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Designer Fun Facts: Stories Behind Your Favorite Bridal Designers

Morilee and Madeline Gardner

  • Founder Evlynn Udell started Morilee with her brother in 1953 

  • Morilee grew from a small NY business to a global brand authority

  • Just celebrated their 70th anniversary November 15, 2023

  • Madeline Gardner has been designing Morilee wedding dresses for over 25 years! 

Roses

  Oleg Cassini

  • Was a political cartoonist in Washington D.C when he first came to America

  • Began his fashion career designing costumes for movies and dressing actresses such as Betty Grable, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe

  • Served in WW2 in the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. army and earned his citizenship

  • Was in a relationship with Grace Kelly until her death in 1991

  • Created 300 total looks for Jackie Kennedy 

  • His fashion career of 70 years was the longest of any American designer

Vera Wang

  • Was a Pre-Med student at Sarah Lawrence College

  • Was a Vogue Fashion Editor at the age of 23

  • Could not find a wedding dress for her own wedding so she designed her own and a year later opened Vera Wang Bridal in NYC where she only sold other designers dresses at first

  • Designed the uniforms for the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading team

Wedding Bouquet

​   Maggie Sottero

  • ​Started as a boutique in Sydney Australia

  • Founder Leslie Margaret ("Maggie") Webster took the name of Maggie Sottero honor her great- grandmother

  • Started out and has remained a family and female owned and run business

  • Known for "Maggie Magic" with corset style dresses that flatter every figure

  • First major bridal brand to feature plus sized models on the runway

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