Sunday, April 15th, 2012
Jumeirah Essex House Hotel
A bride that wants to look like a cake topper actually does exist. If you are just such a bride & you have an appreciation for the best lace, best tulle & a needle akin to Parisian Couture, the Ines Di Santo is the designer for you. This season, Ms. Di Santo strayed a bit from her normal formula of wide skirted, bustier bodiced confections – each impressive in & of themselves in their attention to detail & overall quality – to create a collection that was decidedly close to the body from neckline to knee, only adding volume below the knee.
The designer’s signature wrinkled, gathered, bias drape was present in abundance. Present too were ample yards of European Chantilly lace, silk tulle & every construction of silk body fabric the genre would allow. The result was traditional bridal fantasy dresses that would honestly make any bride feel like a princess on her day.
The final gown was so voluminous that it barely fit down the runway & was emblazoned with every trick the designer had in her arsenal – she even had some powder pink flowers & vines hanging off the front that would have driven any cat to a point of frenzy. This piece was ridiculous in nearly every way, but once that piece was put aside the balance truly was beautiful.
Ms. Di Santo surprised her legions of fans in the audience with a capsule collection of Black evening ensembles, the first three of which read as an after thought & didn’t really amaze. Then, a princess dress in Charcoal Gray tulle encrusted from the bodice to waist in Silver Swarovski crystal jewels. The jewels ended midway down the skirt in a starburst pattern to create a dress that was awe-inspiring. Ines Di Santo is an amazing talent that truly embodies every trait a bridal designer should. If her daughter, Veronica, was paying attention as she grew up in her mother’s atelier, I suspect the future of this collection is in good hands. Since both the designer & her daughter took the final bow together, it seems obvious that the house feels my suspicions as well.
-Scott French
Designer website: inesdisanto.com
What we’ve said: Bridal Fall 2012
What we’ve said: Bridal 2012
