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Kirstie Kelly for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings

When the concept for a line of Disney’s Fairy Tale Wedding gowns was initiated, Disney decided to partner with a highly-credible couture designer to undertake the task. After much investigation into bridal couture, one designer stood out, Kirstie Kelly of Kirstie Kelly, Inc., Brentwood, California.
Kirstie, a graduate of Los Angeles’ Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design, gained exposure to international style during her childhood in the United States and Europe. “I grew up wearing school uniforms which certainly spurred my imagination when dressing outside of school. I had a love for fashion growing up, the idea of expressing oneself through clothing.”

After Parsons, Kirstie worked for several large fashion concerns, world-wide, on multi-million-dollar budgets, design and fabric production. She became increasingly interested in wedding design and recalls, “The idea that you are part of someone’s wedding and a part of making them look and feel beautiful is very special.”

In 1998, she formed Kirstie Kelly, Inc., in Los Angeles, quickly gaining recognition for her vision, quality and timeless creations.

Soon she was designing for celebrities and socialites, and in 2003, USA Today recognized her work with those who are influential internationally in the arts, cuisine, and politics. She also designed gowns for television, including “Will and Grace,” and movies, so the transition to Disney was a natural one. Upon learning of her selection by Disney, Kirstie says she was immediately intrigued and thrilled. “After researching and identifying the market segment for the brand, I was very happy to say ‘yes.’”

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Her initial concept was to take a modern approach to the Disney Princesses. “I wanted to communicate their personalities and moods. But it was important to create personalities that the modern bride would relate to.” Kirstie says she watched the films, came to understand the essence of each princess, then developed that mood in a way today’s brides could relate. “Because the six princesses we work with are so diverse, we are lucky to incorporate many different personality and design traits into the collection. There really is something for every type of bride.”

“For instance,” she says, “for Belle, we offer a butter- colored taffeta, and typically lace is favored over beading. For Cinderella we have our largest ball gown shape and use heavily-beaded bodices and beading throughout the gown. We use duchesses satins for Cinderella that have a much more lustrous appearance. Snow White’s shapes are more demure, softer and sweeter. Disney’s Princess Jasmine is our more bohemian princess and today’s bride that chooses Jasmine’s gown is typically having a destination or outside wedding.” Ariel dresses are sultry and alluring, and the Aurora/Sleeping Beauty collection is romantic.

To accomplish her Princess designs, Kirstie brought her couture techniques to the Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings line. “I focused mainly on fit, fabric and embellishments. The gowns fit beautifully, the attention to detail runs throughout the line.” She emphasizes that the gowns are not ‘costume.’ “The gowns in the collection are not film replicas, nor do they have a character read.”
Now, new lines have been introduced, including Blossoms, designs that Kirstie says integrate classical bridal gowns with “romantic and flouncy elements” to turn little girls into princesses. “We are crossing fabrications between the collections as well as specific style attributes. There is less construction in the Blossoms line, so the gowns are much lighter. It’s important for a little blossom to feel comfortable in her princess dress, to want to twirl and spin in the dress and feel free enough to run and play.”

The Maidens collection intersects Disney Princess innocence, cocktail and eveningwear sophistication, traditional bridesmaid design, and ‘red-carpet’ glamour. “I felt it was important to create a maidens collection that was fun to wear, dresses that a woman would want to pull out and wear to parties.”
New Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings products are coming out too. “But you will have to wait,” Kirstie says, “and be surprised!”

By Susan Hart Hellman, Executive Editor

Kirstie Kelly for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings
131 S Barrington Place, #100
Los Angeles CA 90049
Phone: (310) 471-5711 Click for Website This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Directions


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