Small Stores Doing Big Things
Saturday, June 4th, 2011Style Guru Josh Hedrington has been traveling around NoVA recently checking out the local bridal salon scene. Here’s his report on three unique salons…
The Northern Virginia landscape should be nicknamed Bridal Paradise, as many bridal boutiques have emerged - showing us that small stores can do big things. Recently, I had the opportunity to view collections from three inspiring retailers: Moni’s Bridal, Joy Houston Bridal and Global Bridal Gallery. All three stores prove what I’ve echoed for years, “You do not need to leave the Washington DC region to find great fashion!”
First, let’s start with a review of the dresses featured recently at Moni’s Bridalrunway show in Manassas. On the heels of Kate Middleton’s famous wedding, we saw that lace was the trend as designs mimicked the delicate look made famous by the British Princess. The models also wore gowns in grand ballroom silhouettes with beautiful, sparkling embroidery and applique. Spectators were additionally delighted to see an A-line flirty dress with a hemline that stopped just above the ankle - the perfect dress for the bride who would like to showcase her wedding shoes. The Royal Wedding demonstrated that true elegance can make a glamorous statement, and this was the case for the entire collection at Moni’s Bridal.
My continued escapades through the NoVA bridal scene took me front row to a fashion show at Washington Bridal Showcase, where I witnessed the memorable creations of Joy Houston. This designer is beautiful inside and out, and her creations seamlessly represent the beauty she embodies. The Joy Houston collection covered both traditional and contemporary designs, with every creation possessing the designer’s special touch to make one-of-a-kind looks. Joy is a native of Thailand and uses exquisite custom-made silks from Asia for many of her dresses. The garments on the runway this day featured designs with careful stitching that brought life and femininity to each gown. I’ve always admired Joy’s creations because she is not afraid to use varied colors as part of the pallet. Whether classic white, champagne, or pink gowns, there is something for everyone at Joy Houston Bridal, a quaint store with a huge presence.
If you like small stores with a personal touch, then Global Bridal Gallery may be the store for you. Located only a few steps from Joy Houston’s in Old Town Alexandria, the boutique packs a lot of style into a small space. I attended one of their fashion shows where guests enjoyed extraordinary dresses fit for a princess. The voluminous ballgowns were my favorites, which displayed layers of silk and tulle that made models appear to glide down the runway. Attendees also saw beautiful bridesmaid dresses in vivid colors and three-dimensional floral cuts. Global Bridal Gallery is one of the few stores in the area to carry the spectacular Jovani label and these garments wowed the crowd during the show. Throughout the presentation, dresses were complemented with beautiful veils of all lengths - from birdcage to cathedral, all put the final touch on creations to make the perfect bride.
Well, there you have it - a glimpse into the world of three stores, proving that square footage has no bearing on finding great fashion. For more information, visit the following websites: www.monisbridalboutique.com, www.joyhouston.com, and www.globalbridalgallery.com.
Josh Hedrington is the Style Guru for the Bridal News Blog, writing on wedding fashion and style. Josh will be soon rolling out The Stylish Bride Ride, where he’ll take you on an exclusive wedding shopping adventure. Look for more details on The Stylish Bride Ride in the July edition of Brides & Weddings of Northern Virginia, www.bridesandweddings.com and The Bridal News Blog.
