Chicago: a glorious and bold American city, known for its architecture, art, food, and of course, shopping.
This iconic city is therefore home to an amazing selection of wedding dress boutiques where international designers strive to feature their gowns. Yes, Chicago is a city of bridal dreams, so you can be sure that you’ll be spoiled for choice when choosing your dress here.
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However, finding the brand, collection and design that most suits your style can be hard among such a varied selection of popular bridal boutiques in Chicago, that’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favourite designers and where to find them in Chicago’s top wedding dress salons and boutiques:
Designer: Rosa Clará
In just 21 years, the renowned Rosa Clará has gained worldwide prestige for continuously embellishing brides with elegant and modern designs. The aim of the international label is to make every bride feel one in a million, with effortlessly chic gowns.
Rosa Clará.Learn more about “Rosa Clará.”
56. Necora, Rosa Clará.
Learn more about “Rosa Clará.”
For 2017 Rosa Clará gowns, think delicate and light fabrics creating languid and fluid silhouettes, and other dresses with structured, voluminous skirts. Most of the gowns from the 3 lines, Rosa Clará, Rosa Clará Soft and Rosa Clará Two, have either a boatneck or off the shoulder necklines.
Where: Lovely Bride Chicago
Lovely Bride is a dreamy bridal collective with a presence all over the United States. Each of their stores are cosy and uber-stylish, packed with the most glamorous and trendy gowns for the modern bride, from either indie or renowned designers.
In Lovely Bride’s Chicago store you’ll find Rosa Clará Soft, our favorite Rosa Clará collection. These art deco inspired master pieces are, as you may have guessed, made from sumptuous soft fabrics for an elegant and feminine look. Think airy tulle, chiffon, and lace.
The Lovely Bride philosophy is that every bride should have a ‘stellar experience’: you’ll enjoy being styled by professionals who know and understand what makes each bride feel stunning as individuals. Featuring 7 designers as well as gorgeous Rosa Clará Soft numbers, you’ll be sure to find the dress of your dreams in their Chicago store.
Lovely Bride Chicago: photos via Kelly VanderLaan and Alex Brown
Designer: Naeem Khan
Naeem Khan famously blends the best fashion traits from different cultures into every innovative design. Khan’s designs are incomparable to any other, and so are perfect for the unique, fashion-forward bride.
Name Khan Bridal 2017 Spring Collection
Born and raised in Mumbai, this Indian-American fashion designer grew up surrounded by colour, art, architecture and textiles: his grandfather and father dressed Indian royalty. As a teenager Naeem Khan moved to New York in further pursuit of his fashion career, which launched in 2003. The world loved Khan’s originality and creativity, enabling him to expand into the bridal market by 2013. Khan has dressed names such as Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Penelope Cruz and Queen Nor of Jordan, to name a few. His collections are sold in over 100 stores worldwide.
Where: Belle Vie Bridal
As a boutique at the forefront of Chicago’s bridal scene, it’s only fitting that Belle Vie Bridal Couture feature cutting-edge bridal designers, such as the exquisitely talented Naeem Khan.
Belle Vie Bridal Couture, Chicago
Just as Naeem Khan incorporates artistic influences from all over the world into his designs, Belle Vie creates a Parisian influenced, luxury ambience in which you’ll find your dream dress. In Belle Vie, you’ll be welcomed by Amanda Bonnell’s renowned team of expert stylists, in a relaxed yet sophisticated bridal hub.
Here, expect nothing less than an exclusive bridal suite, a personal stylist, impeccable customer service, and a couture gown to suit every bride. As well as Naeem Khan, Belle Vie Bridal features exquisite gowns from Valentino, Lihi Hod and Sabrina Dahan, to name a few.
Belle Vie Bridal
Designer: Casablanca Bridal
For a traditional, romantic gown, look no further than Casablanca Bridal. The brand that, since 1997, has become the fastest growing label in the industry. It’s safe to say Casablanca Bridal pay attention to detail, and it’s often the intricate details that make each bride unique.
Casablanca’s Secret Garden Collection for Spring/Summer 2017 is as sumptuous and enchanting as ever, with exquisite laces and hand-beaded embellishments.
Casablanca Secret Garden Collection 2017 Learn more about “Casablanca Secret Garden Collection 2017 ”
Casablanca Secret Garden Collection 2017
Learn more about “Casablanca Secret Garden Collection 2017 ”
You can expect nothing less than stunning quality, since Casablanca has its own factory to monitor every step in the manufacturing process that will make your exquisite dress. Think structured, voluminous skirts and the loveliest of sweetheart, illusion and v-shape necklines.
