Mar 30, 2015 >> #5MinutesWith Amanda Bonnell of Audrey Grant

As owner of Belle Vie Bridal, Amanda Bonnell knows a thing or two about helping women fall in love. She’s helped women say yes to the dress and has been perfecting the luxury bridal experience for 10 years. Now, Amanda’s taking her expertise to launch Audrey Grant, a new line of couture wedding and special occasion gowns exclusive to her store.

Known for creating the longest and leanest silhouettes, her couture pieces for clients all have one thing in common: creating maximum height and length. Amanda credits her sixth grade growth spurt as the moment she became mindful of minimizing her stature. She explains, It’s all about making the smallest you. Amanda created Audrey Grant to be separates featuring 6 bodices and 6 skirts with a multitude of join line options. Her custom separates can create 99 options for dresses (i.e. something for everyone). Read on as we dish #5MinutesWith the bridal expert to learn about the art of proportions and the color that looks good on all.

How does your personal taste influence the collection?
My taste in fashion is iconic and doesn’t follow trends. There is no beading. No lace. It’s all about the line and the workmanship. I look to houses like J. Mendel and Amsale who create perfection in contouring, draping and seaming. That’s the design I emulate. The more simple the gown, the more precise? That’s beauty in design. 

And why is it so important to you to get every single gown correct?
It’s going to be on their mantle for 60 years, so obviously they want to look their best.

Your client range is wide! Who do you dress in Audrey Grant?
From four foot tall kids to six foot models! And I always love when pregnant women come to me. I want to make that 40 inch waist look like a 29 inch waist and still show off their beauty. But it’s all an illusion in design. If you raise a waistline a half an inch or lower it, those inches make all the difference.

Tell us more!
Rules of proportion! My staff goes through 400 hours of training before seeing a client. Proportions matter. When you create perfect percent proportion, everything evens out.

Although the dresses are very simple, the colors are super bold. What are your favorites?
Yellow! Peacock! Green! Marsala! Marsala—by the way—looks good on all. And forget black! Midnight is the new hue.

If you could sum up the line in a few words, what is Audrey Grant?
If Dior and Prada had a child? That’s Audrey Grant.

For more information on Audrey Grant, visit Belle Vie Bridal Couture, 34 East Oak Street, 312.751.2222 and visit BelleVieBridalCouture.com.