The Perfect Fit: Monique Lhuillier

The hottest trends in wedding gowns this season are gowns designed by the incomparable Monique Lhuillier. A passionate woman, Lhuillier was born to parents with French, Spanish, and Filipino ancestry. She spent her childhood in the Philippines and travelled extensively with her family. These travels, along with her mother’s great sense of style, were early influences on Lhuillier.

Lhuillier has stated that she always wanted to design clothes. After high school she attended the Fashion Institute of Merchandising and Design and designed her first creations under the tutelage of several famous designer mentors. Once her studies were completed Lhuillier travelled to France to work for a small French design firm.

Lhuillier did not start out to be a wedding gown designer. She has stated in interviews that she only became interested in wedding gowns when she designed her own gown. What an inspiration it must have been. In 1996 she launched her very first wedding gown collection and the world became enchanted with Lhuillier.

Lhuillier has designed dresses for many Hollywood stars and fashion icons. The American singer Pink insisted on a black and ivory Lhuillier gown for her wedding to Carey Hart. She did double duty for singer Brittany Spears when she designed 2 wedding dresses for her wedding to K-Fed. The first, a long Italian silk, was worn during the ceremony. A short lace dress was designed for the reception and Lluillier also designed all the dresses for Brittany’s bridal party.

The list of Lhuillier’s famous clients runs on and on. Ali Landry, the star of Eve, called on Lhuillier to design the perfect romantic gown for her secluded and secret Mexican wedding. Emilie de Ravin From the hit American TV show Lost wore a Lhuillier gown of long and extravagant lace to her small wedding. And Kevin Costner’s bride, Christine Baumgartner, deigned her 2004 gown with Lhuillier.

A Lhuillier gown is a masterpiece. Fashion editor Marge Eli says that a gown designed by Monique Lhuillier will make a bride feel like a princess on her big day. In an article Eli stated, “These gowns, they are not for the faint of heart. It takes a personality to wear a Lhuillier gown or else the gown will wear you!”

A Monique Lhuillier gown is luscious and very feminine. The workmanship employed in making these wedding gowns is impeccable. The fabrics are rich. Eli describes a Lhuillier gown as a, “walk down a garden path in the Tuileries. The dress, it is at once present day and old fashioned. It is a bit like a stroll with old King Louis, no?”

Most of Lhuilliers gowns are very simple and rely on the fabrics and design to give the gown its romantic feel. Almost all of her designs are sleeveless. She also favours tight bodices and full skirts.

The quality of a Lhuillier gown is unquestionable. With prices starting at $2000 you will want this wedding dress to become a family heirloom.

View the 2009 Collection.