As exquisitely made as ever, Carolina Herrera’s recently runway-revealed Spring 2014 collection introduces a few exciting twists to the renowned designer’s classic silhouettes and sumptuous fabrics. A delicate lace overlay lends sweetness to a sleek mermaid silhouette; long lace sleeves are perfect for a grand cathedral ceremony; perfectly scalloped edges create intrigue in an otherwise traditional ball gown; and metallic-accent appliqués seem to bloom larger as they travel from bodice to hem. There’s plenty more magic in Herrera’s newest gown group—enjoy some of our favorites right here, and, for an in-person experience, schedule your appointment for this week’s Carolina Herrera Spring 2014 trunk show at Joan Pillow Bridal Salon.
This week, Now & Forever Bridal Boutique welcomes a very special guest—the insanely talented Hayley Paige—for three days of Spring 2013 glamour and gorgeousness. The fun kicks off with Now & Forever’s Hayley Paige Bridal Bliss event on Thursday, Jan. 24, featuring chilled Champagne, scrummy nibbles, and, best of all, a preview of the super-hot designer’s much-lauded Spring 2013 collection, hosted by none other than the lovely Hayley Paige herself. On Friday and Saturday, Paige sticks around to offer personalized gown customization and styling tips, at a two-day trunk show that’s bound to draw brides in droves—which means you’d better make your
appointment right about now!
Then sit back and enjoy HWB’s exclusive chat with rising star and JLM Couture darling Hayley Paige (who, we’ve gotta say, is just about as sweet as her gowns are drop-dead gorgeous).
Houston Wedding Blog:How did you get your start in bridal design?
Hayley Paige: The bridal design process is not only extremely heartfelt and feminine, but there is a marvelous sense of fairytale. I grew up idolizing Disney princesses and a grandmother who taught me how to sew and bake at a very young age. Design was a natural and inescapable practice.
Prior to coming on board at JLM Couture in August of 2011, I dabbled in ready-to-wear, but solidified my main attraction to the wedding industry by designing for Melissa Sweet and Marchesa at Priscilla of Boston. Bridal is my shtick, and when I had the opportunity to come to JLM, there was a natural sense of creative magnetism and a prospect for a niche aesthetic. We launched the first Hayley Paige season that October. It was a fast and fabulous start!
HWB: What are some of the signature qualities or features of the Hayley Paige bridal collection?
HP: I strive for the collection to have personality and enthusiasm, so I embrace a lot of textural charm. I also focus on an execution of balance between fanciful and polished. Whether it’s applying a delicate eyelet trim to sheer organza flounces or pairing a plunging neckline with a ballet ballgown skirt, the collection explores the most sophisticated aspects of femininity and also dabbles into edgier elements. The look is lively, fresh and happily refined.
HWB: Tell us a little about your spring 2013 gowns—what’s wonderful about this season?
HP: I had a lot of fun with beaded boleros and interchangeable skirts last season, so I will definitely continue to incorporate that type of versatility into the upcoming collection. I also hope to make a strong statement with regards to textural juxtapositions like strong versus soft, twinkle versus matte, and modern vesus organic. You can count on oodles of chunky beading, sheer elements and ombré accents of color.
HWB: What are a few of your favorite Hayley Paige Spring 2013 gowns? What do you love about them?
HP: Guindon, the striped organza ball gown, was my favorite gown from last season. I am ignited by gowns that push the envelope and are aesthetically directed for brand definition. There is a decent amount of style saturation in the industry, so it’s important to focus on a fresh presentation and take a few risks. As in love and relationships, reliability is important, but it’s the spontaneity and wow factor that give you those butterflies in your stomach.
HWB: What are you looking forward to most with your visit to Now & Forever Bridal Boutique this week?
HP: Getting better acquainted with the Houston bride! I love having different demographics to learn from and appreciate. Bridal design not just about creativity and delivering an aesthetic, there is a psychological factor in truly understanding what type of bride you are catering to; who she is and what will keep her on her toes.
Glamour’s Instagram feed of 2013 gowns making their debut at the recent New York Bridal Market garnered lots and lots of attention from couture-obsessed brides-to-be. But no gown got more love in less time than Winnie Couture’s stunning “Esme” mermaid gown, which tallied up a whopping 10,000 ♥’s in just three hours.
Behold that amazing gown, along with a few more of our newly unveiled 2013 favorites from the exceptionally talented Winnie Chlomin, whose internationally beloved-by-brides design house is now based in Beverly Hills—but got its start right here in Houston, with the Winnie Couture Houston Flagship Salon.
