Monique Lhuillier

Profile

Bridal designer Monique Lhuillier finally set up shop in New York City after years of luring celebrities to her Los Angeles base, taking over a two-story nineteenth-century townhouse to house her entire collection. The resulting two stories of women’s couture showcases everything Lhuillier is known for—glamorous, feminine, and fitted gowns and dresses for the modern woman; some are worth $10,000. While the second floor’s bridal salon may be what Lhuillier is known for, the salon’s first floor adds edge to the designer’s cinched waistlines with a ready-to-wear collection. Day dresses sport leather accents, trousers and silk blouses show off Lhuillier’s boyish side, and red carpet gowns mix textures in showstopping silhouettes reminiscent of the bridal collection. Meanwhile, the upstairs salon has almost everything a bride-to-be needs: classic stilettos, glitzy hairpieces, and racks of ultradetailed, perfectly ruffled wedding concoctions. Add on dressing rooms with panels of mirrors and some art pieces from Lhuillier’s own home, and the townhouse begins to feel like a sumptuous two-story walk-in closet. — Jessica Chou