Carolina Herrera Spring 2010 Trunk Show

Carolina Herrera Trunk Show is going on now. The Spring 2010 runway presentation was a to-die-for runway show at Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue. The show, and the gowns, were spectacular. Take a look!

Anne Barge Trunk Show

Anne Barge Trunk Show August 27th, 28th and 29th

We are so excited to welcome Anne Barge and her new Spring 2010 Bridal Collection to the Atelier. Below is a sneak peak at her new ad campaign - it is gorgeous!!

Words of Wisdom from Lela Rose

We are so excited to be hosting a Lela Rose trunk show all this week! We adore Lela's fabulous gowns almost as much as we do Lela herself. Having the entire Lela Rose Bridal Collection in the Atelier all week makes us want to come to work on beautiful Summer days!

In anticipation, we asked Ms. Rose a few questions about her collection and inspiration.

Most brides shopping now are having Spring/Summer 2010 weddings. What is your favorite gown for an outdoor wedding?

"I like silk chiffon for an outdoor wedding. The fabric is light weight, has great movement in the breeze and allows the bride to be comfortable despite the temperature. I love The Loft from my Fall 2009 collection for this. You have the option of wearing the straps 4 different ways throughout the evening."







How about a formal evening affair in the city?

"The Library- this gown has the perfect amount of sparkle without being over the top."







How has your bridal collection evolved since its original inception?

"The aesthetic has remained the same. The use of cotton fabrics, tactile embroideries and appliqué laces are still the foundation of the collection. I think we have evolved in the shapes that we are offering. Now that we have more selling history, we are able to take best selling shapes and update them. In addition, we have added accessories such as beaded belts. These give brides the option of personalizing their gowns."

Now that you also design for bridesmaids, has this changed how you design your bridal gowns?

"Actually, the bridesmaid gowns are inspired by the wedding gowns. There is a wonderful synergy between the two collections. However, you will never see a bride looking like her bridesmaids!"

Lela Rose is one of the most popular lines in the Bridal Atelier. Why do you think you connect so well with Mark's brides?

"Mark and his staff have supported the Lela Rose Wedding collection since its inception. We continue each season to do what we do best but work closely with him to make sure that his store has what they need from us. This partnership has been instrumental to our success. "

Thank you Lela!!

Mark's Tips for Outdoor Weddings

Wedding of Amory and Sean in the Bahamas
While most assume an outdoor or destination wedding to be a casual affair, today’s brides are proving them wrong. Many brides are finding new and unique locales to host their nuptials ranging from remote, private beaches to grand European villas. The choices are endless.

One thing all brides who choose an outdoor or seasonal wedding share is a sense of adventure and usually a naturalistic love of the outdoors. These brides all feel that the perfect spot to say I Do is not in the family church, but by sunset in Bali or on a mountaintop in Vermont. The fashion for these types of weddings can be as diverse as the locations. From working with bride’s in my Atelier, I have found the following locations to be the most popular: a beach or tropical resort, a ski resort or Mt. Lodge, in wine country or a summer mountain or farm setting, or a European location at a castle or villa.

1. For a beach or tropical wedding, which is the most popular spot for outdoor weddings, the bride is whimsical and free spirited. She may choose a more formal free flowing gown of organza or chiffon, or she may go more casual and adorn a short dress or ethnic inspired sarong. These looks are great to accessorize with organic beachy elements such as seashells, tropical flowers and pearls. Designers such as Angel Sanchez, Le Spose di Gio and Monique Lhuillier, create some spectacular tropical looks.

2. For a ski resort or Mt. Lodge the bride is normally athletic or a nature goddess. The gown is usually substantial due to the climate and may have sleeves or be paired with a coat. Satins, brocades, velvets and tulle lend themselves beautifully for this style of gown. This is also the perfect occasion to add fur trim or a grand opera style coat. My favorite designers for these looks are Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Anne Barge and Rivini.

3. Wine country or perhaps Vermont in the Summer, is a favorite of New York City brides who want to escape a city wedding. These weddings tend not to be as lavish, but focus on specific details: wonderful wines and food, beautiful nature settings. While they may not be grand in scale, they still can be very chic. The wedding gown styles favored at these affairs are more tailored, cleaner but still sophisticated. Fabrics such as satins, silk mikado and silk gazar provide great structure combined with luxury detail. New stretch chiffons, like those offered by Italian designer Spose di Gio, are the perfect understated combination of structure and style. Other
designers who offer great intellectual or 'organic couture' looks are Lela Rose and Jenny Lee.

4. If you choose a European villa or castle for your wedding, you’re in good company. These locales call for the grandest of dresses. Whether grand in a traditional sense or modern and edgy, these girls and their gowns will get noticed. Opulent duchess satins can be beaded or embroidered to create the perfect, dramatic gown. Lace is perfect in an old world setting invoking images of royalty. Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langner, Anne Barge and Monique Lhuillier all design fabulous diva dresses.

Wherever you may chose to host your wedding, remember to pick a gown that flatters the location, the season and your personality.

Best,
-Mark





Photos of Amory and Sean by Jake McBride for Christian Oth Studio
Gown by Monique Lhuillier.

