Australians Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo are expanding their London-based couture house Ralph & Russo into a global luxury brand. Their fluid, elegant gowns are standouts on the red-carpet but their star reached an apotheosis when Meghan Markle wore a diaphanous dress for engagement portraits with Prince Harry. Another first for Ralph & Russo, was the launch of their debut prêt-à-porter range. Jeanne-Marie Cilento looks back at the highlights of the Spring/summer 2018 show. Photographed exclusively for DAM by Elli Ioannou and Kseniya Segina
The silk organza couture gown AW16 worn by Meghan Markle. Photo: Elli Ioannou |
However, American actor Meghan Markle choosing a Ralph & Russo creation for her official engagement pictures with Prince Harry has brought a new spotlight to their work and launched them on to the world's stage beyond the fashion arena. The floor-length dress is from their autumn/winter 2016 collection shown in Paris and has a sheer bodice decorated with glimmering golden embroidered leaves with a black, silk organza skirt, hand appliqued with silk tulle ruffles. It is estimated to have cost £47k while the ready-to-wear prices start at around £2,800 and go up to £15k.
Meghan Markle choosing a Ralph & Russo creation has launched the label on to the world's stage beyond the fashion arena
White silk crêpe chiffon
bodysuit,
slashed balloon sleeves & chiffon culottes.
Photo: Elli Ioannou
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Last September, British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush said she was pleased to welcome Ralph & Russo to the London Fashion Week schedule: "The craftsmanship behind their couture collection is a shining example of Britain’s artisan heritage, and I’m excited to see their debut ready to wear collection." Dressing Meghan Markle for her engagement pictures is not the first time, the designers have been linked to royal occasions. Both British Fashion Council chairman Natalie Massenet and actor Angleina Jolie wore Ralph & Russo suits for their investitures at Buckingham Palace. Beyoncé has worn costumes designed by them on tour and Gwyneth Paltrow wore a slim pink, one-shouldered dress finished with a large rosette for the Oscars. Actress Hailee Steinfeld wore a silken, ruffled gown at last year's Academy Awards where she presented an Oscar and Jennifer Lopez appeared at the 2017 Grammy Awards in a pale pink Ralph & Russo confection while Kirsten Dunst has sat in the front row of their couture show in Paris.
Remarkably, Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo have built their couture atelier into a luxury label and global powerhouse in a decade
Royal blue silk chiffon
evening
dress with cascading pleated frills.
Photo: Elli Ioannou
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While designer Tamara Ralph is the creative director of the brand, Michael Russo ~ her partner in business and life ~ is CEO. Ms Ralph says she always knew that she wanted to be part of the world of fashion as she is the fourth generation in her family to work in couture and fashion design. Her mother, grandmother and great-grand mother all created gowns for society ladies in Sydney. When Ralph was 10 years old they began to teach her about sewing, two years later she was making clothes for herself and friends. By the time she was 15 years old, Tamara Ralph was selling her designs to private clients and independent boutiques in Australia. She then went on to study at the Whitehouse Institute of Design before moving to London. Tamara Ralph first met Michael Russo by chance in London in 2003 when she was on holiday and he was working as a financial consultant. They fell in love and after a long distance relationship for a year, he bought her a ticket back to London and she began designing and making clothes on a small scale in the British capital.
Metallic plissé floral print evening
gown,
featuring asymmetric twist strap.
Photo: Elli Ioannou
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For their debut Ralph & Russo Spring/Summer 2018 prêt-à-porter collection, Ms Ralph wanted to mix both the traditional and contemporary, reinterpreting signature styles such as the little black dress and the classic tuxedo jacket. New techniques and fabric innovation include gold brocade transposed onto jet-black laminated tweed. Utilitarian jackets are juxtaposed with tightly-waisted feminine silhouettes and oversized outerwear such as the denim jacket reimagined in silk. The colour palette includes whites which contrast with dashes of red, electric metallic blues and blush while florals are offset with icy silver details.
