At Pierce Mattie we work often six months in advance, especially for our bridal fashion pitching. Bridal season starts in May, brides often purchase their dresses in January thus we are pitching bridal gown stories to the press in September the previous year to make newstands for the New Year. That’s means as right after we finish Labor Day our PR team is looking at fashion PR strategies for the bridal market for the following year.
To get a gage on what the market looks like we turn to Matthew Christopher, industry expert, designer and creator of his own bridal gown collection. Matthew shares with us during his Q&A how is brand has evolved over the years, the rise of silk charmeuse, his launch of his lifestyle planning service for brides, what his favorite creation is to this day and most importantly where he will be making guest appearances this fall for the bride that needs some face time with the one and only.
Pierce Mattie: How did you get started in bridal fashion?
Matthew Christopher: Ever since I was a little boy, I loved to go to the local grocery store down the street from our house and buy bridal magazines. I would read the articles and absorb every detail! I was so immersed in the whole idea of the industry; I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I later enrolled in to the Art Institute of Chicago and Iowa State University to further my passion for bridal.
Pierce Mattie: In what ways has the Matthew Christopher brand evolved since its inception that maybe was not as foreseeable when the collection first went into business?
Matthew Christopher: My personal growth is paralleled with the growth of the Matthew Christopher line. If you look back on some of my older gowns and compare them to my 2009 line, you can see the evolution and steady maturity going into the designs as I continued to develop into my own personalized brand of style. You can see the sophistication in the gowns slowly exude, introducing and old style Hollywood glam into the mix. I’d like to think that I am a trend setter, unafraid of boundaries.
Also, there is a new extension off of my brand to introduce, Matthew Christopher Lifestyle Weddings! This service offers comprehensive wedding assistance for the bride’s special day. The “Plan Your Wedding With Matthew” package goes beyond the design to ensure the bride’s special day runs smoothly. For more information on this new service, you can go to the “Plan Your Wedding With Matthew” link located on the top right corner of my homepage at www.matthewchristopher.com
Pierce Mattie: Who is the Matthew Christopher bride?
Matthew Christopher: The “Matthew Christopher” bride embodies both a confidence and elegance all her own. A Matthew Christopher bride is unafraid to showcase her unique style, turning tradition on its ear.
Pierce Mattie: What are brides looking for in their dress for Spring 2010?
Matthew Christopher: Details, details, details!! Intricate designs along the bodice and train accentuate a women’s figure and give a gown a beautiful finish. The element of surprise is something that all my brides can look forward to year after year, and 2010 is no exception! Look out for a new, fresh and exciting season, with something in it for every bride.
Pierce Mattie: What fabrics today are most popular that maybe a few years ago were not as "in" with the dress making process as before?
Matthew Christopher: Silk charmeuse is back and better than ever! You can see an example of this fabric used for Aphrodite, from this season’s line. It radiates sophistication and decadence with a surprise twist! You will also find more dresses in Silk Shantung, another great fabric that is back in the rotation, look out for more of this fabric in 2010!
Pierce Mattie: Has the economy had an impact on what women will spend on their dress? If so how has Matthew Christopher accommodated them?
Matthew Christopher: Yes, after talking with many brides over the past few years and collecting much of their input, I decided to create an additional line for 2010 that will be accommodating to more brides. The line is named Adored, and the price point starts at $2000. Adored will allow every bride to have their very own Matthew Christopher, without breaking their budget or compromising their tastes.
Pierce Mattie: Tell us about your favorite dress creation of all time, what was it called, retail price, made of, which type of bride was it popular for? And is it hard not to bring the dress back year after year?
Matthew Christopher: If I had to choose one dress to name my favorite creation, I would have to say Imagine. This dress was part of my 2008 line, and is made of silk satin organza. Imagine retails for around $3,200. This dress is for the bride that wants something that’s stunningly unique, and yet, entirely comfortable. No matter what season we happen to be in, Imagine continues to remain transcendent.
Pierce Mattie: Do you envision Matthew Christopher becoming a lifestyle brand in the near future? Going into home, beauty, etc.?
Matthew Christopher: I absolutely want the Matthew Christopher brand to also become a lifestyle brand. Nothing in the works yet, but I would love to see Matthew Christopher flourish into other areas of fashion, whether it goes into the realm of home goods, or ready to wear pieces.
Pierce Mattie: Tell us what trunk shows you have lined up for this fall/winter, where can brides meet you in person?
Matthew Christopher: The one thing that I pride myself on is being available for my brides. I love attending the trunk shows; being able to be on hand to assist in the decision making process adds a very personal touch. The following dates are upcoming trunk shows where you can find me!
SEPTEMBER 18-20
Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection
Baltimore, MD
410.484.4600
SEPTEMBER 25-26
Bridal Elegance
West Orange, NJ
973.243.2484
NOVEMBER 13-15
Moonlight Couture
Merrick, NY
516.868.1500
NOVEMBER 20-21
Exquisite Bride
Milburn, NJ
973.376.2770
NOVEMBER 27-28
Bridal Trousseau
Branford, CT
203.488.1552
DECEMBER 3-5
Mestad’s Wedding World
Rochester, MN
507.289.2444
Posted by Pierce Mattie on September 20, 2009 9:58 AM
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