Bringing her glamorous designs all the way from Turkey, Ozlem Suer has introduced the Doha fashionistas to her new bridal collection. Inspired by historical Pera’s streets and architecture with modern and romantic touch, Blanche de Pera was launched to a packed house at a recent solo show at Shangri-La by Suer, one of the pioneers of Turkish fashion.
“Prepared based on the line between past and future of Pera, which we have witnessed in spirit and glory, in this collection three main themes stand out: royal romantic, Hollywood trine and Victorian purity,” says Suer, explaining the inspiration behind the collection.
These three themes, she says, are interpreted with a vision of avant-garde luxury. They included v-collars, layers skirts, lace tops and transparent embroideries defying the time. One of her trendiest and best-selling concept of 2017, Hollywood Glamour reveals itself with dramatic looks and epic details in silk, tulle and strong lace motifs on the shoulder.
“Hit pieces of the collection are peplum tops made with sequin tulle in a vintage and jewelling atmosphere. Vintage belts and two-piece wedding gowns reflect Blanche de Pera’s eclectic spirit,” says the Turkish designer.
A large number of fashion enthusiasts and people related to fashion industry business attended the show. Suer’s select collection of wedding dresses and evening gowns are already available at leading outlets in Doha.
The show was divided into two parts with a soulful jazz performance by a local singer in between. The two different sides of Blanche de Pera were showcased in the two halves of the show and Suer received an ovation from the audience when she stepped out on the runway surrounded by models donning her new bridal collections.
The second half of the show displayed the other pieces of the collection, such as transparent and embroidered dresses shining with special details and fringes.
“The embroideries made with Art Nouveau effect are for elegant and magnificent brides. Lace bias completes tulle kaftans. Fluffy skirt wedding gowns, which are indispensable for luxurious places, are completed with handmade hair accessories and veils,” says Suer.
“French laces, handmade 3D flowers, silk tulle and chiffons of the Blanche de Pera collection are the pieces of a white story written at Pera in the belle epoque period. Hair accessories specially embroidered by hand are the complimentary pieces of this glamorous story,” adds the designer, elaborating the details of each idea in the latest collection.
“I have my collections sold at more than 100 outlets all over the world and here in Qatar Blue Salon, Glamour and Fifty One East stock our collection. We have mainly three lines, which are evening wear, ready-to-wear and bridal collection,” says Suer, talking to media after the show.
The white collection is also complemented by ivory and for her inspirations Suer says it varies from time to time. “Sometimes it is music and sometimes it is cinema, such as Hollywood. But for my wedding collections, the inspiration mostly comes from the stories of celebrity women,” says Suer.
She says her ‘romantic lines’ are most popular back in Turkey. As she always uses silk tulle and lace, the Turkish brides like them and choose her dresses.
“As [the bridal collections] are made with high quality silky fabric, they always generate interest back in Turkey and that can be the main selling point,” says the designer.
The wedding collection, she says, is a personal tale with every moment full of happiness, beginning from what has been lived, making you dream of what you will live, shedding a light on your magical future, turning the impossible into reality.
In Qatar, Suer says most people choose her evening dresses more; however, she is set to promote her bridal collection as well. And the show was part of the effort. “I want to expand my presence here in Qatar and make the brand more recognisable. We also want to expand to the GCC market but we are at present focusing on Qatar,” says Suer.
The Ozlem Suer designer brand appears on Turkish and world fashion platforms each season with collections that have different inspiration stories and that result in multi-perceptual audience stories. The designs have been variously described as avant-garde, neo-romantic, experimental, conceptual, and inter-disciplinary.
Besides fashion performances, the brand displays solo or collective performances worldwide by art installations that synthesise different disciplines from a conceptual point of view.
The designer brand meets fashion followers in over 150 prestige concept boutiques and multi-store malls in Turkey and worldwide with readymade clothing containing multi-combination alternatives from day to nigh-time, night costumes for red-carpet parties, bridal gowns for wedding ceremonies, and custom designs.
The brand is also followed by celebrities and is high on the fashion agenda with the creative spurts it has each season.
The Nisantas? flagship store of the Ozlem Suer designer brand features all collections by the designer. The 1000-metre square design experience centre — which opens its doors to all fashion and art lovers, besides shoppers — also provides a means for an escape at Ozlem’s Bistrot, situated in the garden covered with magnolia trees, providing the ideal setting for an enjoyable cup of coffee.
Suer started her fashion and design venture 30 years ago. Besides her unique collections inspired by different stories each season, she also realises solo and group performances of art installations where she combines different disciplines with a conceptual perception.
Having graduated from Textiles Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Marmara University in Istanbul, Suer continued her education with a Master’s degree and a PhD at the Mimar Sinan University. She is currently giving lectures on Fashion Design at this university as an associate professor.
Suer is one of the two designers representing Turkey at the International Colour and Concept Board since 1997. She holds seminars and workshops on the colour and trend outputs of the meetings two years ahead.



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