June is here and so is wedding season. The words “I do” for a bride are the two words she has most often dreamed about before she was even able to grasp their true meaning. A wedding day is a cherished and highly anticipated event in the life of most women and the wedding dress is the focal point of that vision. Setting the scene and bringing that personalized and unique dream to reality is what wedding dress designer Monique Lhuillier has been specializing in for over 20 years.
Monique Lhuillier is a true Fairy Godmother for many brides
Monique’s dresses are a big part of the ambiance of any bride’s big day
Monique brings bride’s dreams to life
The Monique Lhuillier Journey
Born in Cebu City, Philippines, Monique Lhuillier started her bridal design specialization and launched her line in 1996 at the age of 21 purely out of a personal need. At the time she recognized the frustrating and futile effort of finding a truly special dress for her wedding day. Upon launching the business, Monique wanted to create a magical dress that would suit every woman and allow the bride to sparkle. Thus her very first design, the “Laura” dress was born and it sold like hotcakes!
A newly married Monique Lhuillier and her husband Tom Bugbee
The very first wedding dress design Monique created was the “Laura”. The dress was simple, stylish, understated and elegant; a big departure from everything else available on the marketplace in the late 1990s
Designer Monique Lhuillier
A Monique Lhullier wedding dress began to represent the dream gown that many sophisticated and self confident women were looking for. The brand captured the hearts of women who wanted to exude a polished dose of sex appeal and class on their special day without running the risk of looking dated. Monique’s ability to walk the line between incorporating subtle contemporary trends without losing the traditional grand and formal feel of “typical” wedding dresses is what drove the demand for her creations. The woman of NOW finally had a designer that reflected her complex needs.
Monique Lhulillier 2012
Monique Lhuillier “Estelle” strapless corset and trumpet skirt with mink bolero | Spring 2014
Monique Lhulillier 2014
Monique Lhulillier 2015
Backstage at Monique Lhuillier Fall 2015 Bridal Collection
2015
Monique’s Bridal Spring 2016 Collection
Fall 2016/2017 Collection featuring a mink caplet
Spring 2017
Spring 2017
Spring 2018
After the first seven years of building her brand image from the ground up, Monique ventured out and started to incorporate bold and muted pastel tones into her line. She also began to reinvent the option for the entire bridal party by creating chic, and stylish cocktail dresses and eveningwear that went well beyond the “one and done ” use pattern that defines most bridesmaids dresses.
An example of Monique’s experimentation with color and textures
Brown chocolate Marlowe mink sandals from Monique’s collection
Designer Bridesmaid Dresses by Monique Lhuillier for Spring 2017
Designer Bridesmaid Dresses by Monique Lhuillier for Spring 2017
She didn’t stop there. In 2005 Monique went back to her traditional fashion design roots and launched an impressive Ready-to-Wear collection which continued the brand’s tradition of luxe glamour catering to the strong and self-aware woman of today.
Monique Lhuillier RTW Fall 2005
Monique Lhullier RTW Fall 2015
Monique Lhullier RTW Fall 2016
Monique Lhuillier Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Runway show
Monique Lhuillier Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Runway show
Monique Lhuillier Fall 2013 Ready-to-Wear Runway show
Pre-Fall RTW 2015 Collection
Pre-Fall RTW 2016 Collection
A huge part of Lhuillier’s success has been her strong celebrity following and appeal. From A-lister’s wedding nuptials, to their walks down the most important Hollywood red carpets; they all clamor to wear her pieces.
Sarah Michelle Geller in a Monique Lhuillier dress
Blake Lively in a Monique dress
Reality star Lauren Conrad wore a Monique Lhuillier dress for her own wedding
Julianne Hough at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2016 wearing a dress by Monique
Former First Lady Michelle Obama dazzled in a Monique Lhuillier gown at the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angie Harmon, Drew Barrymore in Lhuillier’s gowns in 2011
Taylor Swift wearing a red-blush color-block Lhuillier gown in 2014
Adding another unique layer to the brand in 2016 the now ready-to-wear fashion designer/bridal designer, teamed up with Pottery Barn Kids to collaborate on a gorgeous furniture and home decor collection for babies, and kids. Whimsical and stylish, many of the pieces were so versatile that they could be integrated into any room of a home!
Decor pieces from Monique’s collaboration with Pottery Barn kids
Monique’s Pottery Barn kids collection
Pottery Barn for kids collection by Monique
Monique is very proud of her Filipino roots and works on many projects to help bring funding and supplies to the most rural and needy areas in the Philippines. After a devastating 2014 typhoon ruined the city where the designer was raised, Monique raised money and contributed her time to join the rebuilding efforts in person with my family. The designer is also very active in raising funds for Operation Smile and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Monique pictured with her family on a charitable mission in her homeland of the Philippines
Monique has crafted a charmed life for herself, creating memories and ushering in dreams for women around the world. Her ability to make life a little more magical, one lace applique at a time, will always make her a DIVA We LOVE!
Monique Lhuillier