For their debut Spring/Summer 2018 prêt-à-porter collection, Tamara Ralph mixed both the traditional and contemporary, reinterpreting signature styles
Metallic rose gold bonded silk crêpe
trench coat.
Photo: Kseniya Segina
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Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo, chose the vast Old Billingsgate market that overlooks the Thames, as the venue for their first ready-to-wear show. The 480-foot circular runway had long perspectives created by white lampposts imprinted with their R&R logo. The set design enhanced the luxury brand's new aesthetic from the dream of couture to the more urbane ready-to-wear collection that managed to be practical but not pragmatic. At the show’s finale, models posed by the lamposts and handsome waiters took to the runway carrying trays of cocktails and delicate canapes to serve guests.
This stylish and wearable
debut ready-to-wear collection will be stocked in the rapidly expanding Ralph & Russo international retail network.
Tap on photographs for full-screen slideshow
Cocktails after the celebratory debut ready-to-wear show at Old Billingsgate in London. Photograph: Elli Ioannou |
Flowers and tattoos: ice blue lamé shirt dress in floral
print, featuring bespoke crested buttons. Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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Waiters carrying cocktails on the gleaming 200 metre curving runway after Ralph & Russo's show in London. Photograph: Elli Ioannou |
Khaki double satin parachute jumpsuit with military details and tie belt. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
Detail of gold-embossed calf leather handbag with gold hardware. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
The canapes after Ralph & Russo's show were as elegant and creative as the collection. Photograph: Elli Ioannou |
Metallic midnight blue plissé evening
gown, featuring plunge neckline embellished with cascading frills and
crystal blue denim spheres. Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Artistic canapes reflected Tamara Ralph's refined design ethos at the ready-to-wear show at Old billingsgate in London. Photograph: Elli Ioannou |
Ice blue laminate silk chiffon multi
frill plissé gown with printed lamé belt.
Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Silk chiffon frill plissé gown with printed lamé belt on the runway in London.
Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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Dusky rose asymmetric cashmere blouse
with draped scarf detail and metallic rose gold silk crêpe
pencil skirt.
Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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On the runway, rose asymmetric cashmere
blouse with draped scarf detail and metallic rose gold bonded silk
crêpe pencil skirt. Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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Oversized black double sided jacquard floral printed cocktail coat, featuring frill sleeves and worn with a black silk crêpe bra and pencil skirt. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
Snow White embossed cotton belted trench. Photograph: Elli Ioannou |
Dusky rose silk organzino V-neck jumper
and metallic rose gold silk jacquard parka coat, featuring reversible
lavender silk jacquard interior. Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Metallic rose gold silk jacquard parka coat, featuring reversible
lavender silk jacquard interior and marching shiny boots. Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Snow white tulle evening gown and bodysuit, featuring gold bugle chevron embroidered borders. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
Sand-coloured silk jacquard utilitarian dress,
featuring crested buttons and floral designs in sunflower yellow,
metallic lavender and gunmetal shades. Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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Metallic silver bonded silk crêpe and white cashmere parka coat, featuring detachable sleeves and hood. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
Cornflower blue draped silk chiffon
evening gown, featured layered degradé frills.
Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Cloudy blue silk knitwear crop top and
high-waisted skirt, featuring tiered frills and crystal
embellishment. Photograph: Kseniya Segina
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Black hexagon lace tiered mini dress
embroidered with black, rose gold and gunmetal degradé crystals. Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Black embroidered mini dress with
laminated tweed edging, double organza square cut-out embroidery on a
glitter base, vinyl belt and asymmetric neckline. Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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Detail of black leather bag with rose gold feather design. Photograph: Kseniya Segina |
Black monogrammed silk crisp faille
parka with detachable hood and sleeves, adorned with organza cut
maitte lasse and chain embroidery.
Photograph: Elli Ioannou
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