Bridal Chic: Monique Lhuillier Bridal Gowns
At the tender age of 33, Monique Lhuillier is already a shining star in the bridal gown industry. Highly regarded and sought after by celebrities, Lhuillier has designed wedding gowns for Britney Spears, Christine Baumgartner, Natalie Imbruglia, Charlotte Ross, and Debbie Matenopoulos. Britney Spears loved Monique's design so much that she had Monique design her bridesmaids' dresses as well.
Monique Lhuillier: The Designer
Born in the Philippines, Monique is a culmination of French and Spanish/Filipino cultures. Together with a local designer, Monique began to sketch and design dresses at the age of 12. She was very drawn to the glamorous and classy style of Audrey Hepburn as well as her own mother, and the dresses she designed reflected this.
As the youngest child of three siblings, Monique resisted and rebelled against her parents' wishes for her to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu. Instead, she wanted to pursue what has always been in her heart – fashion design. Monique's parents gave in to their daughter's passion and arranged for Monique to attend L.A.'s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. As her final project in school, Monique chose a bridal theme for which she hand sewed hundreds of minuscule handmade rosettes.
Monique's dresses and gowns became widely publicized after the character Josie wore a Monique Lhuillier wedding gown on Melrose Place. Soon after, dressing celebrities became a big part of Monique's life. In addition to dressing celebrities, Monique enjoys doing trunk shows.
The Bridal Line
What is Monique's motto in designing wedding gowns? If she won't wear it, she doesn't expect anyone else to wear it.
The Monique Lhuillier bridal line combines the ironic elements of classic romanticism and modern simplicity. On the one hand, Monique prefers simple and contemporary silhouettes that show off the body. On the other hand, detailed beading and embroidery, which are all delicately hand done, make the Lhuillier gowns exquisite and feminine. Monique's designs are typically sleeveless, and most are A-line with full dramatic skirts. The high quality and excellent workmanship of Monique's wedding gowns are fully reflected in the prices. Ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, Monique's designs are definitely on the expensive spectrum of wedding gowns. You can find Monique Lhuillier wedding gowns at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and many small boutiques.
