The Dress

"Holly" sleeveless Victorian inspired gown with high collar, hand beaded bodice,and silk chiffon skirt by Israeli designer Alon Livne.  This dress was purchased at a trunk show in Manhattan bridal salon, Marc Ingram, and can not be purchased in the U.S. unless at a trunk show.  This dress is a SHOWSTOPPER unlike any other dress I have seen.  If you want your husband's eyeballs to pop out of his head when he sees you, this is the dress;)

It was featured in Harper's Bazaar, New York Times Wedding magazine, and on the cover of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style.  It was previewed in the runways for Spring/Summer 2016, and with a 6-8 month turn around time I have yet to see it on another real bride.  I was praying to find it used, but it was too early for anyone to have it yet.  So hopefully someone can enjoy it as much as I did at a fraction of the price.

A graduate of the workrooms of Alexander McQueen and Roberto Cavalli, Alon Livne blends drama, detail, and sex appeal for jaw-droppingly dramatic designs.  Always conscious of the female form and finding new ways to approach applique, this designer is a refreshing addition to the bridal scene.  Livne's gowns strike the balance between aisle and the red carpet- ideal for the woman looking to make the most of her moment in the limelight.

This dress has a high neckline of applique with pearl accents leading into a gorgeous, sheer, Victorian design through the center of the torso.  the center of the bust is framed by tear shaped pearls gradiating in size, to delicately pleated organza ruffles, accentuating the curve of the bust and narrowing to show off the waist. There are hidden nude cups hand stitched to the inside bust area . Everything is hand stitched to barely there illusion, which is sleeveless and covers the entire back.. There is a back center zip, which is hidden by a  strap of applique, giving the illusion of an almost completely bare back. There is a waistband, matching the neck, at the natural waist, before a softly gathered, flowing silk chiffon skirt.  On the runway it is shown with two high slits but I chose to have the inner layers completely closed and not to show leg, due to the already revealing nature of the dress. There is a silky inner layer of lining, another layer of chiffon and a third layer of chiffon with two slits.  These outer slits give more movement to the flowing skirt and help to make for some very dramatic pictures. I will say that I stalked this dress after I saw it on the runway, but the models they show it on are so thin and have no breasts.  I thought when I tried it on there was no way I could pull it off with my body, but it was surprisingly flattering.

This dress is light enough for a beach wedding (you will look like a royal mermaid), but extravagant enough to wear in a more formal setting.  I was married in the ruins of a 14th century church in Ischia, Italy, overlooking the sea and it was perfect.  I truly felt incredible in this dress and the word "goddess" was used many times when I received compliments.  It so ethereal ...You can get away with showing lots of skin and it still looks regal;)

This dress was custom made to my measurements for 34B, 27"waist, and 39" hips.  To give you a better idea, the only true exact measurement here is the waist at 27" because of the band.  The top of the dress, while you should be in the ballpark, has some give because of the nature of the illusion which stretches.  The "cups" inside are more like a thick lining and do not support your breasts. Someone with an A-C cup can probably get away with this dress. There is no way to wear a bra. I chose to tape mine in place (I only wore the dress for 5 hours).  The entire side and back area has slight give.  Also take into consideration that this illusion just happened to match my skin very well so you should have a similar skin tone if you want the look of nothing there.  As far as the hip area, its very forgiving because of the gathers and you can easily have smaller hips or larger hips than mine, I would say up to a few inches either way no, problem.  I'm 5'5 1/2" and wore 2 1/2" heels for a total height 5"8. I had it hemmed in the front but left extra length in the back almost like a small train.  There is no bustle because I was not wearing it to the reception.

I am more than happy to send close up pictures of any details of the dress, and the receipt as well. If you are in the Connecticut area and want to see the dress, it can be arranged.

I'd also like to add that we had the most beautiful, love-filled wedding and there are amazing vibes attached to this dress!

There are no stains or marks on the dress and I had it professionally cleaned however there are a few tiny flaws you need to be aware of.  The hem of the dress is a pearl edge and because I was walking on centuries old cobblestone, some of the hem is fuzzy looking.  It's not frayed but it is not pristine.  No one would ever notice and you can leave it as is or if you hemmed it even 1/4" it would disappear and be perfect.  This is also mostly on the back of the skirt where it was longer so if you decide to make it all floor length, even around, that will take care of that.  There is also light puckering around the edge of the armholes.  The illusion fabric is very delicate and its just from being handled.  Once again this isn't noticeable, but it is there and it is worth noting.  It started happening even before my wedding day just from fittings. I am more than happy to send close up pictures of any details of the dress:)