It has been a whirlwind week here in New York as NY Bridal Fashion Week stormed the city with dozens of designers, editors and buyers. I saw several runway shows for Spring 2017 collections, met with friends at bridal magazines, and attended an industry panel event.
Bridal Markets, which happen in April and October, are a great time forĂ‚Â networking with wedding industry influencers. Even if you aren’t in fashion, this is a great time to get access to the top people in weddings. And ifĂ‚Â you want to attend bridal shows, you can get an invitations as long as you have a decent social media presence and a blog where you’d willing to post about the shows.
The first show I saw was actually a presentation style – or essentially a party with bubbly and hors d’ouvres – hosted by Galia Lahav. Designers Sharon Sever and Galia Lahav posed along with two groups of models inĂ‚Â Spring/Summer 2017 Collection.
Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Galia Lahav
The next day, I visited my friends at Group 868, a NYC-based sales showroom that represents several exciting international designers. Here, I spent some time practicing my Italian with the amazing Milan-based designer Elisabetta Polignano. Apparently, she just made a dress (in my favorite color yellow) called Sashi! 🙂
Elisabetta Polignano and Sasha Vasilyuk at Group868
Another great Group 868 designer is Francesca Miranda who hails from Colombia. I saw her show and can talk for hours about how her dresses have a unique combination of statement with airiness. She is definitely another name to watch!
Francesca Miranda Spring 2017
Two years ago, I went to the first U.S. show by Italian designer Peter Langner, known for his use of incredible fabrics. It was great to return and see how much his recognition among American press has spread since. He showed his Spring 2017 Collection at a much bigger (and pretty gorgeous 3 West Club), where besides the impressive chandeliers we found the show program along with a tulip on each chair.
Peter Langner Spring 2017 with editors from Martha Stewart Weddings in the background.
Outside the runway shows, cherry blossoms and tulips wereĂ‚Â in full bloom on the streets of Manhattan, so it was especially fitting to see flowers play a huge role in many of this year’s collections.Ă‚Â Ines di Santo put on a magnificent show with a long runway that opened up from a pink flower-filled gate. Unsurprisingly, the final dress of the collection, seen below, was a spring garden dream!
Ines di Santo Spring 2017
Pink and 3D floral appliques twoĂ‚Â big themes on the spring runways this year. On the last day of Bridal Fashion Week, the legendary Kleinfeld showed the collection of Project Runway‘s winner Christian Siriano, which ended on this head-turning pink ombre gown.
The week was capped off with Wedding Market Live, a great industry event with a luncheon at the gorgeous National Arts Club and a panel that included Justin Delaney of online tuxedo rental company Menguin;Ă‚Â Sandy Hammer of AllSeated; event designer David Stark; cake queen Sylvia Weinstock; and Darcy Miller, Editor in Large of Martha Stewart Weddings.Ă‚Â The panel talked about trends in wedding planning, fashion and technology to a savvy group of wedding industry leaders.
Left to right: Justin Delaney of Menguin, Sandy Hammer of AllSeated, David Stark, Julie Albaugh of Wedding Market News, Sylvia Weinstock, Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings
After the event, we got a private tour of the National Arts Club along with Justin from Menguin and my good friend and amazing photographer Nadia D. It’s a beautiful building with an impressive collection of art (particularly American Impressionists) and art deco blown glass. We all (almost) joined to be members.
And that’s a wrap, folks. If you’re looking to take your business to the next level and network with influencers, I recommend you go check out New York Bridal Fashion Week, which is about so much more than fashion. The next one is in October, so start planning ahead!
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