The One With The NYBFW Recap
Bridal Fashion Week field notes, for brides-to-be and general lovers of puffy white frocks.
This was my second season covering New York Bridal Fashion Week editorially, but my first as a bride-to-be. As a public-facing writer, editor and content creator with a knack for centering myself, you can bet I jumped at the chance to lean in.
I kid, but I’m also serious. How many brides get to attend the private runway shows and salon previews of their dream brands? I felt like I’d been given the golden ticket: a front-row seat to the bridal industry’s finest designers, flashiest creations and biggest trends. Bring on the tulle!
I decided to take on the week much like I would a more traditional New York Fashion Week — so of course, I said yes to as many things as I could squish into my calendar. But instead of hiring an assistant to help manage said calendar, I enlisted my mom as my second-in-command, so that she might assist me in focusing on my own bridal wants and needs throughout the week.
For me, the top priority was trend-spotting for a story I pieced together for Refinery29. But for us, the goal was to get a few good leads on designers that could potentially design my dream dress.
I know a lot about fashion, but very little about wedding gowns. My mom knows a lot about both. In fact, she was a buyer for a top bridal destination in New Jersey for ten years. With this in mind — coupled, of course, with the fact that she’s my mom and I knew she wanted to be there — I knew she would be an amazing assistant. And we had ourselves a time!
Our week kicked off with a celebration of all things Watters at the Public Hotel, and wrapped with intimate salon-style appointments at Lotte New York Palace. Throw in a gorgeous room at The Peninsula, a dreamy dinner at Maison Close, and a well-deserved romp ‘round the shoe floor at Bergdorf Goodman to close out the week — really, what more could we have asked for?
Below, my NYBFW field notes.
What I Wore To The Shows
I reached out to the Nadine Merabi PR team in a panic on the eve of Bridal Fashion Week, and they came to the rescue by supplying me with two gorgeous looks.
The first is the dress that launched a thousand messages in my DMS: the Penelope Black Dress ($495). Everyone wanted the link, and I’m not surprised. My followers have taste! The fit of this dress was impeccable, and the bouclé-tweed fabric felt so premium, especially with the subtle shimmery threading.
I paired this with one of my beloved Bleusalt 3 Yard Wraps ($170) and my trusty Prada Galleria bag and kitten heels combo. Easy!
My more “bridal” ensemble featured the Leonie White Blazer ($450) paired with the Carolina White Maxi Skirt ($375). I need to tailor both of these pieces for this outfit to reach its maximum potential, but the look was just right for snapping some photos at The Peninsula in between shows.
The blazer boasts incredible (weighty!) 3D floral embellishments down the sleeve, each with a pearl pistil at the center of the bloom. To accessorize, I doubled up on my latest obsession, Jenny Bird’s Colette Hoop Earrings ($158) in Silver and Gold.
The Aura of Enaura
I wasn’t necessarily expecting to find The Dress during NYBFW, but I did want to expand my knowledge of different designers. I found a few who really exceeded my expectations, and I vowed to return to their showrooms for further investigation.
Perhaps my favorite of all was Sohil Mistry’s work at Enaura. The brand is New York City-based, but heavily influenced by old-school Indian artisanal craftsmanship — and the details don’t lie. Intricate botanical appliqués, layers of lace screen-printed onto tulle, mosaic beading and more verified Mistry’s meticulous eye in a collection titled Le Fil Rouge.
My favorites included the Tropez (left), which featured asymmetrical layers of hand-cut tulle with strands of pearls placed between each layer, and the Anais (right), a tiered tulle skirt paired with a baroque pearl bodice that revealed itself as a mini dress ripe for afterpartying.
Jaclyn Whyte’s Lessons in Lace
A favorite from my first Bridal Fashion Week, I knew Jaclyn Whyte’s lace work would be some of the week’s most premium — and absolutely everyone was gushing about the Jasmine (center), a breathtaking ballgown with a removable topper and layers of Alençon Lace, pleated tulle and silk organza.
Whyte’s designs are modest and classic, but far from boring or overly traditional. Texture is key in elevating her simple silhouettes, and her lace selections range from Italian cotton guipure to French lace treated with a leather effect for an almost-metallic finish.
The standout accent in the collection was a smattering of beautifully beaded red rose appliqués with gold-plated thread embroidery. Very Dolce, very chic.
All The Cool Girls Wear KYHA…
My desire for a BBG (Big Ball Gown) means I probably won’t be a KYHA Studios bride — but all the coolest girls I know will be. And while they may not make my wedding-day dress, I fully intend to shop their selection for the rest of my bridal wardrobe.
From effortless separates to exposed corsets and dreamy draping, KYHA’s Le Coucou collection focused on what Creative Director Kyha Scott refers to as the “alpine aesthetic”, complete with icy ivory and muted sage sequins that glistened like fresh snow.
Scott’s streamlined separates shine brightest, but the designer also knows how to bring the bling, with elements of beading and reflective flat sequins giving even the most minimalist brides the chance to sparkle.
While the bride-to-be in me was drawn to the white looks first, further reflection has me swooning over the black demi-cup Whistler Corset paired with the tassel-beaded silver Elurra Skirt.
…And The Main Characters Go For Galia
Galia Lahav was at the top of my NYBFW Must-See list. So many of my friends have shared positive experiences visiting the showroom, and the brand excels at striking just the right balance between new-school glamour and old-school romance.
While I’m still thinking about that dreamy glass crystal headpiece (center), the dresses from the couture collection, dubbed Suivez-Moi, prove just as memorable. The inspiration came from Rose Bretin, dressmaker to Marie Antoinette, and the ode to opulence was evident in lush layers of lacy tulle and sumptuous embellishment.
One dress in particular (left) featured a fully lace topper with a wedding band collar, cold-shoulder detail, and mutton sleeve. If it sounds like too much, you fail to appreciate Lahav and Head Designer Sharon Sever’s commitment to more-is-more mentality. Too much of a good thing is just right!
BTW, Some Ring Things…
In the name of all things bridal, I wanted to share a blog post I wrote recently for my friends over at Jewelers Mutual (We also worked on a fun video all about my ring over on Reels!).
Pat and I shopped for our engagement ring together, and I can’t imagine having done it any other way. We got a lot of questions about our experience, so I thought I’d share my perspective on ring shopping as a couple. Click here to read.
x BG
OMG - how perfect! I wish I could have gone to NYBFW when I was getting married...I always enjoyed it with my accessory clients back in the day. So fun! Looks like you got tons of inspo :)