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Everything needs to stand out on your wedding day but perhaps none more so than the dress, so you’ll want to make sure you’re in expert hands.
Annie Wijaya, owner of Belle & Tulle Bridal. Photo: Lionel Lai/Acepix.
When you listen to Annie Wijaya talk about wedding gowns, it’s evident that the founder-owner of Belle & Tulle Bridal is well acquainted with the inner workings of the industry. She’s knowledgeable and passionate about bridal gowns, and is committed to ensuring every bride finds her dream dress. Belle & Tulle carries a selection of gowns from the US and Europe, from brands like Lela Rose, Anne Barge, Naeem Khan and Zuhair Murad.
What’s unique about the gowns at Belle & Tulle?
Annie Wijaya: We offer a wide variety of gowns to suit different personalities and individual preferences. For brides who are geared towards high fashion and want something a little sexier, Zuhair Murad is a good option. For brides who like the whimsical, unconventional aesthetic, they will probably lean towards designs from Lela Rose. When selecting which gowns to bring in, we’re always careful to bring in a good mix of classic and trend-oriented styles.
Can you take us through the entire process of selecting and bringing in these designer gowns?
Wijaya: New York Fashion Week is held twice a year and I’ll fly there personally to curate the collection. Within each collection, I’ll select the pieces that are a good representation of the collection’s story. For example, the theme for Anne Barge’s collection last season was “French garden”, so I looked out for gowns that had beautiful floral appliqués, intricate lace work and soft detailing.
What do you look out for when making your selection?
Wijaya: The quality of the fabrics and the workmanship. For me, it’s very important that the designers we curate continue to do their fabrication in-house, instead of outsourcing the job to an overseas vendor. When Belle & Tulle first started, there were three brands I worked with but dropped quite quickly as their specs weren’t right for the Asian physique.
What are some challenges you face in this process, and how do you overcome them?
Wijaya: It can be challenging trying to decide which gowns to bring in. While we try to be as objective as possible about the type of designs and silhouettes that work for this market, we also try to bring in one to two pieces that push the envelope. When I’m deciding on the gowns to bring in, I keep trends in mind but I also try to make sure the overall collection is varied in terms of silhouettes, necklines and detailing.
What are some little-known facts about the process of selecting these bridal gowns?
Wijaya: When making my selection, one of the factors I consider is the different types of wedding venues. Apart from asking brides about their desired silhouette, neckline, and detailing, we also ask about their wedding venue as often, 50 percent of the decision rests on where the wedding is going to be held. For example, if you’re going to have a large wedding in a spacious banquet hall, you don’t want to be wearing a small dress as you wouldn’t stand out. A better option is to make an entrance with a gown that is more voluminous and then when you’re making your rounds for photo-taking, change into something smaller and in colour.
Belle & Tulle is located at 390 Orchard Road, 03-12, Palais Renaissance, Tel: 6737 5208
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