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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: |
MYCHAEL KNIGHT If you find it hard not to love high-style, down-to-earth Mychael Knight, you’re in good company. Voted “fan favorite” by 10 million season three Project Runway viewers, Atlanta-based Mychael became the darling-graduate of the show, and has since dressed the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Kim Porter, and Queen Latifah; designed for Starbucks; and showed up on the pages of everything from Ebony and Allure to the New York Times. A long-time regular at CFW and a fashion panel judge since 2008, he showed his Carte Blanche collection here in 2010, and his 2012 Lost World collection last fall during New York Fashion Week. Always in the front row at the CW Spring Bridal Show, Mychael heads backstage this year to debut his first-ever collection of bridal gowns. A designer from the age of nine (no joke), he’s been creating commissioned wedding fashions since 2009, but this marks the premiere of all-Mychael-motivated dresses. While his women’s wear tends toward bold colors, geometric details, resort-meets-futuristic club styles, and fits-like-a-glove silhouettes, he tells us that Americana images and elements are informing what he’ll unveil. Anything you say, Mychael. We know we’re in good hands. At my show, look for modern Americana and forward approaches. I began designing wedding gowns because many of my clients wanted ready-to-wear inspired wedding gowns that were fresh and wearable with unexpected direction. My brides like sleek, sophisticated, wearable gowns. Brides really ought to be adventurous! Try color and an unexpected accessory. The day of her wedding a bride should wear her favorite perfume, lipstick, and confidence. Years after her wedding, a bride should look back on her gown and still want to wear it. My inspiration board is covered with Mini Coopers, haystacks, and images of Americana. My favorite silhouette is mermaid. My favorite details are belts and sashes. My biggest fashion hero is Gianni Versace. He inspired my fascination with fashion.
James K. Holder II Photography |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: |
RACHEL GORDON Rachel Gordon exploded onto the Charleston fashion scene in 2007, when she debuted in the inaugural Emerging Designer Competition at CFW. Soon, the self-taught fashionista and College of Charleston grad became synonymous with flowy, ready-to-wear gowns. Following that breakout, Rachel opened her first shop, Gordon Hall, and secured her place as a designer to know. Since then, she’s opened One Love boutique on King Street in collaboration with photographer Sarah Poe, where they sell Rachel’s ONE LOVE bridal and ready to wear collections, along with Sarah’s Dreaming Tree jewelry, pieces from other local designers, and vintage finds. Celebrated especially for draping silks across the body in ways that transform women into Grecian goddesses, Rachel excels in celebrating the female figure. Her fresh eye and deft tailoring transcends trends, and she creates designs both unique and truly en vogue. When she began creating wedding gowns, brides-in-the-know raved that she brought sexy back. Curious to see the debut of her first-ever collection of gowns? So are we. My design aesthetic can be described as a combination of couture bohemian mixed with an ethereal Grecian vibe. I like fashion-forward silhouettes that focus on the human form while maintaining classically beautiful details. My inspiration wall is covered with lots of ONE LOVE underwater images; a poem by Marcus Amaker titled “Giving Birth”; a fortune that says “the dream is within you”; and lots of images of ethereal women, ethereal dresses, and ethereal designs. Brides really ought to be grateful for the love that Who is your best mentor-hero? Outside the industry, it’s my mother. She has always had an adventurous but elegant style that I have admired. Also, as long as I can remember, she taught me that class, elegance, and beauty are created from within. This collection is dedicated to her. Image Courtesy of One Love |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: “Pearl” gown (featured above) |
LULAKATE Every woman relies on her LBD (little black dress) to pull her through any fashion emergency or dress-up event. But what about brides? Katherine McDonald, the super-stylish and super-practical owner-designer behind LulaKate, knows that all the showers, engagement parties, luncheons, and rehearsal dinners call for something a little more apropos, a little more bridal. Enter her “LWD,” or little white dress. Comprised of seven short frocks in her signature crisp shapes and silks, the line debuted online last fall to the cheers of well-fêted brides everywhere. (We’re especially nuts over the metallic embossed silk option.) Also last year, Katherine released her “bridal alternative” line, in which brides select the neckline, skirt, train, and embellishments for their fantasy gown. The possibilities stretch on and on, and we’re thrilled to see the combinations she’ll share Saturday morning.
