Danielle Frankel is revolutionising weddings with her casual-couture gowns for the modern bride
We first discovered Danielle Frankel’s creations when surfing the internet. An image of a model wearing a stunning cream empire waist gown paired with a single pearl drop earring standing in a deserted swimming pool strewn with flowers made us do a double-take. It was so dramatic yet pieced together so casually, like a vintage wedding gown reinvented with a millennial take.
Was it by Johanna Ortiz, the Colombian designer known for her romantic silhouettes? Or was Vera Wang dabbling in some casual-couture designs? No—this was by Danielle Frankel, a designer we didn’t know at the time but instantly wanted to meet. And so we did just that.
Standing in her studio, a tiny, cosy room in Midtown, New York that’s crammed with satin jackets, lace trains and pearl-buttoned gowns in every shade of ivory, Frankel, originally from LA, beams in her loose sweater and jeans. She’s wide-eyed and unassuming, with a self-effacing sense of humour and bags of energy.
The new mother—she gave birth just a few months ago—is about to jet off to London for 48 hours for a private fitting but she’s sprightly and upbeat. Like her designs, she has no use for pretence. She’s a modern girl of the 21st century and, as a result, she knows just what the modern bride needs.
See also: Edgy Wedding Dress Designers For The Unconventional Bride