SOPHIE CHÉRIE'S TEA PARTY DRESS
Following the royal family capsule co-created with Victoria Strader, we are now thrilled to introduce the Sophie Chérie tea party.
In Victoria’s words and images :
My daughter Sophie has just turned four! To celebrate we designed a special dress and hosted a Sophie Chérie tea party dress! Join the fun and find inspiration for your own French inspired event.
The story behind the dress design
What a dream it has been to be able to collaborate with Charlotte Sy Dimby for the second time. Dressing my children has become a real passion, and to codesign a dress that I pray my granddaughters will one day wear, an honor. It has been so much fun to take initial ideas and to see the atelier turn them into the most precious piece.
The inspiration for the dress design evolved so naturally. Sophie is one of three children, the only girl, and it was extra special to lean into that femininity and start with the base of a beautiful pink fabric.
Born in Spring, we wanted to include flowers in Sophie’s dress. Hand embroidered upon the collar and weaved into the garland upon the smocking, they add romance to the design.
To make it utterly unique and special, we wanted to add a discreet and subtle name embroidery! We decided to place Sophie Chérie inside the dress itself for Sophie to cherish for years to come.
Luxury french patisserie Ladurée also served as a deep source of inspiration for the dress and party. It can be defined as the epitome of French elegance, it is the premier source of macarons in France. We introduced a touch of pastel green referring to the iconic ceiling color of the first Ladurée tea room at 16 rue Royale in Paris. The bow smocking is a wink to the precious decoration of the macarons boxes.
Raised in the United States but born in Paris, macarons have always been a favorite treat of mine. Ladurée, of course, my very favorites! I have wonderful memories of going to Ladurée locations all over. Before having children, my husband and I took a long weekend trip to New York City and bought a big box of colorful macarons to share.
A special memory of Sophie’s first trip to London in 2019 included a trip to the Covent Garden location, where at 16 months old, she had her very first macaron. The worker at the display found it all so sweet and suggested we take photos all over the shop. That tiny green bag is still in Sophie’s keepsakes.
I even dressed up Sophie as a macaron for a Halloween party a few years ago. As you can see, Ladurée macarons are much more than just a pretty treat for our family!
Bringing together all these sweet inspirations and memories gave birth to the Sophie Chérie dress. Et voilà :
The doll dress
We could not resist making a miniature matching doll outfit! A perfect replica of Sophie's dress with a hair bow, bloomer and travelling pouch too.
The accessories
A pretty dress deserves proper accessories and when we saw the final dress design we knew exactly the brands we wished to style the Sophie Chérie dress with.
Eva’s House gros grain peach sailor bow creates a lovely colour harmony with the dress fabric. Sober and chic, it adds a polished finishing touch to the look. Sophie has worn Eva’s House since the first days her hair could support a tiny clip! Keeping this tradition felt extra special to us! Shop here
L’Amour Shoes are another great favourite of the Strader family. Even before having my own daughter, my niece has been in L’Amour for years. My sons have worn the brand, too! The newest Rebecca Special occasion flats caught my eye immediately. With the little buckle and elegant shape they have a very European feel. After several attempts, it turns out that white or neutral shades are the best match with a peach dress. Shop here
The tea party
A special dress calls for a tea party! Four is an age where imaginative play runs wild for a child, and one of Sophie’s very favorite things to do is host her dolls and animals for tea!
It’s time to let our little guests know all about the tea party! Madeleine Hall, co-founder of the Charlotte and Burlington family club designed the sweetest invitations with hand painted illustrations! She created a sweet menu and darling heart cards too.
While waiting for the guests and macarons to arrive, we had to take advantage of the Texas Springtime sun! Sophie had such fun checking the growth of the hydrangeas on the front porch... Anytime Sophie wears a Charlotte Sy Dimby dress, she can’t help but twirl.
We have made such special memories through the design stages of the dress to the smiles from my daughter while wearing it. It’s our hope that this beautiful piece will provide many beautiful moments for your family, too! Our children are so dear, and that is the whole concept of the Sophie Chérie dress. Cherish these special times with your dear daughter!
Our doll and bear would be more than happy to design your invitations and menus, too. Please send an email to info@charlottesydimby.com
Meri Meri has also collaborated with the Parisian patisserie and macaron-making pros Ladurée on a sumptuous party range. The perfect decor for your next French inspired party. Shop here
Follow Victoria on Instagram : @victoriastrader
Visit her blog
Follow Eva on Instagram : @evashouse
Visit her website
Follow L'Amour Shoes on Instagram : @lamourshoes
Visit their website
Shop the royal capsule co-created with Victoria
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