Since my last CW Spring Bridal Show, What’s your über-favorite gown silhouette and detail? I love my Kristyn ball gown in lace right now. Who are your heroes? In the bridal world, Charleston influences my designs because it’s a very stylish city. Even though we have a culture rich in history, we also have a plethora of young, talented artists and designers. My style fits because it’s traditional with modern details mixed in. Thirty years after her wedding, a bride should look back on her gown and smile. Photograph by Juliet Elizabeth |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: TWITTER: Vera Wang featured above |
MADDISON ROW Maddison Row’s Lindsey Nowak has been crazy-busy since she last sent models down the CFW Spring Bridal Show runway. While attending the New York bridal markets, she acted as a correspondent for area blogs, then teamed up with Bella Bridesmaid to host a fashion show to school local industry folk in pending trends. She also fashion directed her first e-glossy story and one of her shop’s gowns has landed on the cover of this issue, too. All the while, Lindsey has tended to bride after bride in questing to find their dream dress. No wonder Maddison Row—with their A-list selection of national designers—is heralded as one of the East Coast’s iconic bridal boutiques. Since Lindsey’s show shocked us last year with its custom-made black feathered gown from Carol Hannah, we’re betting she’s got something amazing up her sleeve this go-’round, too. Bring it! My boutique is so Charleston because The most flattering thing a bride can do What’s going on backstage? We’re dancing to the music and cheering on our models. Photograph (Vera Wang) by Corbin Gurkin |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK & TWITTER: “Lauren” by Coren Moore featured above |
BELLA BRIDESMAID
Bella Bridesmaid made its Charleston debut in 2006 with a host of trunk shows. A year later, Allison Long opened the King Street boutique and has helped legions of bridesmaids into frocks that flatter beyond compare. Visitors to her shop delight in the span of designers she carries, including exclusives like Amsale for Bella Bridesmaid and Jim Hjelm/Alvina Valenta for Bella Bridesmaid. This year, she’s thrilled that color, longer gowns, and more formal silhouettes reign for attendants. Hooray to that and here’s to her rallying cry, “Let’s get fancy!” I’m especially excited about showing new designers, like Dolly Pearl and Lynn Lugo. The best trend in bridal wear right now is that styles are going back to more formal looks. Since last year’s show I have added six new The coolest thing about putting together the show is working with designers to create custom pieces. If I were to get married today I would wear a huge dress with lots of bling; that would be the total opposite of my gown from six years ago. Backstage we are having a blast! Photograph (Coren Moore) by Alix Martinez |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: TWITTER: “Leah” gown featured above |
MODERN TROUSSEAU As a native of Melbourne, Australia, Modern Trousseau’s owner-designer Callie Tein understands hot weather—music to the ears of any Lowcountry bride. “The summers in South Carolina are often quite hot,” Callie says, “so I design comfortably light gowns that allow brides to look fresh and beautiful.” The designer may turn the temps down when considering gown construction, but there’s no lack of va-va-voom in her creations. Best known for using French and Italian lace and classic, customizable silhouettes ranging from modern to vintage, sweet to sultry, Modern Trousseau is all about options. Add Callie’s inspired sashes and veils to a lineup that’s made in the U.S.A., and all hail gorgeous, feminine looks perfectly suited to the Southern bride. No wonder the King Street shop—Callie’s second flagship store in the country—is always abuzz. My signature style is modern, with a nod to traditions in couture fashion. Brides will love my work if they love lace To design a gown, I start with an idea or an My über-favorite gown silhouette is If I were on a Project Runway challenge and had three colors, three materials, and one secret weapon to work with, they would be color: three shades of ivory; material: lots of lace and chiffon; and secret weapon: my head seamstress—she has a wonderful ability to follow my designs and fabric choices and to “make it work.” Since last year’s Spring Bridal Show, I have Photograph Courtesy of the Designers |
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SHOWING: DETAILS: WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: Anne Barge gown featured above |
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WHITE
We have to admit White owner Jodi Moylan’s 2011 CW Spring Bridal Show blew us away. Yes, we’ve long known she’s got a top shop in town, that she sells high-end gowns from national design houses, and that she’s the sole proprietress to host a champagne bar in her boutique, but we were suitably rocked by the looks she debuted from her self-designed lines: White Couture and YoYo. The blend of sassy and sexy with supreme tailoring was a pure delight to take in. This year, she aims to shock and awe again, she says, and is particularly taken with the ’80s resurgence that she’s seen hither and yon. How that will manifest in the show overall only Jodi knows, but we’re ready to see whatever surprises she’s ready to spring on us. Since our last show, I’ve been designing new gowns, selling those in the shop, and loving my job. I’ve also been traveling and checking out how the rest of the world is styling. The best trend in bridal wear right now is not complying to a trend and instead wearing what feels right and beautiful for you. I want to see more non- strapless gowns. The best piece of advice for brides is: don’t settle for liking your dress; love it! If I were to get married today I would wear something of my own design. The most flattering thing a bride can do is smile—and mean it! The one thing every bride should know before she Brides should consider a local designer for a gown to ensure it’s unique and special. A bride will love my work if she loves Jackie O, Photograph Courtesy of the Designers |
