From The Industry
Laura,
September Bridal
At September Bridal in Antwerp, Laura has created a private and considered space for brides with a point of view. Her carefully curated selection brings together unconventional gowns and accessories by women designers — pieces that balance tradition with personality, and the iconic with the ironic.
Drawing on her experience in fashion, hair and make-up, and photography, Laura approaches bridal styling with honesty, instinct and a distinctly personal eye. We spoke to her about modern vintage, the transformative power of the right accessory and why every bridal look should leave room for fun.
What frustrated you about the bridal industry and what did you want to do differently with your own space?
There was so much emphasis on what's traditionally bridal, how fast you become "the bride" and how fast you stop being yourself. There are all of a sudden so many arbitrary and archaic rules. I wanted to create a space to discover what it means to be you as a bride. I find lots of bridal boutiques all have the same set of designers and this is how you really lose curiosity about style, craftmanship, culture, emotion, design and most importantly; identity. I wanted to create a space where brides are, first and foremost, treated as intelligent, discerning people, and not just "the bride". "The bride" is a label that can fit anyone. I'm interested in the woman as a bride, the bride as a woman. And also... Before the shop, I used to do bridal hair and makeup for many years and I got sick of waking up early and burning my fingers on hot tools (haha).
You work exclusively with female designers. Was that a conscious decision from the start, and what does it mean to you?
Absolutely. Bridal is inherently intimate and that's how it is supposed to be experienced. Only another woman would truly understand what it means to be a bride because it's only from a lived experience and instinctive understanding you notice how layered, ritualistic, vulnerable and emotional bridal is. I love all my designers, speak with them regularly and their work resonates deepy. There's an integrity and emotional depth in the way they approach bridal as a concept and that aligns with how I see bridal myself. It feels less like creating a dress and more like understanding the woman who's wearing it.
How would you describe your typical bride and what does she find with you that she can't find elsewhere?
Most September brides are still classic brides. But classic doesn't have to mean predictable, at least not at September. They want to be a bride but not the bride. I like to believe she come to me because she knows she'll be understood, and be taken seriously as an individual, rather than sold to as a bride. I'm not pretending that every bride who enters September is starting from a blank canvas and is interested in fashion for fashion's sake. Usually not, but they all have good taste and style. Most brides already have a certain visual language, a vibe, a Pinterest moodboard. I understand that, the references, the desire, even if she doesn't have the right words for it. I think the biggest thing she finds with me is the feeling of being understood beyond the surface.
How much do brides actually know what they want when they walk through your door for the first time?
It can be quite different! I have had a few brides who came to September for a specific dress and walked out the same day with their depost paid for that same dress. Other brides don't know exactly what they want but what they do know is that anything else just won't do. I notice most September brides share my opinion; if you're going to do it, do it right. That means you know who made your dress, transparent practices, ethical spending, getting the help you need in the process, unique pieces, no oversaturated designs, a slow pace, wanting to keep the art and magic of dressmaking alive, moving thoughtfully and intentionally through this process.
“Playfulness is such an underrated quality.”Laura, September Bridal
The dress is usually the starting point, but what do you think truly completes a bridal look?
Fun. Something quirky, funny, something tongue-in-cheek. We mostly praise timelessness or "flattering" and reach for it in a bridal look because it signals taste, approval, cultural capital, social status and that you know the rules to the bridal game. Playfulness is such an underrated quality and harder to categorize. It's subjective. It's hard to pull off, you need self confidence for it. Fun means true unbiased self-expression.
Have you ever had a bride where one specific accessory completely changed the whole picture?
Yes! Very recently, my bride Axelle got married in Italy in a perfect dress by The Law. She's just so stylish. She had bought a pair of sparkly earrings a while ago. When we started to put the look together on her last fitting, we both saw that the earrings didn't complete the vibe. I suggested switching the sparkle for a softer pearl from Studio Ena. It was like watching the Mona Lisa being painted!
“I don't like recreating the past. I only borrow its language.”Laura, September Bridal
How would you describe your aesthetic in a few words?
Modern vintage. I love an allusion. Understanding why you like something unlocks a deeper meaning, a hidden layer, It scratches my brain just right when I see a bridal styling using an intelligent and intentional reference. It feels like we're both in on something noone else knows; talking the same language in a cultural conversation. It's an interesting, a very meta process of taking those timeless references and translating them into a contemporary setting. I don't like recreating the past. I only borrow its language to create this styling language that's entirely its own.
What's inspiring you right now?
Contrast. Yin and Yang. I'm simultaneously living in a world full of opulence, detailed cuts, art deco, 1930s style silk gowns, embroidery, feathers, pearls, tule, you name it. When I need a break, I love early 90's minimalism with the signature long, streamlined suit jackets, satin skirts, taffeta, sleek hair and more. I recently started watching Love Story and being an assistant at the Calvin Klein showroom looked like an amazing job. I draw a lot of inspiration from vintage fashion, 30's and 90's but also the 60's and 80's are too cool.
