Palm Court, Plaza Hotel, NYC
April 5th 2009
Words, Images by Judith Ecochard
Much like the elegant postwar couture shows held for guests at acclaimed French ateliers, Douglas Hannant, a designer with upscale clientele, held his second Bridal Collection in the Beaux-Arts opulence of the Plaza Hotel’s luminous Palm Court.
Editors, retail buyers and other invitees were seated in three rows of Louis XV gilded armchairs, and aurally treated to Stravinsky’s "The Rite of Spring" (Le Sacre Du Printemps), setting the stage for a 12 glorious white wedding gowns “…for the untraditional bride, the modern woman,” according to Hannant himself.
Beginning with an au courant Hollywood style chiffon bias gown, Hannant crafted several silhouettes options for his “clients…who are sophisticated and chic.”
Our opinion: every gown was a winner, made from the “finest fabrics from France and Italy” including tafetta and satin silks, delicate hand embroidered lace, and detailed with subtle embellishments of sparkling sequins or flashy white ostrich feathers.
“The simpler silhouettes are perfect for resort weddings…to wear barefoot,” Hannant noted. We agree, and feel the white tulle veiled sequin racerback gown (Look #9) and the one shoulder white satin gown (Look #5) are ideal for brides’ destination bound.
And although there were certainly no princess type wedding cake gowns, there were several show stoppers dresses that made jaw dropping entrances including a white shantung tiered pouf gown (Look #8), and the finale---a sumptuous white tulle chiffon tiered racerback gown.
SPECIAL NOTE: The variety of necklines-including the sweetheart, strapless, and racerback.
MAKEUP:
Clé de Peau makeup gave the four models Old Hollywood Glamour par excellence. Bringing a candlelit look to the face, the makeup artists used Teint Natural Crème (Cream Foundation) and Transparent Loose Powder (a sheer shade of pink that flatters most skin tones)…with complexions perfected with the best selling creamy Concealer.
Strong eyebrows, …a là Veronica Lake were aided by light applications of the Eyebrow and Eyeline Compact with additional layers of eye shadow from the neutral palette Ombres Couleurs Quadri (Eye Color Quad) applied to lids.
A shiny beige/pink lipstick, Shiseido #208, “…is a beautiful nude lip for the summer that doesn’t wash you away,” a makeup artist observed. And the ladies looked beautiful and in visages that would work for day or night occasions.
RETAIL INFO: Priced From $3000-$8000, Available at Kleinfeld®Bridal