Bead & pearl

Pearl and bead work sits softer than stone, weighs less, and photographs without the hard flare stone gives under a flash.

The lighter half of the trade

Stone reflects. Pearl glows. Under a photographer's flash in a hall that difference decides whether the neckline in your photographs reads as a design or as a patch of white. For receptions, engagements and anything that will be photographed indoors, bead and pearl is very often the better answer and is asked for less than it should be.

Weight, which matters more than people expect

Solid stone looks its best on a hanger and feels its worst four hours into a function, especially between March and June. Pearl work gives a great deal of the effect at a fraction of the weight, and on georgette or tissue it may be the only option that does not drag the blouse out of shape.

Set, like everything else

Every bead and pearl is stitched in individually. Strung work sewn down in lines is faster and it goes in one pull when a thread catches.

Ivory pearl on ivory or champagne, tone on tone, is the quietest work done here and one of the hardest to do well, because there is no colour to hide an uneven line.