“Always timeless and never predictable”: ahead of the wedding season, we spoke with Caroline to discover why “couture should never stand still.” www.carolinecastigliano.com
You have been at the forefront of luxury bridal design and evening-wear for over 35 years. Can you tell us a little about how you started out?
“I had been making clothes all my life, but after spending five years in the USA designing active sportswear under my brand Survival Kit, I was ready for a new direction. When I returned to London in 1991, a good friend suggested I look at bridal-wear, which was a market I hadn’t previously considered. Almost immediately, I noticed a gap there. There were very few designers creating beautifully-cut silk gowns with a strong emphasis on style and craftsmanship. That realisation led me to open my first store and launch Caroline Castigliano.”
What is it that particularly draws you to bridal and evening-wear?
“I have always been fascinated by structure, the female form, and how clothing can make a woman look – and, more importantly, feel. I love how fabric, cut, and construction can transform not just how a woman looks, but how she carries herself. What began as a deep respect for craftsmanship quickly became a lifelong pursuit of creating gowns that empower rather than overwhelm. Thirty five years later, that philosophy continues to guide everything I do. Bridal and eveningwear sit at the most emotional moments in a woman’s life. I’ve always been drawn to designing for occasions that carry meaning, pieces that become part of someone’s memory, not just their wardrobe.”
With your signature corsetry and undergarments, your approach to design is almost architectural. Why are the foundations of a dress so important?
“Because beauty begins beneath the surface. Corsetry is the invisible language of couture. It sculpts, supports, and allows a woman to move with confidence. When the foundation is perfect, everything else flows effortlessly.”
As you’re also famed for your clean lines and for timeless style, do you agree that less always more?“Absolutely. Restraint is powerful. When design is distilled to its purest form, every line matters. Clean silhouettes allow craftsmanship, fit, and fabric to speak, and that’s where true luxury lives.”
Do you have a favourite gown from your collections?
“My favourite gown is always the next one. Each design reflects where I am creatively at that moment: my evolution, my curiosity, my response to modern women. Couture should never stand still.”
You have dressed plenty of famous faces. Is there anyone you would love to dress in the future?
“I’ve been very fortunate to dress extraordinary women from many worlds. What excites me most isn’t fame, but individuality, women with a strong sense of self. Those are always the most compelling muses.”
Are there any emerging bridal trends you are particularly excited about?
“I’m drawn to a return to purity: refined silhouettes, thoughtful construction, and subtle drama. Brides today want authenticity. They’re choosing pieces that feel personal, intelligent, and enduring rather than overtly decorative.”
Do you have any tips for brides searching for their dream dress?
“The most important things is to always trust how a dress makes you feel, not how it photographs. The right gown should give you quiet confidence, and feel like an extension of you, not a costume.”
Your couture gowns continue to be in high demand, season after season. Can you talk us through the design process?
“Couture begins with conversation. We listen, sketch, drape, and refine. Every gown is built by hand, layer by layer, fitting by fitting. It’s an intimate collaboration where precision meets emotion.”
Your embellishment is always stunning and intricate. What is the longest a dress has ever taken you to make?
“Some gowns take over a thousand hours. True craftsmanship cannot be rushed, especially when every stitch, embellishment, and seam is executed by hand with intention.”
And finally, what can we expect to see from you in 2026?
“This year, you will see a continued evolution of modern couture for my gowns. Refined, confident, and purposeful. Expect sculptural silhouettes, innovative foundations, and a quiet strength that reflects the modern woman. My aim is to always be timeless, never predictable.”
For more information or to book an appointment with Caroline, visit www.carolinecastigliano.com
