Monique Lhuillier’s Autumn 2022 Bridal Collection is an Exquisite Display of Poetic Femininity
A breathtaking harmony of poetic prints and fanciful flourishes make the Filipino-American designer’s Autumn 2022 Bridal collection a vision of beauty
Renowned for hopelessly romantic collections that have set hearts on fire for more than two irrefutably stylish decades, Monique Lhuillier is one of those designers that every woman has heard of, due to an impressive archive of iconic moments the fashion house’s dreamy gowns have graced. Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon and Carrie Underwood to name a few, are some of the celebrity brides to have entrusted the label with their big-day look, and iconic women including Michelle Obama are counted as treasured clients.
Irresistible to brides who drink in the drama of flamboyant silhouettes with poetic prints and fanciful flourishes, Monique Lhuillier’s eponymous brand – a business venture she launched with husband, Tom – has propelled to dizzy heights. From evening wear and bridal wear to jewellery, fragrances, stationery and several collaborations with Pottery Barn, as the award-winning creative director prepares to celebrate her brand’s 25th anniversary with the launch of a book and the exquisite Fall 2022 Bridal collection, Bazaar’s Nina Catt caught up with the woman behind the burgeoning empire…
In just three words, how would you describe your brand? Romantic, feminine and glamorous.
Who is the Monique Lhuillier woman? She is sophisticated and elegant. She values the beauty in life. Our brand is dedicated to elevating special life moments, memories, and celebrations.
Tell us about your biggest career highlight to date? Celebrating my business’ 25th anniversary has to be my greatest achievement – with so many memorable moments along the way. My goal as a designer is to help women celebrate milestones, and make them feel beautiful and powerful when the world is watching. From showing at New York Fashion Week and Paris Couture Week, to dressing iconic women whom I admire, 25 years later, we are a global lifestyle brand with over a thousand points of distribution across all categories.
Congratulations, you’ve certainly had incredible success. Which well-known women have you had the pleasure of creating pieces for? Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Blake Lively and many more!
Has there been a standout moment or occasion, and who were you working with? Michelle Obama. She is an icon in every sense of the word and will forever be recognised for her compassion, grace and impeccable elegance. I worked closely with her team and designed several looks during her time at the White House, including a champagne beaded gown for the 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2014; a navy coat dress during Pope Francis’ visit to the White House in 2015 and a black chiffon gown for the White House Correspondents Dinner, in 2013. Another standout moment was working closely with Reese Witherspoon to design her wedding dress in 2011. It was a custom, blush gown with a satin ribbon tied around the waist. Working with Reese was magical. She was radiant and breathtakingly beautiful. After she wore this dress, I knew blush gowns were here to stay.
You’ve just penned a book, congratulations! What inspired you to write, Monique Lhuillier: Dreaming of Fashion and Glamour? As we approached 25 years in business, it was important for me to highlight some of the most memorable moments in my career and the brand’s evolution. It was also meaningful to share my personal story and how I arrived here today. I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the most talented teams in the industry and I wanted to showcase all of the magical moments we’ve created together. It is a true joy to see the evolution of the brand documented over the years throughout the pages.
We can’t wait to read it. Tell us, what’s your all time-favourite wedding gown you’ve created? Secret Garden, the blush organza gown with handmade rosettes featured on the cover of the book. It’s an unforgettable design of epic proportions that remains effortless and romantic. Also another gown, Maeve, redefined traditional lace with its scoop neck, structural skirt and long-sleeve jacket, creating two looks for one night. The perfect mix of tradition and modernity.
Is there a common theme or story that runs throughout your bridal collections? Our brides embrace their own personal style and aren’t afraid to take risks. They like to think outside the box and allow their personality to shine through. However, colour and print will continue to be an important part of my designs together with more traditional fabrics like lace and tulle, designed in a modern way.
Tell us about your gorgeous prints? Every season we come up with a signature botanical print, inspired by some of my favourite flowers from around the world – offered in various colours and fabrics. Though my designs are timeless, I am constantly looking to re-invent traditional shapes and modernise them with each collection. Many brides are surprised at our offering of colour and patterns. Oftentimes, brides visit the boutique with a set vision and end up selecting something much more fashion-forward and modern.
What silhouette will never go out of fashion? A classic A-line bridal gown with a natural waist is very flattering and the ultimate timeless silhouette.
How did the pandemic impact wedding dress shopping and have you noticed any changes since the world has started to return to a sense of normality? During the pandemic, we offered an online virtual experience where we educated our brides on fabrics and silhouettes in the latest designs, so by the time they could come in for an in-person appointment, we had narrowed down the search. Now that the world has opened up again, we are busier than ever and women are ready to push the limits and celebrate in a big way with the dress of their dreams.
How did the lockdown affect you, both personally and professionally? The pandemic was a challenging time for the company, but an incredible amount of positivity has come as a result. We learned to speak to our customers differently and show the collection virtually, which has introduced us to more global customers. I spent a lot of time working on my coffee table book honouring my 25 years in business. I also designed a collection of engagement rings and diamond bands, which we just launched. We continued to design my collections during the pandemic and went above and beyond to accommodate our customers’ needs. The time to reconnect and reset has reinvigorated our vision for the brand and its future.
What advice do you have for brides when trying on gowns, or looking at designs for the first time? I believe that above all else, a dress should suit your body. It is not about trend; it is a silhouette. Try on as many styles as you can and understand what you feel great in. The most important thing is that you feel the most beautiful version of yourself in the dress.
What are some of the most popular silhouettes and design elements at the moment? Women love romance and bold, ethereal shapes. Colourful prints and embroideries continue to be a favourite of our brides. My collections are full of billowing sleeves and three-dimensional details. I love the romance of movement. Our designs have an ethereal lightness to them, almost as if they are dancing on air.
What styles do your Middle Eastern clients opt for? Middle Eastern clients tend to gravitate toward more opulent styles with fuller skirts, dramatic trains, lace and embroidered fabrics. Typically, they like to have a coordinating veil to match. Our platinum styles such as Majesty, Josephine and Magnificent are favourites.
Please tell us about the inspiration behind the gorgeous Fall 2022 Bridal collection? This collection takes you on a trip to the colourful streets of Cartagena, Colombia, where light and airy gowns dance in celebration of life.
Tell us about the fabrics you used? Bold botanical and hydrangea prints infuse zest and fun into the collection. While royal capes and regal laces and embroideries create an exuberance of celebration and Latin flavour.
Which is your favourite gown from the collection? Regency. The handmade floral organza-embroidered gown with matching cape took over 1,500 hours to create, and over 100 yards of organza.
Wow, that’s a lot of fabric! As we move into a new year, what is your vision for the future of your label? My vision is to continue to design collections that make women feel like the best versions of themselves during the most important milestones in their lives. I want people to always associate the brand with beauty, femininity, and confidence. As we continue to grow, my hope is to expand our global presence by opening more flagship stores in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. I also hope to strengthen my e-commerce business as women are more comfortable shopping online these days.
We can’t wait to see what’s next. Can you share a secret with us? I am hoping to explore entering the beauty market with a colour palette inspired by my designs. Watch this space!
Photography: KT Merry. Art Direction: Carrie Goldberg. Interview: Nina Catt. Production: Muzam Productions. Hair: Brian Buenaventura and Jhonatan Rendon. Make-up: Victor Henao. Photography team: Chad Keffer, Benjamin Rosser, Francisco Bravo. Fashion
Assistant: Stephanie Alexandris
From the Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride