Bridal Indulgence ~ The Rya Collection

April 5, 2019

By ELLEN LEWIS

The Rya Collection is a smorgasbord of luxury lingerie desserts, not so different than a Viennese table at a wedding party: an over the top offering of confections, designed to seduce the eye into one more moment of indulgence. It’s no wonder that Rya is recognized as an exemplary source of bridal sleepwear. Founder Flora Backer (former creative head of Flora Nikrooz) is known for her amazing aptitude for combining classical elements of lingerie design to create unique intimate styles, not only perfect for a bride, but also easily integrated into a year round wardrobe. Each piece in the spring 2019 selection conjures an image of a rich, unique wedding cake, one more scrumptious than the other. It’s not easy to choose. Just like the Viennese table closing a lavish celebration, women are finding room in their wardrobes for one more taste. No wonder Rya has become a primary source for buyers since its launch in 2017.

Photographer: Stephanie Hynes

Hair & Makeup: Bethany Townes & Monica Boyd-Lester

Models: Sami Sura &Brittany Garrick

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Wedding to Honeymoon & Happily Ever After: Frances Smily Couture

February 28, 2019

By ELLEN LEWIS

I may have mentioned that my daughter is engaged. And so begins the wedding plan discussion. She is an artist who would be happy to be married on the beach, or in the country. But I think she leans to water. She is an Aquarius after all. Mark, her partner in planning, claims he wants the same thing, but as far as I can tell he’s a real traditionalist. Both of them have a taste level that I appreciate but would rather not confront. The beach would be just fine with me. After all I freaked out my own very traditional mother when I insisted on a Mexican wedding dress in the 70’s. Maybe I was ahead of my times, because handcrafted cotton dresses sewn by artisans in a bohemian style are definitely a trend today.

That’s why the moment I saw this photo shoot by Celso Diniz for Frances Smily’s new “From Wedding to Honeymoon and Happily After” collection, my radar went up. Photographed on the beach in Florida on Alexa Collins from Wilhelmina Agency, they are playful, feminine and as artistic as one can always expect from the Frances Smily Couture brand. Frances collaborated with artisans in India to create luxurious and innovative pieces. Using centuries old craftsmanship, these pieces are constructed of cotton voile or mesh with cotton embroidered detail, pearls, crystals, tassels, crocheted trims and hand-beading. All are multi-functional, adding longevity to their use, an antidote of fast fashion. What else is bohemian fashion, but a mix of modern and vintage style.

“Eclectic yet Classic With a Playful Bohemian Twist is How I’d Describe My Style” ~Alice Temperley

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Harmony ~ Lise Charmel Bridal Lingerie

January 16, 2019

By ELLEN LEWIS

Harmony: The arrangement of parallel texts to form one exquisite narrative. Do we not aspire to this in our relationships, our careers, our homes and ultimately marriage? It’s the melding of many components that factor into our daily lives in order to rise above the noise and find equilibrium. It is the desire to be carried to a higher level of well-being. This is true beauty; a state of personal satisfaction to which every woman aspires. I saw this image on social media ( I wish I could credit its creator) and decided to use it here to describe Lise Charmel’s Spring 2019 Haute Couture Art de Volupté and Soie Virtuose collections

The two groups are copacetic, melding together 17 styles of luxury lingerie worthy of any bride. However, it’s the Lise Charmel designer technique that raises them above commercial lingerie to another plane of grace. They are unique in their content, intricate in their application and complex in their artistry. Proprietary Guipure and embroidery on tulle, laser cut inlays and organza flowers create pattern reliefs. Exclusive leavers laces, stretch silk satin and the “ultra mother of pearl” guarantee anti yellowing process are all part of the Lise Charmel stable of componentry that separates this atelier from the crowd. Always at the forefront of development, the brand uses the “manchette” effect, an on the shoulder micro mesh with point droit detail. The Lise Charmel bridal pieces are so ethereal that, as I have said before, they could be mounted in a boudoir for posterity. (Watch the Lise Charmel Spotlight for the full collection coming soon)

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October Bride ~ Marie Jo Lingerie

October 17, 2018

By ELLEN LEWIS

Somehow the lingerie industry, with its often traditional notions of cultural norms, floods the market with bridal lingerie in the spring. That’s why it’s always a perk when I find a line like Marie Jo’s Bella collection that is in stores right now. October is a perfect month for a wedding, at least where I grew up in New York. The weather is predictable and the fall foliage presents a spectacle not easy to duplicate. I took this for granted until I moved to Mexico to which I generally return early each October for several months. Now I get why people make trips to Northeast in the fall. My colleague, Alison, recently flew to New England from LA, just for a viewing. The seasonal transition; the trees exploding in color and the soft white light that precedes the turning of time is a perfect backdrop for an affair to remember.

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Which Only Hearts Bride Are You?

September 28, 2018

By ELLEN LEWIS

Running around the market last week, I made my usual seasonal stop at Only Hearts. There is so much inspiration at this showroom, editing was a challenge. I was culling through the different groups fixated on my current attraction to crossover styles, an Only Hearts legacy, when another idea surfaced: the Only Hearts Bride. Suffice it to say, that of course, Only Hearts has a bridal story intact, predominantly for Spring 19, but I see a different angle in this brand’s design aesthetic. I see bridal lingerie choices entwined in many of the collections. Only Hearts has always been a multifaceted design brand, core simplicity to lacy intrigue. We all know that tradition doesn’t always command the wedding stage these days. That’s why these pieces, from edgy, to racy, boldly romantic and thoroughly modern are all bridal right. Each image defines a different woman and what would her wedding might look like