We are incredibly proud that the Daalarna gowns are now available at more than 30 international retailers worldwide, including bridal boutiques in the USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Ukraine. In this column, we introduce you to some of our retailers from all around the world. This time, owner Andrea Dineen answered our questions about Sash & Bustle, their incredibly stylish bridal shop in Toronto, Canada.
What is the story of your beautiful boutique?
Sash & Bustle has been around since 2009, and I was the main stylist at the boutique from early 2013. For me, it started as a wonderful relaxed job, and I fell in love with styling and working with brides. My job became surprisingly rewarding, something I never could have imagined before working in bridal! When the opportunity came up to become the owner of Sash & Bustle, my sister Vanessa and I knew that this could be the big break we had been waiting for. We have such entrepreneurial spirits, and as children, we would dream up different business ideas together. Always involving fashion and retail, of course!
When we gained ownership of the business in May 2014, we inherited a unique collection that we knew more brides deserved the chance to try on!
From day one, we were inspired to grow and to give more Toronto brides the chance to have a relaxed bridal shopping experience, complemented by a standout collection of gowns. One of our first goals was to style our brides from head to toe and become more of a one-stop shop! We now can proudly say we have styled countless brides and bridal parties!
the owners,
VANESSA AND ANDREA DINEEN
What is the concept behind it?
We always strive to provide a natural process with low pressure; we want the experience to feel right! We like to have as little rules as possible and just make it fun! At Sash & Bustle, we realise that the whole bridal shopping idea can be a little intimidating to many women, so we want them to feel at home and taken care of throughout the whole shopping experience.
We are great at being your stand in friend if you happen to be shopping alone, and we can keep you on track if you are shopping with a group.
How would you describe the style of the bridal gowns in your salon? Could also you mention some brands?
You will find a little bit of everything, but always with a twist. We focus on alternative bridal with a modern edge but still catering to the traditions behind bridal. Sash & Bustle loves to make our brides feel unstoppable! Carol Hannah, Truvelle, Tara Lauren, Blush by Hayley Paige and Willowby by Watters are some designers that we carry in our boutique. They each have a little spark that fuels the #sashandbustlebride!
How did you discover Daalarna Couture, and what is the reason you have chosen the brand?
We discovered Daalarna during our bi-annual buying trip in New York City. The Daalarna Couture collection stood out amongst the sea of bridal.
With the impeccable craftsmanship, feminine designs and laces out can’t find anywhere else, we knew Daalarna would be the perfect addition to the S&B collection.
What kind of Daalarna dresses are the most popular ones in your salon?
OCN 415 is a shop fave and a #sashandbustlebride fave! The illusion mesh is so seamless that the applique looks like it is just magically placed on our brides – it is amazing! From the WHISPER collection, WSP 616 is the perfect dress for a bride who loves a classic crepe but with a little something special.
What do you think is the reason your brides love Daalarna gowns?
Simply, Daalarna just exudes romance, and what else could you ask for in your bridal gown?!
How would you describe your customers?
Our bride is a modern woman who wants to look and feel like a bride on her wedding day, but not necessarily in a traditional sense. She wants to feel like herself on her big day, and feel special too. She’s fairly relaxed and down to earth.
Do you have any unique/interesting wedding traditions in your country?
Toronto is such a diverse city that we come across many brides with different traditions and cultural practices. We have had many brides wear two gowns on her big day, for example; a traditional red dress for a Chinese ceremony and a more westernised “classic” ivory gown for their nuptials or reception.
Let’s suppose that an international couple is planning a destination wedding in your country. Would you be able to recommend to them some of your favourite venues or vendors in your area?
Of course! We love all things weddings. Toronto has so many amazing wedding venues! The Broadview Hotel is the newest hotspot and right down the road from S&B! The Berkeley Church is a popular venue with our brides which fuses contemporary and traditional vibes together. With outstanding 17ft stained glass windows- this venue just amazing and a fave of ours. The Distillery District is another venue spot that resonates with our brides.
It provides a rustic, historical yet modern downtown vibe that is quintessential Toronto.
Why do you like weddings in general?
Celebrating love is a pretty powerful thing. Being able to be a small part of a bride’s day is something we never take for granted. We are always so honoured to play a small part in our brides’ wedding memories.
Take a look at the Sash & Bustle studio’s website by clicking here! You can also check Daalarna’s international retailers by clicking here!
