Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier x Pottery Barn
You know her from her eponymous Bridal and Ready-to-Wear fashion lines, but really, Monique Lhuillier has a bit of an empire, a lifestyle brand that includes bedding, fragrance, fine jewelry and more. So how does this woman keep The World of Monique as fresh as her florals, as chic as her clothing and as style-worthy as the stoneware she creates? Take a look….
We asked Monique to describe herself in three key terms and she immediately replied, “feminine, refined and modern,” and it’s no wonder, since these are terms that also apply to all of her designs. From her shoes and handbags that have an artful edge to her clothing, her style exudes class and sophistication.
How did this all come to be? Monique explains how she began her bridal line, “When I was 21, engaged and shopping for the dress of my dreams— I was very frustrated with all of the traditional options I saw in stores. This void in the market reignited my passion to create couture bridal gowns that transcended styles available to women in search of the perfect dress. After my wedding, I took what I’d learned in fashion-design school and created my first gown, the “Laura”: a simple spaghetti-strap dress which instantly became a best seller. My husband, Tom stepped in as CEO, and together we built our fashion and lifestyle brand.”
“Laura” gown, courtesy of Monique Lhuillier
“The evolution of the brand has been very organic. The beauty of starting my career as a bridal designer is the level of trust and emotion from my customers. After the gown, registry was an obvious next step and our partnership with Pottery Barn has resulted in a wonderful lifestyle collection that celebrates life’s special moments. As I have grown with the brand, so have our brides, Pottery Barn Kids creates magical moments for mothers and children alike. Whether our customers are choosing an engagement ring from our fine jewelry collection or purchasing home fragrance to scent their personal space, I enjoy offering design solutions that elevate the everyday!”
Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier x Pottery Barn
And while she started out in fashion design and has delved into designing products like stoneware and fragrance, this has only fueled her creative fire, “Working on our other product lines has been a dream come true as I have been able to realize my vision for The World of Monique Lhuillier. I love expanding my design footprint by creating beautiful and diverse products. The partnerships we have allow me to challenge myself and grow as a lifestyle designer.”
Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier x Pottery Barn
Now fast forward to today and it’s easy to see how this self-described “Creative, Energetic and Fun” designer gets it all done. Here’s a look into her life on the daily….
“My day stars at 7am with my kids and catching up on email, 8:30 yoga sculpt class, 10am office meetings, 11:30-4:30 fittings, reviewing fabrics, concepts, accessories with different teams (usually a working lunch). 6pm leave for cocktail event or social business meeting. 7:30pm home for dinner with the family.” Seems like she’s not only creative but busy yet organized as well!
Courtesy Monique Lhuillier
Here are some fun facts about Monique (see how many you have in common with her):
Winter, Spring or Summer wedding? All
Red or white? Blush
Heels or flats? Heels
Veil or no veil? Veil
Black tie or more casual? In between
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
Milk, dark or white chocolate? Dark Chocolate
What’s your go-to comfort food? Peanut M&M’s
What’s your favorite board game? Mexican Train dominos
Favorite music genre/singer/band? 80’s Queen, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie
What’s on your nightstand right now? Ear plugs, eye mask, and my signature candles
Favorite color? Blush
When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up? Fashion designer and a singer
Seems like she knew she wanted to be a designer from the very beginning. What’s extra nice about Monique is her desire for women to feel assertive in her creations. “I want women to feel confident, beautiful and true to themselves. I want them to also feel like they can do anything when they’re dressed a certain way and look a certain way. The bonus is when I get to meet them in person and they share that sentiment. Most recently I was on vacation in Capri and a beautiful lady came up to me and shared her wedding photos and told me it was the best day of her life and she thanked me for making the dress of her dreams…. 23 years later it still brings me so much joy!”
Courtesy Monique Lhuillier
And lucky for brides out there you can see her amazing bridal creations in person, as she’s having a Bliss Trunk Show at m. Elizabeth Bridal Boutique , 810 Lake Street East, Suite 5, Wayzata, MN August 8th-10th. Call (612) 367-8120 for more info.