See a Winnie Couture gown that drives you wild with wanting? Hold tight, lovelies. The new dresses will hit Winnie’s Houston salon right around December. We can’t think of a better gift for the holidays!
Are they ALL the fall 2013 wedding gowns we fell in love with, following this past weekend’s unveilings at New York Bridal Market? ’Course not! That would take way more than one lil’ ol’ blog post. But, from Lazaro’s lacy overlay to Badgley Mischka’s vintage for the modern age, to Amsale’s classic elegance to Claire Pettibone’s exquisite back detail (and more!), these are just some of the fall 2013 bridal styles that simply knocked us out. Please post your comments here…and subscribe to the Houston Wedding Blog for more fall 2013 bridal fashion updates. For a list of Houston’s finest bridal salons, click here, and don’t forget to check out weekly-updated Events page for upcoming fall 2013 trunk shows, so you can check out these gorgeous gowns as soon as they hit Houston!
Gleaming new flooring, gorgeous new window displays, fabulously flattering new lighting, a prettied-up powder room and the addition of a third fitting room—the Winnie Couture Houston flagship salon has a fresh new look. What hasn’t changed at Winnie Couture is the doting attention brides have come to expect from this haven of heavenly gowns by Hong-Kong-born, Houston-educated and now Beverly-Hills-based designer Winnie Chlomin. Of course, there are the gowns themselves…form-fitting, feminine and lavished with Chlomin’s signature Swarovski sparkle. Now through Saturday, Aug. 12, Winnie Couture is celebrating its makeover with a splendid re-opening sale, complete with a 20% discount on all gowns. Call today for your appointment!
This here post has a twofold job: To let you know about Mia Bridal Couture’s WOW Watters spring 2013 trunk show today through Saturday AND to remind you that today is your last chance to enter to win Mia’s Stella & Dot necklace giveaway!
The show: Gorgeous, whisper-soft, diaphanous new styles from Watters’ breathlessly romantic spring 2013 collection (plus a few chic minis for you two-frock brides), which you’ll get a chance to discuss with Watters VP Maria Prince, live and in person. Appointments are a must, so make yours right about NOW!
The giveaway: Two lucky ladies each will receive a stunning Stella & Dot necklace, and two runners-up will score sparkling stud earrings, just for posting a picture of their favorite Watters gown on Mia’s Facebook page, along with a comment about why you’re madly in the love with that particular Watters gown, by end of day TODAY. For eligibility details and fine print, click here.
Three days of Rivini. Three days of pure, perfect silhouettes majestically embellished with exquisite hand-beading and a sprinkle of sparkle. Three days of Rita Vinieris’ incredible talent for blending crisp lines with breathless femininity. At Mia Bridal Couture. Starting Thursday. Appointments are a must, make one you shall. This is the Houston unveiling of Rivini spring 2013, after all. ’Nuff said.
Rivini, Liancarlo, Anne Barge, Badgley Mischka, Lazaro…Ivory Bridal Atelier’s gown inventory reads like a Who’s Who of the most revered (and, let’s face it, some of the priciest) bridal designers on the planet. If you think this kind of couture is a little, ahem, out of your league—and even if you don’t—you may want to set your alarm on the early side this Sunday. That’s when Houston’s West Ave gem unloads gorgeous, pristine-condition sample dresses at prices 30-70% off retail. Bride-plus-one-guest-only, gowns sizes 6-10, no appointments necessary, first-come, first-served, four hours only, starting 11 a.m. We don’t need to tell you to be nice, now, do we? Happy shopping, Houston brides-to-be!
Ivory Bridal Atelier’s Badgley Mischka spring 2012 trunk show, today through Saturday, is going to be a knockout. At last check, there were a scant few appointments left, but they’re filling fast. Schedule yours now, then savor this little taste of the stunning Badgley Mischka wedding dresses Ivory’s got in store for you. And for more gorgeous Ivory Bridal Atelier bridal gowns, check out this clip from the salon’s sashay down the I Do! @ InterContinental bridal couture runway. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Thinking about attending this weekend’s “best of” Tara Keely by Lazaro trunk show at Now & Forever Bridal Boutique, in search of your perfect wedding dress? Let this sizzling video clip of Now & Forever’s I Do! @ InterContinental Houston runway show seal the deal. Also on display in this runway video, look for beautiful bridal gowns from Jane Wang, Victoria Nicole and Novia D’Art. So divine!
