD: Allow yourself plenty of time before the wedding to start looking for your dress. purchasing a wedding dress is such a special experience and should be enjoyable - a short timeframe can cause unnecessary stress! Our brides often have a couple of consultations with us before ordering. We love taking the extra time to make sure every part of the design is perfect and that they really have found the one.

YSW: Who is the one celebrity bride you wish you could have designed for and why?

LD: I always loved Nicole Kidman’s style and how she goes against the grain with fashion. I found her bridal gowns really interesting because she opted for such unexpected choices which express her individuality. She also has the ability to carry off many styles and for a designer, having a versatile model makes the possibilities endless.

YSW: What’s next for La Novia?

LD: We’ve had a challenging few years and are just so excited to be back up and running again so we can focus on our brides. We’re introducing some amazing new ready-to-wear collections to the boutique - including Le Papillon by Modeca and Casablanca Bridal. Our main focus for 2023 is to invest more in sustainability when producing our in-house collections - we are looking into memberships with The Soil Association as well as expanding our fabric supplies to include even more innovate textiles and eco-friendly alternatives.

YSW: How would you describe the Oscar Lili and Liliana Dabic bride? Is there a certain woman who opts for one of your designs?

LD: Specialising in bridal separates, Oscar Lili has something for the unique bride who steps outside the box of traditional trends - she has a fun and free-spirited, boho style.

Our Liliana Dabic collection is for brides who love a timeless look with a

YSW: We know sustainability is a driving force at La Novia. How does the boutique’s design and production processes help with your eco-friendly standards?

LD: We create our in-house collections using traditional dressmaking techniques with a zero-waste approach, and restyle our samples from past seasons to ensure no gowns are discarded. Our gowns are made-to-measure for each individual bride to minimise fabric

Don’t forget

As well as Liliana Dabic and Oscar Lili, La Novia also stocks bridal designers Modeca, Le Papillon by Modeca, Casablanca Bridal, Étoile and Élysée.

lanovia.co.uk