bridal – Page 2 – modaCYCLE

Ines Di Santo – Spring 2011 Bridal

If you know a woman who is bold, daring, and always cuts a swath through the crowd of the ordinary, and she’s getting married. Tell her she must absolutely visit Toronto and view both of the Di Santo salons.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Sandy Ramirez

The day of a woman’s wedding is to some minds the one day of her life that she can turn herself into a living creation of fantasy. By it’s nature it is her fantasy, and every person’s vision of the perfect embodiment of fantasy differs. However, there must be a group of common elements in those fantasies, otherwise fashion designers, whose livelihood depends on supplying that vision, would be the purest of couturiers providing one dress at a time to each client’s specifications. This is obviously not the case as we have seasonal collections wherein each designer presents their ideals of that fantastical garment by the dozen. The individual interpretations of those deeply ingrained yet shared ideas are what makes one wedding designer’s work different from another. Understand that, and you will appreciate the Canadian-based couture bridal label Ines Di Santo on a whole other level. Continue reading “Ines Di Santo – Spring 2011 Bridal”

Anne Barge – Spring 2011 Bridal

For those who may not be familiar with Ms. Barge’s work, she is an Atlanta-based legendary bridal designer who’s been designing the most special gowns for thirty years. As I watched her Spring 2011 Collection sweep down the runway in the Grand Salon at the Essex House on the south end of Central Park, it struck me with great conviction that Anne Barge is unmistakably an American bridal designer.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero

What is American style? Are there cuts, shapes and techniques that make a garment feel American? Most would think of iconic brands such as Levi’s or Ralph Lauren as being uniquely American, but in fact its much broader than that. Are not Betsey Johnson and Vans also representative of America? How about Anne Barge? For those who may not be familiar with Ms. Barge’s work, she is an Atlanta-based legendary bridal designer who’s been designing the most special of gowns for thirty years. As I watched her Spring 2011 Collection sweep down the runway in the Grand Salon at the Essex House on the south end of Central Park, it struck me with great conviction that Anne Barge is unmistakably an American bridal designer. It was then left for me to figure out how I knew that. Continue reading “Anne Barge – Spring 2011 Bridal”

Angel Sanchez – Fall 2011 Bridal – New York

For his Spring 2011 Bridal collection, Mr. Sanchez used a touch of technology and his structural skills to create a dozen white and off white gowns, (and one incredible cocktail dress), which all possessed a beautiful fit from the waist up and lovely body to the floor.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Sandy Ramirez

Context is an overwhelmingly powerful experience. The human mind organizes things constantly of its own accord and when something triggers a preexisting context all further thoughts will be informed and shaped by the context without the owner of said mind even knowing that it’s happening. Want an example? Wedding dress. See, you already have a picture in your head. To read the words is to have an instant expectation as well as dozens of other associated thoughts. The reaction of a fashion designer to bridal wear is another matter entirely. The challenge of that wheelbarrow full of expectations is in large part the biggest obstacle in designing bridal gowns. Imagine that you’re going to create 10 to 20 white or off white dresses two times a year for the next two decades and they all have to feel fresh and different but still be sellable. Does that sound enjoyable, feel like making that you life’s work? It’s no wonder that many designers will running screaming at the thought of doing bridal, yet for others it is a life’s passion. Angel Sanchez splits his heart between beautiful bridal couture and stunning evening wear and his been sending his creations for the betrothed down the runway since 1999. He is a master at meeting the expectations of bridal wear while still experimenting and growing his art in each new collection. Continue reading “Angel Sanchez – Fall 2011 Bridal – New York”

Badgley Mischka Bride – Spring 2010 Collection

Mark Badgley and James Mischka discuss their Spring 2010 bridal collection, and recent changes in the wedding market.

photos and interview by Charles Beckwith
photo editing by Faith Bowman

I recently had the opportunity to view the Spring 2010 Badgley Mischka Bride collection in the Badgley Mischka showroom during New York Bridal Market Week. After the show, I was able to ask designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka a few questions about their collection and recent shifts in the wedding fashion market. This show also included eight new bridal looks from their lower price point Mark & James line.

Continue reading “Badgley Mischka Bride – Spring 2010 Collection”

Frida Weyer – An Homage to Femininity, SS2010, Berlin

Frida Weyer presented her first solo collection in the historic Chamäleon Varieté Theatre, at the Hackesche Höfe, during the second day of Berlin Fashion Week. The former ballroom from the golden age of art nouveau, with its striking 1920’s charm, was a perfect stage for the dramatic new collection. The show was a history lesson packed into sweet girlish dresses, with its strong references to the diva looks of the 1920’s and 50’s. Weyer has immediately found her niche, with this high-end line of extravagant gowns.

story by Veronika Gombert
photos by Alexander Palacios and Peter Becher

Frida Weyer presented her first solo collection in the historic Chamäleon Varieté Theater, at the Hackesche Höfe, during the second day of Berlin Fashion Week. The former ballroom from the golden age of art nouveau, with its striking 1920’s charm, was a perfect stage for the dramatic new collection. The show was a history lesson packed into sweet girlish dresses, with its strong references to the diva looks of the 1920’s and 50’s. Weyer has immediately found her niche, with this high-end line of extravagant gowns. Showing this remarkably coherent first collection, one wonders what the young designer could accomplish with an established house behind her. Continue reading “Frida Weyer – An Homage to Femininity, SS2010, Berlin”

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Unrath & Strano Spring-Summer 2010 Bridal Collection, Berlin

Unrath & Strano is internationally renowned for their tailor-made evening gowns with exceptional cuts. The lobby of the Hotel Ellington was transformed into the epitome of luxury for the designer duo Klaus Unrath and Ivan Strano to present their first high-end bridal collection on the second day of Berlin Fashion Week.

story by Veronika Gombert
photos by Boris Marberg

Pages: 12

Market Week – Carolina Herrera Bridal

In the 172 years of it’s existence, Tiffany’s had never once hosted a fashion show on their main floor. On April 5 th, 2009, the final day of presentations during the New York Bridal Market Week, Carolina Herrera showed her Fall 2009 Bridal collection, in conjunction with the unveiling of a spectacular new engagement ring personally created by the designer.

story and photos by Sandy Ramirez

In the 172 years of it’s existence, Tiffany’s had never once hosted a fashion show on their main floor. On April 5 ^th, 2009, the final day of presentations during the New York Bridal Market Week, Carolina Herrera showed her Fall 2009 Bridal collection, in conjunction with the unveiling of a spectacular new engagement ring personally created by the designer. Continue reading “Market Week – Carolina Herrera Bridal”

Market Week Fall 2009 – Amsale Aberra

story and photos by Sandy Ramirez

Back in 1985, Amsale Aberra was a bride in search of a dress. She wanted something simple, modern, understated and elegant. Unfortunately, like many brides before her, all the pieces she found were the typically overdone gowns more suited to a stage performer than a bride. Unlike most other brides, however, Amsale was not going to settle. She was determined to rectify the situation. One classified advert, a sketchbook, and a few seamstresses later, Amsale succeeded. Continue reading “Market Week Fall 2009 – Amsale Aberra”