Monique Lhuillier, most commonly known for her exquisite bridal collections, is a name commonly dropped on high profile red carpets, such as the Oscars or the Golden Globes. Though a ball gown is not the most practical garment to wear whilst grocery shopping (or any other non-red carpet/wedding day activities), this designer did showcase some trends that can easily make the transition over to casual wear.
1. FULL SKIRTS
Like I said, a ball gown is definitely not the easiest thing to wear while going about your day, but you can always incorporate that look in a way that best suits you.
How you can rock it: Next time you’re shopping for a new cocktail dress, try an A-line cut with a fuller bottom in order to get that “ball gown” feel.
2 MID-LENGTH SKIRTS
It seems that lately the shorter the better is the case for skirts, but Lhuillier showcased this mid-calf hemline a lot in her show. A more modest approach, it can be worn at work or at dinner parties, or even a night out!
How you can rock it: Don’t fear the longer hemline! It sometimes has a bad rap for not showing enough but hey, not everyone wants to show all of their leg all the time. Opt for a mid-calf dress for your next dinner party, you won’t worry about the potential of flashing anyone and won’t have to shave above the knee! (Come on, we were all thinking it).
3. LACE
It would have been weird to not see lace from a designer so known for bridal! What I like about these looks though is the dark lace. I think people will often associate lace with pastel colours, making it almost a symbol of innocence. I love the kind of juxtaposition of the lace with the black, giving it a feminine gothic feel!
How you can rock it: Try lace in a darker shade, making it more appropriate for the upcoming season. If you fear looking too dark, keep it simple with one piece of dark lace and then lighten it up everywhere else.
4. LEATHER
Similar to what we saw last week in Prabal’s looks, leather was a trend on this catwalk. What’s different though is the amount of leather. While Gurung showed us subtle hints, Lhuillier has opted for full leather bottoms.
How you can rock it: If you’d like to rock the leather bottom look on a daily basis I would go for leggings with the leather feel for an easier look (you don’t want to be like Ross in Friends. Or, I’m a huge fan of a leather jacket (as I’ve said before) if the pants don’t do it for you.
5. TEXTURES
There was a playful use of textures in this show, making every garment seem like a piece of art. An interesting fabric gives a piece of clothing a new depth, making it more and more interesting.
How you can rock it: Unfortunately, fabric with intricate detailing tends to cost more, meaning this trend could be a bit pricier. Invest in a good quality piece that won’t go out of style soon and will last a long time. Or, search through consignment stores for interesting articles!
Well, there we go, five trends from a ball gown Queen! Hopefully with these trends we can all bring out our inner Disney princesses and shine like a Lhuillier bride without the price tag!
Written by: Jamie Hoholuk
All photos belong to Monique Lhuillier