Image Credit: Cristina Tridente
Have you seen the stunning image of Danni Minogue this week? Shining bright, ethereal and mermaid-like, she stepped out and turned heads in a mesmerising blue number for the season 2 premiere of I Kissed a Boy.
In case you missed it…
But behind the spotlight – and this striking custom look – is Adelaide’s own Cristina Tridente, and she’s no stranger to styling Danni.
“We’ve probably worked with [Danni] for about five years now on custom looks, through The Masked Singer to I Kissed a Boy, I Kissed a Girl. They’ve all been custom looks that we’ve collaborated on with her and her stylist,” says Cristina.
The story behind the infamous blue gown? It was all about silhouette and shimmer.
“It almost looks aquamarine, and the material is like liquid metal. We wanted to show off her legs and snatch in the waist,” she explains.
Cristina is the director of Couture Love Madness, a bespoke bridal and formal wear label that’s been crafting timeless designs for the past fourteen years. Known for her low-volume, high impact pieces, exclusivity is at the heart of her brand.
“We’re made to measure – we’re not a big production company. So I usually only buy enough fabric for two to three pieces,” she admits.
Her approach to fashion is intuitive, letting the materials find their match with the right person, and the process has attracted the likes of some serious A-list celebs.
“You either design with something in mind, or you’ve got a particular idea and then you source the fabric or you source the fabric and then you design,” she says.
“I tend to go the second way. I’ll buy the fabric that I can see a few different styles in, and then when you meet the right person, kind of decide what to do with it. You can visualise it from the fabric.”
Her celebrity clientele is broad. From Danni to Jules Sebastian, The Veronicas, Ricki-Lee, Sophie Monk, and even Adelaide’s own Rebecca Morse, Cristina’s creations have strutted their stuff on red carpets all over the country. Each look is made to match the wearer’s vibe, and that’s exactly what she loves most.
“I just love that everyone has their own vibe!” she gushes.
“Ricki-Lee is so beautiful and so fun to work with. I love all her curves and accentuating that. Then The Veronicas, they’re all about chain skirts and bralettes. They’re little pocket rockets, so talented and so bloody lovely,” she laughs.
And Sophie Monk, “She loves little sexy numbers. She’s always fun and has such a great energy.”
As for how her designs make their way onto celebrities, we have the inside scoop. The secret, “Reach out to stylists!” and make sure you’re ready for a speedy turnaround and an improvisation brain at the ready.
“I think the best thing you can do is be reliable. The stylist needs to trust that at the end of the day you can get the product done how you say it’s going to be done, to the quality you say it’s going to be done,” Cristina reveals.
While she keeps things strictly professional and client details hush hush, Cristina did let slip on one not-so-secret secret about Danni.
“She’s honest to God like the nicest human I’ve ever met. We did some fittings in person last year when I went to Melbourne and she’s just so lovely.”
Homegrown powerhouse Cristina Tridente and her talent continue to shine on the celebrity stage. And – in another secret slip – she’s a lovely person, deserving of every bit of recognition she gets.
WHAT: Cristina Tridente of Couture Love Madness
WHERE: 1/260 The Parade, Norwood SA 5067
HOURS: Friday 10am – 5pm, & Saturday 10am -3pm
For her website, click here.
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