Where: Bijou Bridal
This attentive Bijou Bridal boutique has a proud selection of hand-selected designs from Casablanca, Mori Lee and Stefan Joli to name a few. Their chosen designs mix tradition with cutting-edge trends hot off the New York and Paris runways. Located just 25 minutes out of Chicago City, your visit will be SO worth it: Bijou Bridal is a glamorous wonderland of all things bridal.
“Bijou Bridal is different than the other bridal boutiques in the Chicago area because we focus on providing a personalized buying experience from start to finish without a couture price tag. Our store carries a variety of designers including a private label that is exclusive to our stores. We have also just recently added “Bijou Sample Closet” to our existing salon, which houses discounted designer samples for brides who prefer to purchase off the rack,” says, Bijou Bridal representative, Natalia.
“Casablanca Bridal is one of our favorite collections. Some of our favorite elements are the quality of the fabric, laces and delicate and detailed beading. They make it possible for every bride to find the perfect dress by offering custom changes on any gown. We carry Casablanca Bridal gowns because they offer a great selection of styles, fabrics and color options at an affordable price for our brides. They are also one of the very few vendors who do not discontinue any of their styles,” says, Natalia
Bijou Bridal Chicago
Designer: Jenny Packham
A successful British bridal design house with a signature style. Jenny Packham has achieved global recognition since launching in 1988 and now has a lingerie and accessories line as well as bridal gown collections. Jenny Packham’s flagship stores are in London, Hong Kong, Paris and New York, but can be found in many stylish boutiques all over the world.
Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham gowns are the perfect blend of unique, modern, traditional, feminine and elegant: they acknowledge traditional bridal trends, yet still evolve with the times in a fashion-forward, orginal manner.
Where: Ultimate Bride
Located in the heart of Chicago, along the city’s prestigious and luxury Oak Street, you’ll find Ultimate Bride, a renowned store that has been helping bride’s find their perfect designer gown for 3 decades.
As well as Jenny Packham, you can find some of our other favorites like Caroline Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Berta and Monique Lhuillier, among others. It’s a bridal fairytale.
Ultimate Bride, Chicago
Designer: Demetrios
Demetrios is a world-leading bridal name that has long produced cutting-edge wedding dress designs of an extensive variety. Demetrios James Elias was born in Greece, yet grew up assisting in his family-owned bridal store in New York. His love for bridal fashion gradually evolved and grew over time. Now his own designs are the envy of brides worldwide.
You can expect intricately embellished backs, sumptuous ruffles and figure shaping cuts from the 2017 Demetrios collection.
Demetrios Bridal Collection 2017
Where: Macy’s Bridal Salon
In Chicago, Macy’s Bridal Salon by Demetrios holds stunning numbers from the designer himself, as well as from other favorites such as Lazaro and Marisa. If you’re looking for a bridal store that knows what its doing, then look nowhere else. Macy’s Bridal Salon has been a luxury service to brides for over 100 years. You can’t get anymore authentic than Macy’s, Chicago.
“Most of the Bridal Salons in downtown Chicago cater only to the most affluent brides. Macy’s State Street prides itself in affordable luxury. The real bride, all shapes, sizes and ages welcome. My consultants are excellent at connecting with the brides, developing trust and a partnership in finding the perfect gown. Our very large in-house alterations experts are 2nd to none.” says Macy’s Bridal Salon Divisional Manager, Christopher Dillon.
As an industry innovator, the Demetrios bridal empire has its own magazine publication, and named bridal salons in prestigious Macy’s stores. Dillon states, “Demetrios is one of the most prolific designers in the business. He produces large full collections every season that not only speak to the trends but to the classics as well. Demetrios designed the original mermaid Bridal gown and still plays off that concept to delight his brides . He is also very approachable. If my team feels we are missing anything in our lineup or have ideas to tweak a design, he will respond to that in a most positive way. His low low backs and sheer sleeves have become a huge hit both last season and for 2017.”
Macy’s Bridal Salon by Demetrios, Chicago
So here you have it, everything you need to know when searching for your perfect wedding dress in Chicago. You can thank us later!
Leave your comments below if you have anything to say about these top boutiques, and send us your #RealWedding photos!
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