Joan Pillow sits in her Houston Bridal Salon as she prepares for the festivities for her clients, friends and general drop-bys like myself….all in celebration of her Four Houston Years. Stay tuned, as plans are being solidified for a 25 year celebration in Atlanta where it all started, coming this February 2014!
For myself and many of her bridal alumns, it seems like Joan Pillow Bridal Salon has been in H-town forever, but in reality it’s been four years this coming week and Joan has set into play a party to celebrate the occasion. She has a treat in store for her former brides, current clients and any friends or family of the brides or Joan that want to come along. It is her way to give back special services to these ladies with special makeovers and skin care consults and an exquisite Accessories Trunk Show to help finish off their wedding day total look, just in time to use their Holiday Shopping Card and receive 20% off.
Below are the featured experts that will be in Joan’s salon to treat her guests to a delightful time of beauty while sipping on champagne and lite bites, making for a very festive day for all…
Ioma Skin Care professionals from Saks whose unique consulting procedures center around a computerized evaluation of your face! This is fascinating and should be tried. Also, from Neiman Marcus Cosmetics, Laura Mercier consultants that will treat you to a special makeup palletes designed for that special day or for any special occasion that requires a stylish party look! On Saturday only, they will also being doing lashes for anyone interested in that very haute technique.
A Maria Elena representative will be on hand for a Trunk Show beginning Thursday, October 31 thru Saturday, November 2. This collection of exquisite pieces whose favorites for me were the headpieces, a trend that Joan says had gained in dominance in the recent NY Bridal Fashion Week. Begun by Maria Elena by making a headpiece for her own daughter to wear on her wedding day, has evolved into 20+ years in the business. The unique handcrafted designs have provided brides around the world with a balance of the aesthetics of modern fashion with their signature vintage look. These Wedding Day completes have much beautiful pieces of the finest quality in Jewelry as well, but their headpieces are my favorites and are not limited to Bridal……the Halo on the left and Skull Cap on the right were two of my favorite pieces and according to Joan, very chic touch for the modern bride.
About Joan Pillow…
*Joan comes from a major retail background, having been trained by Neiman Marcus at the beginning in their Executive Training Program and then on to buying for them.
*This major retail background taught her how to best take the business approach to Bridal and she feels that has been the secret of her endurance and success in the business.
*Opened Bridal in Atlanta 25 years ago
*Came to Houston through much encouragement by her vendors after the Neiman Marcus and Saks Bridal closings. There was much opportunity to be had in this very open market for Bridal at that time and she took the challenge on with gusto! She brought many designers to Houston from her stable of regulars that had not been available in the Houston market and the rest is history. She has built a very credible, successful business in our town.
Designers She Loves to Show….
Joan loves to show off to our prospective brides, through her many Trunk Shows, the designers which she brought here to us, those that are exclusive to her Salon and some newness down the pike that she is very excited about…
Her list of Designers carried are:
**Monique Lhuillier, Jenny Packham*, Oscar de la Renta, Anna Maier*, Ramona Kerveza*, J. Mendel*, Marchesa*, Carolina Herrera* (*designates JP exclusivities)
**New to the Joan Pillow stable of designers, being introduced through a February Trunk show, that Joan is extremely excited about is the exclusive distribution of Naem Kahn Bridal in Houston……Houston women love this designer, Joan says the gowns are exquisite and the fit for our town has always been a winner!
A few special trunk shows from The Chic Sheet archives are the visit with Orlando, Creative Director fromRomona Keveza, here to showcase his bridal collection but also, put out a “Gala Alert” for the many women in town who would love many of his Red Carpet gowns….many of the most famous you’ve all seen are from his collection.
For Jenny Packham who is hotter than ever these days due to the Duchess of Cambridge favoring this line, Red Carpet demands and my visit to their apparel runway show in NYFW, where it’s apparent that the exquisite fine beading, a signature of hers, is just becoming more and more popular with everyone….simply exquisite. This appearance was celebrated with a very British Tea at JP Salon.
Some of the dominant trends as seen by Joan at the very recent NY Bridal Fashion Market that is held twice a year, April and October. The overall feeling from Joan is that designers have taken a break from the dominance of strapless in wedding gowns (a trend, quotes Joan that has been in place since 1991…..now would anyone other than someone with Joan’s experience know that???) Bridal has taken a more covered up approach with necklines and sleeve interest and the slimmest silhouettes are making way for the return of the full skirt and fitted bodice as a fresh new look. Color is creeping its way into Bridal……my favorite is blush which is so dominant in RTW this season and growing for Spring, is to me the way to go. There was real color shades of coral, grey, blue, lilac shown but Joan thinks that even Houston, her more fashion forward of the two stores, may not be ready for that but blush is certainly a consideration and one that she has bought into. Looks so delicate and divine!
A brief Bridal trend overview from the most recent October market below….
Covered Bodice: Sheer and lace are two approaches to the more covered bodice above; Fuller skirts: are coming back in tulles, lace and softened crinoline fabrics
Sleeve interest is another aspect of the more covered look: Long sleeve, particularly in lace or in sheer that show skin tone underneath, very popular. A new addition to the sleeve story is the 3/4 length and/or elbow sleeve…..covered but a little less and so delicate and feminine.
Delicate, caviar beading is still dominant, particularly like houses such as Jenny Packham, shown here; at Naeem Khan beading is heavier and in fact very embellished appliqués are more the look. Color in Bridals: from Oscar, the soft pink/blush gown was a show stopper