Well, I did it. I had my first in-person meeting as part of the Power of 10o Challenge launching April 1st. (see April 1st blog for details!) And, it was wonderful! Let me tell you a little more about the owner, Juann Khoory, and her beautiful bridal salon, L’elite
Newbury Street, where Juann’s wedding gown shop, is located, is the Fifth Avenue of Boston. Luxury stores abound and L’elite has been part of the wedding scene for twenty years as a family- run business. Juann and her mom, Salwa, co-founded the shop. The shop is a nice mix: the physical storefront has a very Victorian vibe but inside the store and it’s gowns are pretty darn modern and gorgeous.
Actually two stores combined, you can shop for bridesmaids and prom gowns on one level then hop over to the adjacent store to shop for ‘the dress’. L’elite is one of the few places in Boston where you can find European bridal lines. I can’t express how unique and beautiful these dresses are. Juann comes from an architectural background which is represented in the dresses. Very different silhouettes and fabrications on her gowns, which range from very girl to sleek modern to statement dresses. I was so smitten I forgot to snap some pictures with my iPhone!
When I confessed my obsession with weddings and that I’d be shopping for another dress for myself (my hubby promised to married me 5 times- two down!), Juann, who gets a ‘sense’ about what will flatter a bride, grabbed an amazing statement dress that I feel in love with. (If only I’d remembered the camera!)
Not only will your dress be gorgeous, it’ll fit very well. L’elite boasts the talents of Lena, their in-house designer, and Salwa, who is in charge of the alterations department now. These ladies make the experience of dress-shopping, which can be manic, easy and fun. So, enough of me talking. Here’s what Juann had to say when I interviewed her.
How did you get into the wedding business, and were you always attracted to bridal gowns?
When I was looking for a dress for my wedding and could not find anything that suited my personality. I am also an architect; I was almost always in black and grays where I worked trying to compete with the boys so the idea of wearing something glamorous and feminine was very foreign at the time. Now I celebrate fashion everyday and dream about my daughter’s wedding dress every time I am at a runway show :)
Your shop has an amazing selection of European designers, why should brides be interested in them?
They offer a different perspective on fashion whether for bridal or mother of the bride. We want to be global and bring new ideas to our customers. There is still a sense of coture and customization in the way they look and made. Actually this is how we started, our first bridal lines were Domo Adami out of Milan and Marie de France out of Paris.
What’s your philosophy on assisting a bride to find her perfect gown at your salon?
It is a process. Collaboration- Honest Professional Opinion- No Pressures. We believe the bride has to try as many dresses as she needs to find her dream dress. We also believe that she needs to preview the whole collection. Nothing in the back! We are there to help her chose the right fit and look she is describing for her dream dress within our collection.
What’s your best advice for a bride who wants a high-end gown that may be outside her budget?
We say never stop dreaming that what keeps us going! We start with the high-end even if it is not her budget and then we look for something similar within her price range. When we do the buying we take the same care in picking our $1500 gowns as our $15000 gowns making sure that we can offer the lower end bride similar styles and qualities being offered to the higher end bride. We take pride in making our bride looking very special and glamorous whether she is buying a $500 sample or a $12,000 Oscar de La Renta gown.
L’elite is located at 121-123 Newbury Street, Boston MA 617 424-1010
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Nice website! Very educational and usable. I’m sure that many people will love it.
Judith M. Settles @ About Plus Size Bridal Gowns´s last [type] ..Searching For Plus Size Bridal Gowns under 100 – Look Here
Thanks a bunch, Judith. That means a lot to me. Come back and pls bring friends!