It's been awhile since I posted here at Thread and I apologize. Lately, the majority of my attention has been dominated by a particular freelance job, but I've managed to grab a bit of downtime. So without further ado...Several weeks ago, I noticed that three fashion heavyweights −two labels and one designer− are expanding their reach within, or jumping into, the wedding industry.
J.Crew, for instance, opened a bridal salon at 769 Madison Ave. in New York City on June 1. Though the retailer has been in the wedding market since 2004, this is the first time its bridal collection will be housed in one brick-and-mortar location.
In addition to gowns that start at $295, the salon will offer the new 769 cocktail collection, "nuptial accessories" by Lulu Frost, Miriam Haskell and Fenton/Fallon, and a few honeymoon-friendly goodies, like Cosabella lingerie and Histoire de Parfums scents.
Apparently, the decision to launch a bridal boutique was a wise one. J.Crew brass said more than 350 appointments are already on the books, clear into the fall, according to Style File.
And just two days after the J.Crew store opening, the Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids Collection also launched in NYC.
The line currently features 16 styles (including the dress in the above photo) on display in Rowley's Bleeker Street store. According to Women's Wear Daily:
"It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Rowley explained of the new category, which will retail in bridal stores in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. “We actually use a lot of the same elements from the ready-to-wear, but the feeling of the [bridesmaid] collection is probably a little more strictly pretty.” That means lots of tulle and silk, in cute drop-waist and strapless silhouettes.
Additionally, the prices are recession-friendly, ranging from $175 to $220.
And in March, Urban Outfitters announced it will launch a wedding line. Not many specifics were provided, but the company did say gowns will be made under its Anthropologie label (it also owns the Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Terrain brands) and retail for $1,000 to $5,000.
Further, Urban Inc.'s CEO said the bridal attire will be "heirlooms, to be passed on from one generation to the next."
Shoppers also can expect bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, accessories, shoes, invitations, and a gift registry.
In related news... If one's tech-savvy boyfriend is looking to "put a ring on it," an iconic jeweler has attempted to make his search for said ring a bit easier.
The Tiffany & Co. Engagement Ring Finder, will be available on iTunes June 14. The new app allows users to research, browse and save a virtual collection of their favorite engagement rings.
The app has five sections: Find Your Perfect Engagement Ring, Your Saved Rings, Find the Correct Ring Size, The Tiffany Difference, and Expert Consultation. Plus, the app is equipped with social sharing features for Twitter and Facebook.
What do you think of all this?
My cynical side thinks these brands are simply interested in getting their piece of the $60 billion wedding industry pie (er, cake).
However, the more thoughtful aesthete in me believes that −at least as far as J.Crew, Cynthia Rowley, and Urban Outfitters (and Vera Wang) are concerned− we're witnessing obvious efforts to democratize the bridal industry, much like what has occurred in womenswear with fast fashion manufacturers over the past decade.
In my mind, it's a great development; there's no reason hard-working people shouldn't have access to top-notch design, especially on such an important day as their wedding day.
And I have to say, Tiffany's app sounds pretty cool. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see other jewelers begin offering similar products in the near future.
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