Ever since I have known about fashion and weddings, and the inseparable link between the two, I believe if I had to choose between love and a magical wedding dress as a reason for marrying, I would go for

the latter. That’s where ace Philippines-born fashion designer Monique Lhuillier, 44, comes in with her lace, organza and ruffled creations that have the power to trick you into breaking your bank, going on a diet, or walking down the aisle (if that’s what it takes), even if it’s only for that one dress, on that one day!

Fashion designer Monique Lhuillier—all set to celebrate her label’s 20th anniversary—opens

up about her tryst with fashion, her wedding and a marriage between

the two. BY DESSIDRE FLEMING

DESIGNING HAPPY EVER

AFTERS

In an exclusive conversation with L’Officiel India, the designer goes down memory lane to talk about creating a legacy and, of course, her ability to weave together a wonder-struck bridal ensemble!

“Each dress from my bridal line is designed as a stand-alone gown—they are ethereal, whimsical and romantic because a wedding is a personal statement for every woman,” she explains. “It’s one of the most important dresses you’ll ever wear on one of the most important days in

your life and it should not only reflect your personal style, but should also be timeless.” Monique, who debuted her first-ever bridal collection in 1996, has become an established name in the fashion industry for her dream-like gowns. From Reese Witherspoon to Taylor Swift, there are few celebrities who haven’t walked the red carpet in a Monique Lhuillier. While her label is spread across from ready-to-wear to bridal couture, it’s the latter that is her trump card. “I’ve

always had a natural inclination for clothing and the fantasy of special occasions. But it’s the weddings that have always inspired me,” she says. So I ask about her own wedding. “I was a young bride and shopping with my parents for my wedding dress made me feel beautiful,” she recalls. For her own big day the designer chose a traditional dress. It was also the day she decided to start her own label! “I think it had something to do with the fact that the options for choosing a wedding dress seemed limited and the whole process was far from easy!” Monique wanted a dress that would feel timeless and romantic, yet have a contemporary twist. But the selections she came across made her feel otherwise. “So, after my wedding I realised that there was a void in the market and I wanted to be the one to fill it.”

Today, 20 years later, Monique is fuelling bridal fantasies and design dreams across the globe! While her bridal ensembles capture an ethereal essence, her RTW line is more modern. “It is for a different chapter in the life of a woman,” the designer explains. Her latest S/S ’15 is inspired by the first moments of sunrise. “You know, the instant before the sun rises and paints the sky with luminous shades of pastels,” she says about the collection. Think noir-coated mesh, liquid satin, layered organza peplums, structured full skirts, folded necklines and exaggerated sleeves infusing visual intrigue. Monique creates to make a woman feel beautiful and confident. “I take pride in the luxurious fabrications and meticulous attention to detail that goes into constructing every garment,” she says. “Being a part of that entire process is something I know is unique to me, but it is also extremely important for a woman to feel good—inside and out—when wearing Monique Lhuillier.”

Monique set out to carve a niche for herself without any fashion

O N H E R F I R S T FA S H I O N M E M O R Y As kids, the designer’s mom dressed her in

custom-made outfits, which evolved into her starting a children’s clothing line which gave Monique behind-the-scenes insight into the

business.

O N FA M I LY T I M E On her off days, Monique loves to be outdoors with her family—taking hikes, long walks on the beach. The designer collects modern art and enjoys visiting museums and galleries.

O N D R E S S I N G M I C H E L L E O B A M A I have had the honour of dressing The First

Lady on multiple occasions. She is everything that a Monique Lhuillier woman embodies;

elegance, confidence and refinement. She has a strong sense of style and knows what looks

good on her body.

O N T H E M L W O M A N She is extremely passionate in everything she does and appreciates unique designs that are

very feminine and well crafted.

O N H E R W E D D I N G D R E S S For her own wedding, Monique wore a

silk white duchess satin dropped-waist gown, off-shoulder, with lace appliqué and a bustled

skirt. She also had a long cathedral veil to match.

1. MODELS IN MONIQUE LHUILLIER

BRIDAL ENSEMBLES

2. MONIQUE AT HOME

3. AT HER NEW YORK

STORE OPENING

4. MONIQUE

WITH GWYNETH PALTROW

5. WITH HER BRIDAL

MODELS

1

3

5

52STYLE

“I realised that there was a void in the market, I wanted

to be the one to fill it.”

Godmother, spending much of her childhood in the Philippines surrounded by grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. “We had many traditions and would always get together to celebrate holidays. There was always a sense of community and togetherness,” she says. “We travelled together every summer to places like Paris and London, but always looked forward to coming home.” The empire that Monique built started as inspiration that she sourced from her mother from whom she learned the art and design of effortless elegance, and later found support in her husband, Tom Bugbee (CEO at Monique Lhuillier) who, she says, turned Monique’s vision of a couture design house into a reality. “Our partnership has allowed us to grow the business internationally and expand into diverse fashion and lifestyle categories,” Monique adds. In a bid to provide the bride-to-be with a complete experience, the designer has now ventured into shoes, accessories, jewellery and even tableware. She owes her sense of business acumen to her father who, a successful businessman himself, sparked Monique’s entrepreneurial skills and instilled in her a sense of hard labour. “We wanted to build an influential brand that creates

beautiful products. Celebrity dressing, red carpet sightings and fashion shows have, over the years, contributed greatly to our early accomplishments,” she adds. Monique Lhuillier is, today the proud owner of two flagship stores in Los Angeles and New York City and international distribution the world over! “Yes, we are growing rapidly and recently launched a range of footwear and handbags. We want to expand our flagship stores internationally, starting with London and Hong Kong... maybe even a signature fragrance...” And I think to myself, she has it all figured out. But not just yet. Monique adds that one of her greatest challenges is in designing multiple collections at a time. “We design two bridal collections each year, our Bliss bridal collection and four RTW collections, along with shoes, handbags, tableware and jewellery,” she reveals. It seems like every day for Monique is an extremely busy day. “But isn’t it a blessing to be so busy?” she quips.

A typical day for the designer starts and ends with family. “I get my children ready for school, I workout and then I am off to the office by 10,” Monique says. “When I get into the office my day is jam-packed with meetings. I design all the collections and keep all our designs in-house in LA.” Design, she says, is intrinsic to her, with most of her days spent in fittings and with her design and production team. “I could be in a jewellery meeting and an hour later you could find me designing for my footwear line,” she quips. “It is definitely hard work and immense time management. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s so amazing to see your vision grow into something you only dreamed of.”

1. MONIQUE WITH BRIDAL

MODELS

2. WITH HER MOTHER

3. AT WORK IN HER STUDIO

4. WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO

KIDS

5. FOOTWEAR AND

HANDBAGS

6. MONIQUE WITH HER HUSBAND,

TOM BUGBEE

7. AT A FITTING

LOVES

T H O S E W H O W O R E M L D R E S S AT T H E I R W E D D I N G S

• Reese Witherspoon

• Carrie Underwood

• Heidi Montag• Naya Rivera• Avril Lavigne• Stacy Keibler• Shannon

Doherty

A MONIQUE LHUILLIER FASHION SHOW

54STYLE 55

1 2

3 4

5 6 7