We were thrilled to see these images from the recent Boheme Workshops, a fine art workshop set in Santorini and featuring some incredible wedding dress inspiration for you! Each shoot created for the workshop was inspired by a different period in Greek art history. Today’s feature represents one of the earlier periods in Greek Art, known as the Geometric Period, which took place from 900 – 700BC, known for features such as geometric shapes, repetition of patterns and simplified clean lines. These two gowns, while contrasting in many ways, each highlight an artistic approach to dressing a bride: a feminine style of repeated patterns within a whimsical shape on the one hand, contrasted with sleek, clean lines on the other.
Read on for more from the Creative Director, Tahnee Sanders:
“Taking in the Santorini landscape, I could see these ideas everywhere; the repetition of endless white stairs, the clean lines of the Oia architecture, the patterns projected onto the washed white walls through shadow as the sun moved around the island. Along with these features, the Geometric Period also represented a time of great individualism and innovation in Greek art. As Greece hadn’t yet recovered from the Dark Age, there was a vacuum of influence during this period which meant Greek art began to distinguish itself from earlier styles.
Drawing on these sets of ideas, I selected two gowns. The first gown, by Greek-based designer Christos Costarellos, embodied geometric shapes, patterns, and repetition through its intricate lace bodice and full a-line skirt. The second gown, by New York’s Houghton, was more understated and modern, yet featured the clean lines and interesting cuts and angles seen in geometric art. I enjoyed imagining the personal styles of the brides who would choose these two very different gowns.
Despite being worlds apart both in design and origin, I loved that these gowns gave us a fresh opportunity to explore Greek art history and individualism in a completely new way.
I know I’ve gone on long enough – but I also loved the way Tara Spencer nailed this brief and explored the same ideas in her stationery suite. She combined the clean lines of type with more expressive calligraphy and drawing, contrasted black ink on the invitation with white ink on the envelope, and used a more modern surface in vellum but paired it with handmade paper.”
