TOP 5 ISRAELI DESIGNERS BRINGING SEXY BACK
Bridal gowns used to be all about getting the right name on the tag. Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta, and other fashion heavyweights dominated the bridal gown world. But with new designers cropping up, each with a fresh take and unconventional eye, it’s time to start exploring other rising designers. These are gowns crafted to be special, memorable, and most all, unique. Rather than going for traditional cuts and fabrics, these designers are all about creating a graceful silhouette. With the addition of accessories and embellishments, these delicate feminine gowns are tinged with sexiness and elegance to create the perfect combination. Here are some Israel-based bridal brides that you should be looking at right now.
Inbal Dror
Inbal Dror is already creating a buzz. She was one of the designers requested by Meghan Markle to submit wedding gown sketches for the royal wedding, and Beyonce also wore a dress of hers to the 2016 Grammy Awards. Inbal Dror, a student of Roberto Cavalli’s fashion house, established her own brand in 2004. It now has stores in over 50 cities, making it a truly global brand. Inbal Dror’s aesthetic is about blending vintage elements with modern touches. Delicate French lace and Swarvoski crystals adorn single-layer tulle gowns, complete with flowing side-slit skirts. Dresses tend to be more fit-and-flare style, with 3D appliques for that signature touch.
It’s a traditional look makeover with a pinch of playfulness and edgy glamour. “She should feel like a star in her dress,” said Inbal Dror to Vogue. “She should be the iconic bride in the eyes of her family and friends on her wedding day.”
Inbal Dror’s signature gown though is the mermaid tail with a lace corset. Also referred to as the “VIP,” it served as the inspiration behind her Fall 2016 collection. The latest 2020 arrivals have that same aesthetic – shimmering fabric, boho-chic motifs, and even a bold mini-dress perfect for after-parties!
Galia Lahav
Another brand favored by Beyonce, who wore a bridal gown from the brand for her vow renewal ceremony, Galia Lahav has a lot of credentials behind it. It is the first Israeli bridal line to be included in the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture – a true prestige. Based in Tel Aviv, these bridal gowns are romantic, charming but oh so delicate and simple. Favoring details like embroidery and simple silhouettes, each gown has a touch of magic. And it helps that each dress is also given an almost dreamlike name, to really reinforce the beauty of these dresses.
Thelma – Beyoncé’s gown or Amani – the deep V-shaped neckline cut mermaid dress are some of the brand’s signature looks. The haute couture techniques and customized approach in creating gowns showcase the luxurious and high-quality aesthetics of Galia Lahav’s identity.
The latest 2020 collection follows the A-line forms and beaded skirts the brand is known for but with a little twist. Adding in designs like off-shoulder, long sleeve gowns with a huge bow-like piece on the front to add a more dramatic touch to gowns. “This collection is about being true to yourself,” said Sharon Sever, the brand’s designer, to Vogue. “It’s about loving yourself, loving who you’re marrying, and loving what you’re wearing.”
Berta
Berta Balilti is an Israeli fashion designer with almost 20 years of experience and over 150 retailers around the world. A bit more avant-garde, the brand offers a wide range of selection to cater to different tastes. But the real charm is in their complex methods of pattern cutting to create truly amazing gowns. The Muse by Berta line is a continuation of the couture bridal wear with an idea of creating simpler and effortless designs. Berta’s brand is about creating special gowns that truly “touch the heart of the bride.” – and the level of detail that goes into gowns really conveys this.
Embroideries, feathers, off-the-shoulder, corset-style tops, floral applique, thigh-high slit, trumpet skirts, and dramatic capes are just some of the key features of her dress. The New York Times once referred to Berta as an influencer for switching the bridal style to bold and sexy, and that continues to be the case with their new designs.
Liz Martinez
Liz Martinez is an Israeli brand that focuses on creating beautiful gowns that match with the wearer. It’s not just about the dress, but the person wearing it and infusing that personality into the gown to create something personal. The Amour 2020 collection, for example, features
a model with the corset top, gently embroidered tulle gown and Converse sneakers, walking around the streets with a statement: less is more. With Liz Martinez’s designs, the gown is an extension of the bride.
Though the looks are mostly romantic and delicate, there is also a pinch of seductiveness in the cuts or sheer fabrics. Nothing over-the-top or endless layers of tulle, just clear lines and ethereal touches to youthful and playful silhouettes. The tattoo effect beading is one of the most striking details of her collections, and why she’s so sought after. It creates an illusion of glitter on the body, making it natural and seamless rather than part of the fabric.
Zahavit Tshuba
Zahavit Tshuba completes the list of the Israeli based designers with its unconventionality and free form silhouettes. Offering both evening and jewelry lines in parallel with their bridal collection ensure careful styling, and thoughtful accessories to complete the look without having to look for multiple designers. Leather details, long ruffle skirts, and delicate shoulder necklines are just some of the eclectic and unconventional looks created by this brand. Guided by both comfort and multifunctionality, these gowns are created for several purposes.
The brand mainly focuses on the vintage turned modern approach. Each gown can be easily adapted from the religious ceremony to dinner banquet and later to the cocktail party – without needing multiple dresses by offers separate-pieces gowns (i.e. two pieces, like a bodysuit and a skirt. Zahavit Tshuba is not afraid to break the traditional bridal gown color palette and adds black into the accessories or makes a total blood color ruffle dress. This is definitely a brand for the risk-takers, the rebels, and the trendsetters.
With the wide range of bridal wear brands that produce high quality and one-of-its-kind pieces, it’s still hard to settle for a single look for the big day. But as these designers highlight, thinking out-of-the-box and really going for a dress you love is the most important thing. Each of these designers balances their own design aesthetic with what brides want to create truly stunning gowns that you’ll cherish.
