It Was Only A Dream
Born on the Shores of Mauritius
Shell Belle Couture was born on the shores of the idyllic island of Mauritius, where Michelle lived and worked with her young family for several years. A beautiful and lasting relationship was formed with a family-run, highly skilled atelier, which remains the sole maker of her intricate designs to this day. ‘I wanted to create truly beautiful, heirloom pieces without the constraints of mass production. I felt that everything in my life and career had led me to this point. My relationship with Shoba, the atelier owner in Mauritius, is special and unique. We speak daily, supporting each other on this incredible journey as two women in business, designing and creating for women. I am proud that our friendship spans over 19 years. Our signature gold shell trim is an ode to our beautiful beginnings…’ — Michelle
The Desire for an Endless Summer…
Creator & Founder Michelle has been designing beautifully intricate pieces for over 30 years. Before establishing Shell Belle Couture in 2010, she worked as a Designer & Trend Consultant for many leading global brands and as a creative for the Paris trend agency Promostyl. Her love of vintage glamour is paired with a passion for precious details and a desire for an endless summer — synonymous with intricate attention to detail, couture techniques and appliqué lace. Michelle is the Creative Director behind the brand, aligning all from design to the photoshoots. She lives and runs Shell Belle Couture from a renovated chapel, circa 1882, on the dramatic North Cornwall coast, England. ‘Living and working by the ocean is an endless source of calm and inspiration. I love the wild romance of the coast and wanted to encapsulate that free-spirited, bohemian femininity in every piece.’ — Michelle
Meet The Founder
Michelle Blenkinsopp-Guild is the founder and creative force behind Shell Belle Couture, a luxury brand celebrated for its intricate craftsmanship and evocative, nostalgic designs and imagery. With a design career spanning over three decades, Michelle has worked as both a designer and trend consultant for leading global fashion houses and renowned Paris trend agencies. Her work is deeply rooted in a lifelong love for vintage elegance, delicate detailing and the romantic ideal of an endless summer, all of which shape the essence of Shell Belle Couture.
Shell Belle Couture was born on the shores of Mauritius in 2010, where Michelle lived and worked as a Creative Director for a couture brand. The pieces are still produced in the same Mauritius atelier today, whilst the UK headquarters are nestled within a beautifully renovated 19th Century chapel, dating back to 1882 — hidden away in a peaceful hamlet on England’s rugged North Cornwall coast.
I am endlessly captured by the breathtaking romance of my surroundings. The chapel is steeped in history, with love notes still etched into its ancient stone walls, each one a quiet reminder of moments gone by. Just a mile down the lane lies a wonderfully unspoilt National Trust bay, where dramatic cliffs meet the sea and nature remains gloriously wild. Whatever the season or the weather — beneath brooding skies or brilliant sunshine — the beach is my sanctuary, where the changing moods of the sea never fail to inspire. I am a hopeless romantic at heart.
Michelle Blenkinsopp-Guild · Founder & Creative Director
As an ethical trader and sustainable luxury brand, we are proud to create beautiful, timeless pieces to be treasured through your most precious occasions — from Bridal and your Jahez, to your Honeymoon and all the beautiful moments in between.
