IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE BIRTHDAY GOWN
Our birthday gown continues to be a best-seller since it launched last year and so we sat down with our founder Steph to talk through her inspiration behind the design and why it is currently her favourite maxi dress from the spring/summer collection.
WHY DID YOU CALL IT THE BIRTHDAY GOWN?
We launched this dress in November 2022, which was Rooh’s two-year anniversary so happy birthday to us! And what better way to celebrate than to launch a statement dress that is a true expression of our brand, and also myself at the time.
WHAT’S YOUR INSPIRATION BEHIND THE DESIGN?
Our beautiful baby boy Jaye was due in November so I wanted to design a dress to celebrate my pregnancy and give something to other pregnant mamas out there who want to feel elegant and sexy at the same time. Our birthday gown puts a growing bump on show in a classic way, whilst the loose and free-flowing fabric means it’s comfortable to wear as well.
WHY DID YOU GO FOR ORANGE OMBRE?
Orange has always been one of my favourite colours. It’s a mix of red which represents joy and yellow which represents happiness. Those feelings were ever present in the months leading up to Jaye’s birth and I wanted to show off those colours in this dress. There’s something about the colour orange too right? It’s vibrant, warm and exciting and is totally transpersonal - meaning this dress is perfect to wear all year round.
The ombre effect was an exciting technique I wanted to try, and I love the result. It adds that extra wow factor to this gown, making the dress more dynamic and bright. This dress was to be a showstopper for me and I feel the light-to-dark colour effect really makes our birthday gown stand out.
HELLO AGAIN PUFFY SLEEVES! TELL US MORE ABOUT THE DESIGN ITSELF
This was one of my easiest designs to date. I wanted something voluminous and grand so went for a floor-grazing tiered hemline, with lots of beautiful free flowing fabric that sways as you move. The silk-cotton blend drapes perfectly so is flattering for all shapes. If you know me, you know I love a puffy sleeve (I mean just look at other pieces in our collection, like the Esha which was our first design, the Jasmine or the Iris)! So puffy sleeves were an absolute must in this dress, as I feel like they add a feminine touch but can be a bold look as well and elevate a dress from a simple maxi to something unique and striking. I chose a deep v neckline which is versatile and also sexy - again being pregnant I wanted to put a focus on the magic of a woman’s body and what we can do whilst still being our vibrant and sexy selves. The cut around the body also meant that it fits around a pregnant bump but is so versatile you can wear it at any time and it still looks flattering. The deep v at the back also adds an alluring and sensual element to this dress while remaining tasteful.
The birthday gown was designed as an occasion dress, so perfect to wear at a wedding, event or out to dinner but it is also so versatile. You can pin the v neck for example to lift the neckline and wear it during the day, think a picnic or out to lunch - it’s my favourite vacation day dress for example!
HOW DO WE GET OUR HANDS ON IT?
You can shop it online in orange ombre here and now also in sun ombre here, in sizes small, medium and large. However, we know this dress is flattering for all shapes and sizes so get in touch if you would like to purchase it in another size.
Browse our Birthday Gown here.
