A famous (Filipina) FIDM grad: Monique Lhuillier

The quality of graduates was one of the factors that I considered when choosing a fashion school. Thus, I was able to read about Monique Lhuillier during my research. Monique Lhuillier is probably the most internationally known Filipina designer at the moment (well actually, she is a mix of French, Spanish, and Filipino, but still). She was originally from Cebu, Philippines, but she left the country to attend a boarding school in Switzerland when she was 15. After which, she went to FIDM in LA to study fashion design. Monique Lhuillier was originally known as a bridal designer. A personal quest for the perfect wedding gown during the preparations for her own wedding inspired her to create a company specializing in wedding dresses. As the company grew, her husband (Tom Bugbee) who recently got an MBA took over the business side of her company.  Such a nice fashion love story if you ask me. Here are some amazing wedding gowns from her most recent bridal collection. Hopefully I can already afford a Monique Lhuillier dress by the time I get married. If not, I will just have the gown copied. Hehe 🙂

Monique Lhuiller Fall 2010 bridal collection

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Today, Monique Lhuillier does not only design wedding gowns but also evening gowns. Her dresses have received various Hollywood red carpet moments (as Rachel Zoe would say).

(clockwise from top) Eva Mendes, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Swank, and Lucy Liu. Talk about famous people wearing your creations!

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But of course, Monique’s clothes do not need by to be worn Hollywood celebrities in order to be noticed. Her creations are by themselves, breathtaking. Below are my favorite pieces from Monique Lhuillier’s Fall 2010 collection which was presented in Bryant Park during New York fashion week.

Wow. Love the details on these cocktail dresses!

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I am pretty sure these gorgeous gowns will make an appearance at the red carpet real soon!

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So there you have it. The morale of the story is: go to a great fashion school, work really really hard, create dresses that you yourself would like to wear, and marry a really good business man. And of course I am kidding on that last one 😛

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(PHOTO CREDITS: bridal colelction photos from moniquelhuillier.com, red carpet photos from redcarpet-fashionawards.com, RTW Fall 2010 photos from style.com)