The latest wedding gown collections are presented every year in New York, but there are only a few selected bridal designers that are eagerly waited. These top designers set the real trends in wedding dresses.
- Pricilla of Boston
The oldest most influential wedding designer is the Pricilla of Boston house, founded by Priscilla Kidder in 1945. The company became renowned for the quality of its creations as the dresses were made by hand in a factory in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The original factory is still functional and you can tour the facilities in order to be the witness of the gown making process.
Pricilla of Boston weeding gowns quickly became the gold standard for elegant brides. The dresses were recognized for their extraordinary silks, hand beadwork and French laces. In 1956, the house designed the bridesmaid dresses for Grace Kelly`s wedding, and in the following six years it dressed three Presidential daughters for their wedding. The most famous creation is Tricia Nixon`s gown of lace appliqué to English net.
Pricilla of Boston was the first that transformed her name and brand in a status symbol, influencing every bridal designer that followed. Pricilla Kidder, the founder, retired in 1993 at the venerable age of 75 and died at the age of 86.
The company is now owned by May Company and has expanded into sister lines (Platinum by Priscilla, Vineyard and Jewel) in order to satisfy the needs of every type of bride whether traditional, luxurious, modern or eclectic.
- Vera Wang
Vera Wang revolutionized modern American weddings and her dresses are among the most trendsetting creations in this industry. Vera Wang style is always a hit. Consequently, her gowns are the most mentioned, searched and inspirational.
The opening of Vera Wang`s first bridal salon in New York in 1990 meant the turning point in bridal industry as she showed the world the modern bride: elegant, high-fashioned and innovative.
Before becoming a fashion icon, Vera Wang attended elite schools, was a figure skater, spent sixteen years as one of Vogue`s fashion editors and then worked for Ralph Lauren. Vera Wang decided to enter this niche due to the lack of selection when she tried to plan her own wedding. After her first collection in 1990, the Vera Wang brand became synonymous with exquisite bridal fashion and always a first choice for the rich and famous.
Vera Wang`s aim is to design the perfect dress for each of the five type of brides: traditionalist, modernist, individualist, romanticist and minimalist. And she succeeds every time. In addition, her brand continuously develops and becomes a full lifestyle brad as it includes ready wear clothing, perfumes, wedding stationery, elegant jewelry and housewares.
- Amsale
Ethiopian Amsale Aberra started sawing her own clothing to save money, but this transformed into passion so she moved to New York and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Like Wang, she was disappointed by the lack of sophistication when she wanted to but her wedding gown. She decided to remedy this situation and placed an ad in the newspaper announcing she offers custom made bridal dresses. From the very beginning she used fine fabrics and quality craftsmanship. Soon, the small business grew and she displayed gowns in America`s most luxurious bridal salons.
The quintessence of Amsale style is captured in the words “Forever Modern”, which refers to the perfect combination between tradition and modern style. A simple while silk strapless wedding dress with a blue sash is one of her most famous models and revolutionized the industry.
- Monique Lhuillier
Born in Philipines, Monique Lhuillier studied at a Swiss boarding school and at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Not content about finding a stylish modern gown for her wedding, she started to create her own gowns.
Being both sexy and bridal, her creations are famous for blending classic materials, particularly lace, with fashion forward styles. Britney Spears and Heidi Montag are just a few of the famous brides that walked down the aisle with her dresses. Monique Lhuillier designs also red carpet gowns.
- Reem Acra
Reem Acra stands for opulent royal gowns with intricate embroidery. The Lebanese Reem Acra was discovered by a fashion editor and was able to show her first collection in only 10 days. She decided to be a fashion designer and studied in Paris and at F.I.T in New York.
Revealed in 1997, her first bridal line made her career take off. Acra`s dresses are unabashedly embellished, formal and sophisticated. Her gowns are famous for their metallic embroidery and intricate beadwork in Swarovski crystals and seed pearls.
- Carolina Herrera
Born in Venezuela, Carolina Herrera can be considered the grand dame of the inspirational bridal gowns designers. Known for her refined style and personal grace, Herrera founded her company in 1980. Since its beginning, the brand designed bridal, but also formal clothes and day wear. Among her high-class clients are Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Rennee Zellweger.
A perfect mixture between intricacy and simplicity is found in every timeless Carolina Herrera dress.
- Oscar de la Renta
Celebrities and wealthy clients are fascinated by the creations of the one and only Oscar de la Renta. The only man on the list of trendsetting bridal designer, de la Renta was born in 1932 in the Dominican Republic and has always been an art lover. He moved to Spain, become the apprentice of the legendary Balenciaga, then moved to Paris and worked for Lanvin, Elizabeth Arden and Dior.
An Oscar de la Renta wedding gown is characterized by couture craftsmanship, charm, femininity and high attention to details as he uses embroidered organza and lace, but also Latin influenced flounces and ruffles.
