Flying from Detroit to New York for my first-ever New York Bridal Fashion Week felt surreal. I have always loved fashion, especially the production of a runway show, but nothing compared to taking my seat in the front row of each presentation and watching the models step onto the runway. From that close, everything was mesmerizing, from the details of the gowns as they drifted past me to the way the silhouettes changed shape before my eyes.
Like at New York Fashion Week, designers were there to set the tone for the season. Some of the collections I saw embraced a Renaissance revival, blending square necklines, soft corsetry, and rich embroidery with modern structure. Just as unforgettable were the nontraditional looks, from black tulle and sculptural minis to crisp bridal suiting.
As you flip through the next few pages, you’ll see some of what I experienced up close, along with insights from industry professionals I met along the way.
Claire Pettibone
“I feel like there’s been a lot of celebration this season, like the Gilded Age. A lot of look-backs to baroque styling, a lot of old lace ornamentations in bridal fashion, which I think is a turn from the more modern styles we were seeing.”
-Jeannene Jones-Rupert, Wedding Planner
House of Idan
“I love when brides go ‘anti-bride’ — when they go out of the norm of white dresses and choose something bold, like the black dress we saw today. It just makes it more playful and adds a creativity to the wedding that you just can’t get with a white dress.”
– Carol Rodriguez, Wedding Planner from Puerto Rico
Alexandra Grecco
With each made-to-order look, Alexandra Grecco brought interesting twists to the runway. Designs pushed industry norms to their limits with bralette tops, sheer gowns, and feminine suits in one of the most experimental collections of the season.
Esé Azénabor
“She’s a lot bolder than other designers. You know there’s beading, and then there’s beading … Her bride is someone who dares to stand out, who dares to be different. She’s not demure. She’s ‘I’m here, and I’m here to stand out, baby.”
– Harriette Cole, Author of Jumping the Broom
Nardos
“I try to define outside-of-the-box thinking. Still romantic and feminine, and still traditional, but with a modern twist … I dream in color. But bridal you have to really get out there to make it more exaggerated because it’s all white.”
– Nardos Imam, Founder and Creative Director of Nardos
