Here comes the bride all dressed in…a Therez Fleetwood original. Therez Fleetwood, designer extraordinaire, is the owner and head designer of Therez Fleetwood Bridal. We sat down with her to get some insight into her business and so she could give us expert advice on choosing the right bridal attire for your BIG and perfect day.

AL: How long have you been designing bridal attire? And how did you get started in this field?
Therez: I started designing bridal attire in 1996 when Harriet Cole first published Jumping the Broom – The African American Wedding Planner. Prior to designing the wedding gown for Harriet’s book, I was designing a fashion line called 'PheZula Collection -  in which I specialized in RTW (ready-to-wear) clothing using ethnic fabrics from around the world. This is how I first became know in the industry and traveled the world showcasing my collection.
 

AL: What, or who inspired you to start Therez Fleetwood Bridal designs?

Therez: I was inspired to start Therez Fleetwood Bridal after the responses I got from the wedding dress in the Jumping the Broom. I got so many calls and orders on that one wedding gown that I began researching this niche and discovered that there were no other companies designing ethnic inspired wedding gowns with the style and design influences that I was creating.

I designed my first bridal collection based off of my world travels, as I was inspired by the interesting art pieces and artifacts found throughout the various countries  It was from my travels to Africa (Ivory Coast, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana) that inspired me to write The Afrocentric Bride – A Style Guide. This guidebook offers valuable information, styling tips and fashion advice for every bride who wants to add ethnic elements to her wedding attire.

AL: Who are some of your design mentors?
Therez: I don’t really have mentors in the design industry. My mentors are businesswomen in various industries. I am inspired by other bridal designers and really love the collections from Badgley Mishka. Their designs are elegant and their workmanship is impeccable. And I love the sexy Latin flavor of Lazaro designs.

AL: Give us some pointers on what a lady should keep in mind when looking for her perfect wedding dress and the dresses for her bridal party?

Therez: The choice of your wedding gown will impact almost every other aspect of your wedding, transcending far beyond how you look gliding down the aisle. It will set the tone for the rest of the ceremony and influence other details of your perfect wedding day. The style of your wedding gown also helps to determine the level of formality and affects what everyone else in the wedding party will be wearing.

When a bride is looking for her perfect wedding dress, she should choose a dress that will compliment her figure and make her feel comfortable on that day. Wedding gowns, like brides, come in different shapes and sizes. Choosing a gown that flatters her body type is just as important as her personal style. The best way to do this is to try on several different silhouettes until she finds the right one. Once she determines the “shape” of the dress she wants then she can start looking for the intricate design elements she would like to add that would enhance the style.

