Wedding dress designer Amsale, known for her simple and chic designs, chats with us about her favorite tips, trends and takeaways from the bridal fashion industry.
Q: What fashion risks would you like to see more brides taking?
A: Definitely color. If you love color you shouldn't limit yourself to just white and ivory for your wedding dress. Keep it in the pastel family — yellows, blues and pinks work well—but also make sure it still looks like a wedding dress. You don't want it to look like evening wear. The high-low hem is also a great style. It is still very classic, yet you don't see a lot of brides wearing it. Plus it gives you the chance to show off your beautiful shoes. Q: Where do you look for inspiration for your line?
A: What really inspires me are the real girls who wear the dresses. The Amsale bride is very modern, clean and simple, and I always make sure to stay with that principle, but when I travel and talk to the brides it gives me an idea about what they are really looking for. Of course I am inspired by ready-to-wear, but there is a very fine line that I do not cross. I want my collection to look like wedding dresses, not just evening gowns in white.
Q: What's the biggest fashion mistake brides often make?
A: They always feel like they need to put on more. I tell brides to think of the dress first and then what accessory would be appropriate. If you add too much to a plain dress, it really takes away from the simplicity, and if you add more to an elaborate dress, it's just too much.
Q: What's your best advice for brides choosing a gown? A: It can be incredibly overwhelming to see everything in white or ivory, so try to focus on the silhouette first. Find the type of dress that is flattering for you and then go to what your aesthetic style is. Once you figure out those two factors, it's much easier to narrow your selection down.
Q: What's the biggest challenge you face with designing two collections, Amsale and Christos, each season?
I actually don't think of it as a challenge; it gives me the opportunity to have more fun. Amsale is very clean and simplistic — it's not about being romantic and soft. Christos gives me the opportunity to work with organza and lace to create a very romantic, chic and modern feel.
Bonus question: Your dresses have appeared on TV (“Grey's Anatomy”) and the big screen (“27 Dresses”). How is it different designing for Hollywood and real brides?
A: It's interesting because we really treat them as if they were real brides. The costume directors and stylists come to us for advice because we know bridal. Although it is different because you don't get the same reaction as you would if it were a real bride. The bride isn't going to cry when she tries on the dress that she will wear. For more wedding tips, visit .