Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Images, Richard Spiegel
TIME & PLACE
October 2008 – Bridal Fashion Week in New York,
Midtown, at The Palace Hotel, Madison Avenue
The 1:00PM presentation
LEGENDS – The Hero Bridal Collection.
Let’s make a toast to Ms. Keveza’s “UNDERSTATED STYLING AT REASONABLE PRICES [$2,000 –3000].
Now more than ever, it’s all about the Legends [lower-priced] line.
For @ $1,600, you can pick up an entire bridal ensemble.
Romona started with her intro, which is so helpful as it eliminates the need to chase down a designer before or after the show to ask the usual questions concerning inspiration and vision.
Romona got right to the point and addressed “The nervousness going around the industry “, and even mentioned the Lehman Brothers' crisis. On the day Lehman crashed, her sales team did a record number of sales.
Quipped the designer, “These brides are still getting married, but they may be saying to themselves, ‘Well, I don’t really need that Louis Vuitton bag.’”
She attributed the 30 - 40% gain she’s experienced this year to her “unostentatious bridal gowns”. Why rub an ostentatious show of wealth into the have-nots faces? Gone are the days of Louis Roeder champagne and caviar at bridal receptions.
RTW & BRIDAL
What struck us about this bridal season was that now more than in previous seasons, there were numerous parallels between the two. There were asymmetric hemlines, natural waists, pleating, draping as at the RTW shows.
THE LEGENDS SHOW
Fabrics were soft, in raw nearly unadorned shantung taffeta, in various tones of cream, gold, and platinum. The only ornamentation was the pleated “crumb catcher bodice on one, some very light floral lace detailing on one hem and the pleated bust and waists on a few others.
The silhouettes were soft, as in A-lines with forgiving dropped waists. For the bride who wants to show off her taut figure, there are slim trumpet dresses in a halter shape or strapless with lace overlay [something we’ve seen a great deal of for the spring 2009 RTW season.]
WAIST WHITTLER
The criss cross treatment on some dresses and the pleated wide waists and wide same color bests served to create a nipped in midriff.
THE EXTRAS
Fittingly, although there were veils, they were pinned onto a low bun and the strappy sandals were simple satin crisscross heels that could be anything from Payless to Manolo.
ROMONA KEVEZA COUTURE
You COULD call this collection “bridal” but what we saw was more like some good options for the Red Carpet. Many of the styles were presented in photogenic colors such as celadon, ice blue with red and black as options.
The fluted silk shantung taffeta gown with a ruffled one-shoulder neckline is certainly an option for an important evening, and not necessarily your wedding.
STRICTLY BRIDAL BUT WITH A RTW SPIRIT
The satin chiffon goddess gowns in which the glossy sheen served as the only “decoration” was one of the strongest in the show. Best about thee gowns were the RTW touches such as the one-shoulder neckline and draped waist.
With this gown, you won’t need a veil, just the detachable shoulder tails that add a little drama to the dress.
COUTURE TOUCHES
Dozens and dozens of floral appliqués on a tulle skirt, the huge feather and tulle camellia on a tulle pique overlay.
To view more of Romona Keveza’s designs, visit her official website,
www.romonakeveza.com