Tradition dictates that the bridesmaid’s dresses should compliment and coordinate well with the bride’s gown. The easiest way to coordinate the bridesmaids’ dresses with the bride’s style is to pick up on a single detail in her dress – a piece of trim, a hint of color, the cut of the neckline, etc., then search for dresses with a similar style.    AL: Describe your design style and bridal collection. Therez: Therez Fleetwood’s Bridal Collection combines the exotic and romantic with the modern and structured. I am inspired by color, shape and texture. My gowns combine stylish silhouettes, gorgeous fabrics, exquisite details and creative design patterns made from beads, trinkets, embroidery, shells and lace. Our society is a melting pot of various cultures. Today, we are choosing to express ourselves, and our individuality in all aspects of our lives, including our wedding attire. For a long time, brides wore traditional wedding dresses that did not represent their diversity. My gowns are unique, sexy and fun, allowing the bride to make a personal statement on her wedding day. I move against the trends and express my fashion sensibilities while breaking the modern wedding mold. AL: What is your philosophy on color choices for wedding dresses and those of the bridal party? Therez: Although the majority of brides today still get married in some shade of ivory or white, there are no standard rules when choosing your wedding gown style. Almost any color is acceptable and is just a matter of choice. What is important is for a bride to keep her skin tone in mind when shopping for her wedding dress. She should choose a color that gives her complexion a nice glow – not a sallow or dull tinge. If a bride would like a diversion from white or ivory and still keep her look tranquil, she may want to consider wearing pastels. Peach, mauve, lavender, yellow and baby blue look really beautiful against most skin tones. These colors can be used for the entire wedding dress or as an accent color.   Most of my clients are looking for ethnic influenced wedding dresses. They are modern brides who may opt to wear a different color other than white, staying far away from the ‘traditional’ wedding gown. I have had clients choose to get married in vibrant shades of red, orange, gold, blue, purple and variations of silver and gold. Other clients will incorporate different colors of beads and trims into the design of their wedding dress and will usually choose colors that coordinate with her wedding scheme. Colors can be selected by the season, or time of day the wedding is being held. For example, if you’re having a… • Spring / Summer Wedding – Think fuchsia, lavender. • Fall / Winter Wedding – Think sienna, moss, sage, chocolate, bronze, cranberry, cinnamon and hunter green. • Afternoon Wedding – Think peach, purple and pastels. • Evening Wedding – Think royal blue, burgundy, black and navy. • Sunset Wedding – Think orange, coral, gold. AL: Is there a favorite material you like to work with? If so, what is it, and why? Therez: Silks are by far my favorite fabrics to work with. They come in a variety of different weaves. I like using the shantungs because I use a lot of hand-beading on my dresses and I like the weight and sheen of this fabric. It also has a beautiful earthy look and feel. With the silhouettes that I create, it molds and contours nicely on a woman’s body. I also like using silk satin because it creates sophisticated and elegant looking gowns. This is one of the most expensive and most recognizable bridal fabrics. It also holds its shape and structure extremely well. AL: Do you have any celebrity clients? If so, who? Therez: No celebrity clients as yet, however, all my clients feel like celebrities on their wedding day (smile). AL: What is the average price point of a piece from your collection? Therez: My gowns range in price from $700 for the Wedding Alternatives Collection up to $4500 for the Couture Collection. AL: Where can a person purchase bridal pieces from your collections? Therez: All wedding gowns are purchased directly from my website.  Some clients come into my studio for fittings and design changes, or just to meet me and go through the gown making process together. And actually, (most of my clients) I never meet in person. They order their dresses online. We communicate via the phone, emails, photos and sketches and I ship wedding dresses to brides all over the world, as far away as Germany, Egypt, Italy, Tanzania, and Australia. Therez Fleetwood Bridal is a custom design company. We do not have stock or inventory of any of our dresses. Each time we get an order we start from scratch. Once a bride has chosen her design, we begin the process of turning her vision into reality. All orders are cut individually and made exclusively for the bride. A client can read about this process on my website under ‘Making of a Gown’ http://www.therezfleetwoodbridal.com/modules/content/index.php?id=238. AL: Are you currently working on any new pieces/collections? If so, what is it called and describe it? Therez: Yes, I am currently working on a new collection that I am very excited about. I enjoy the design process because as an artistic and creative person, this is when my passion is expressed. The new collection will feature: • A sexy Spanish silhouette in ivory and gold lace; • An Egyptian influenced 2-pc. dress with an amazing hand beaded collar; • An American Indian influenced wedding dress with turquoise and coral beads and shells that is hot! Hot! Hot! • A soft, flowing silk charmuse empire waist dress designed exclusively for pregnant brides; • A form-fitted bustier dress with antique trim and beadwork that looks like it came from an heirloom dress; • An incredibly sexy dress silhouette that is designed exclusively to be worn in the Islands for a destination wedding that will make the groom’s mouth drop, and the guests will talk about it for years to come. • And a re-make of my wedding dress that was made from a mauve lace fabric framing ivory silk shantung fabric and accented with gold, sienna and ruby colors. – Stunning!   AL: Give us some general information on how to accessorize bridal wear. Therez: Accessories add the finishing touch to a bride’s wedding ensemble. Jewelry, shoes, headpieces, foundation garments, flowers, moneybags or purses and garters will all enhance your ensemble and complete your look. The size of your jewelry should depend on the intricacy of your dress. If your gown and headpiece are ornate, choose jewelry that is simple and tasteful. However, if your gown and headpiece are simple and conservative then your jewelry can be bolder and more stylish. Accessories are also one of the best ways to solve the wedding dilemma of what to do about, “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.”