Southern California is a popular destination when it comes to dream-worthy nuptials, so it’s no surprise that Claire Pettibone turned to its famous cities for inspiration in her Romantique bridal collection. For Spring 2017, Pettibone was influenced by the laid-back beaches and rich Latina culture from her hometown of Los Angeles. “The City of Angels attracts beautiful people from across the globe, from every culture, searching for that ineffable dream,” she explained in her show notes. “Growing up here was perhaps the perfect place for my own dreamer’s heart to find its way.”
She presented a cohesive collection of rich bridal dresses that were undeniably Californian: bohemian crochet dresses felt beach ready and silhouettes looked as if they were taken right off the starlets of Old Hollywood. Embellished accents covered necklines, bottom trim and dropped waists to give even seemingly simple cuts added glamour.
To drive the point home, each gown was named after a city, street or neighborhood in the Golden State. The Coachella dress was a hippie-inspired gown with a crochet lace overlay, bell sleeves and tassels on the back. Bel-Air, a mermaid gown with a full lace back, felt more upscale and red-carpet worthy. Olvera tapped into the beauty of Spanish design with floral appliqués over the shoulder straps, heavy lace, and bright pink and blue fiesta flowers along the skirt trim.
