Monique Lhuillier began designing her fall collection with a moment of reflection: 2016 marks her 20th year in bridal. “I started looking through the archives and I was surprised at how many of the dresses were still so relevant,” she said. “I thought, ‘What would this dress look like if I had designed it today?'” (For starters, it would be paired with an array of shoes, jewelry and other accessories, a reflection of the brand’s growth into a full lifestyle collection.)
In a gorgeous runway show at Carnegie Hall, Lhuillier showcased her latest lineup, which she imagined as for a “young ingénue madly in love and dashing to the altar.” It was tinged with lingerie-inspired details — from plunging, corseted bodices to slinky, fluid gowns that recalled sheer negligees. Lhuillier decorated her sheath gowns with floral and crystal embroidery and fluttering ostrich feathers that imbued the looks with a sense of movement. The ivory palette was complemented with soft tones of blush, toffee and champagne. A few dresses featuring tiered, ruffled layers of hand-cut tulle and flowing chiffon added to the frothy extravagance.