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2010 Preview

Thursday, July 30th through Saturday, August 1st we will be hosting a very special preview of the Spring 2010 Monique Lhuillier Bridal Collection. As usual, Monique has out done herself and the gowns are divine! By appointment only.

To view the complete Monique Lhuillier bridal collection click here.

Video from Brides.com.

A Great Way to Personalize Your Wedding Gown

The classic satin ribbon sash with gown, "Jaqueline" by Monique Lhuillier

One aspect of the Bridal Atelier that I am most proud of is the personal service that my wonderful consultants strive to provide to each and every bride who enters our doors. They truly work with each bride to help them create a look that is uniquely their own. Lately, I have been noticing accessories playing a larger part in the styling process, most noticably belts.

Belts and sashes are not new to bridal. But they became increasingly popular in the past few years as designers began to show more natural waisted styles. Monique Lhuillier re-introduced the satin ribbon sash in her 2003 collection. She encouraged brides to try different sashes with many different styles of her gowns......full ballgowns, narrow A-lines, and everything LACE!!! Eventually, her sashes became available in several shades of whites and ivories, as well as vibrant and rich hues like teal, Victorian Rose & plum. Her styles influenced the entire bridal market!

Today's top designers offer sahses and belts in a multitude of fabrics with various beading and embellishments. I love that my staff can read a bride who loves a gown by one designer and but thinks it needs a "little something." They add a belt, possibly from a different designer, and it adds exactly what the bride was looking for! A unique gown that is a look all their own.

Belts and sashes are also great for drawing attention to some areas of the figure and de-emphasizing other areas. A girl with a pear shape may feel her hips look big in a gown, but when a beatiful belt is added, attention is brought to her waist and the hips de-emphasized. The same is especially true for a girl with a boy shape, even a simple organza sash can suggest a shaped waistline.

Here are some of the most popular belts at the Atelier right now:
#1 by Monique Lhuillier, #2 by Carolina Herrera, #'s 3-5 by Lela Rose



Here is a fabulous belted look, The Willow gown by Lela Rose:


Here's to tying one on!

Best,
Mark

Angel Sanchez Trunk Show

This week the Bridal Atelier welcomes one of our favorite designers, the amazingly talented Angel Sanchez. Angel's bridal collection is always a highlight of market week, see for yourself in this video via Brides.com.

This trunk show is by appointment only, July 16th through July 18th.

My Friend and Atelier Bride Vanessa Rissetto

I wanted to try something a little different today and blog about my dear friend Vanessa Rissetto. Vanessa is a fabulous nutritionist who we recommend on our vendor page to brides for nutritional counseling.

Fate brought Vanessa and I together. We met when I was a featured guest on the Martha show in the Fall of 2005. The Martha team had asked me to help "save" three brides who had not been successful in their gown search. We had each of the three lovely brides to my Atelier and helped them find and style the best look for their wedding day. We then appeared with the girls on Martha for a fashion runway segment of their new wedding day looks. At the end of the segment, Martha and I surprised each of the girls by telling them their gown was a gift from me! To view a clip of the show on the Bridal Atelier website, click here.

As Vanessa returned to the Atelier to finalize the details of her gown and have her fittings, we got to know each other better. She invited me to her beautiful wedding at Fordham University and gorgeous reception overlooking the New York skyline and Hudson River. I felt like part of the wedding party; helping Vanessa into her dress and partying with her and her bridesmaids before the ceremony. I was even priviledged to ride with her to the church! I felt very special and blessed to be part of her big day. We all danced the night away and I truly felt I had known Vanessa's family and friends forever!

Since her wedding, Vanessa and I get together frequently. I am the godfather to her Yorkie "Marley"!!!! She has also helped me with my daily diet and meal planning. She has taught me so much about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating. So many of my brides come in for fittings and are losing weight incorrectly. It only adds more stress to this happy time in their life! Seeking the advice of a nutritional counselor, like Vanessa, is the right way to go!

For more info on Vanessa, check out her blog!

Best,
Mark

What style gown is best for a fall wedding?

From Brides.com:

What style gown is best for a fall wedding?
Mark Ingram gives his advice on how to choose the right dress for your autumn celebration

Instead of white, think seasonal and shop for an ivory or off-white dress. A sash in chocolate brown, plum or navy adds an autumnal accent to your gown. It may be nippy, so stick to heavy fabrics like guipure lace or silk mikado. For a formal celebration, consider a fabric with a shine or luster such as satin or silk velvet. "Traditionally you would not wear an organza or organdy dress," says Mark Ingram, owner of the Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier in New York City. "These fabrics are fine for summer or spring weddings, but they are too sheer for fall." To stay toasty during the ceremony, wear a stole or matching bolero.

photo by Dan Lecca
gown by Jenny Packham

Oscar de la Renta Spring 2010 Preview Week is here!

photo by Dan Lecca from Brides.com

The Spring 2010 Oscar de la Renta Preview week is going and now and the gowns are simply divine! No other designer masters elegance and luxury like Mr. De la Renta. This is the first opportunity to see his complete new collection before it is available in stores. The collection is here through Saturday by appointment only.

To view the 2010 collection click here.

To view a video of the 2010 runway show on The Knot TV click here:
New! Fashion Report: Oscar De La Renta-1

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