Who Is Rachel Gilbert? The Australian Designer Behind the Gowns

Rachel Gilbert is one of the names Australian women reach for when an event actually matters. The Sydney label has spent close to two decades on a single idea, that an evening dress should be built like architecture, and it has made hand embellishment and internal corsetry its signature along the way. Here is who she is, what the house is known for, and how to buy it.

Who is Rachel Gilbert?

Rachel Gilbert is an Australian fashion designer who founded her namesake label in Sydney in 2007, after training at the Whitehouse Institute of Design. She started with eveningwear and built the brand on sculptural, heavily worked gowns. The house is now carried internationally at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Harrods, which is a fair shorthand for where it sits in the market.

What Rachel Gilbert is known for

Three things, mostly. Hand embellishment, done in-house, so the beading and embroidery sit exactly where the body needs light. Internal corsetry, which shapes the bust and waist before the fabric even does its job. And drape, the hand-worked panels that give a Rachel Gilbert gown its movement. Put together, they are the reason the gowns photograph the way they do and hold their line through a long night. The Mira Gown and the Florentine Gown are good examples of the house at full volume.

Beyond the gown

The label has grown past eveningwear. Recent collections bring tailored suiting, draped jersey separates, and a considered bridal offer into the same world. A Rachel Gilbert wardrobe now runs from a sharp wool blazer like the Sergio Blazer to a fully beaded column gown, which makes the brand easier to wear across a calendar rather than once a season.

Where to buy Rachel Gilbert

Luxury Handbags stocks Rachel Gilbert with worldwide shipping and authenticity verification on every piece. Start with the full Rachel Gilbert collection, or narrow to designer dresses and the Bridal and Wedding Guest Edit. If you are weighing the house against its neighbours, read our guide to brands like Rachel Gilbert and our note on how to wear Rachel Gilbert.

Frequently asked questions

When was Rachel Gilbert founded?

Rachel Gilbert founded her Sydney label in 2007.

Is Rachel Gilbert Australian?

Yes. The house is based in Sydney and designed in Australia.

Is Rachel Gilbert a luxury brand?

Yes. It is a high-end eveningwear label, largely hand-finished and stocked at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Harrods.