Theia Bridal Spring 2017

Theia’s creative director Don O’Neill demonstrates every season that bridal can be so much more than a white dress. And this season O’Neill expanded his bridal design aesthetic to include otherworldly, futuristic bridal designs that pushes the bridal genre into the next century.

Inspired by David Bowie’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and a Rafal Makiela underwater photograph of a figure shrouded in white having plunged thru the silvery surface, O’Neill’s spring 2017 bride looks to the unpredictable future where there is no restraint and personal preference is the order of the day. O’Neill’s spring 2017 bride also transcends traditional and marches to the beat of her own drum which in this collection is the rhythm of freedom and galactic surprise.

Where some bridal pundits may feel that Don O’Neill’s bridal collections are heavy on concept and storytelling and short on retail value,  some of them fail to understand that niche markets are becoming much larger and mass consumption is losing market value. Consider most of the major fashion brands whose stock value continues to plummet as they frantically search for new creative directors that can satisfy an ever-evolving consumer palette for innovative design. Bridal, with the exception of discount bridal boutiques, has not necessarily been a mass-market industry. And where some designers, season after season, attempt to appeal to that bridal consumer that is in the market for traditional bridal gowns, the true design artist of the industry are aiming for niche markets.

That said, Don O’Neill is right on track!! And where this outing was a bit of stretch, the fashionista bridal consumer will be delighted!! Consider, O’Neill through a lot of interesting concepts into this pot and what rose to the surface is something for almost everyone.

For the bride that wanted something a bit more casual and fashion forward, Theia’s spring 2017 collection there was an ivory satin back crepe and Chantilly lace souvenir jacket over Chantilly lace skirt. If you are the market for 1960’s edgy look there was a white silk crepe and vinyl gown with steel grommets and silk organza ruffle. And that bride that wanted to really startle as she glides down the aisle there was O’Neill’s white silk crepe silk dress with fractal patterned-raffia embroidered vortex collar jacket and the molded crystal corset over white silk crepe skirt.

Also, consider the future names: solar sail halter gown; white interstellar radio wave–patterned sequin gown; galactic blue silk lame jacquard gown, and “Star Light” embroidered gown. Definitely, not a bridal collection for the faint of heart or shrinking violet, but Theia’s bridal collections never are!!

Stick to your guns, Don O’Neill.  Contrary to what some bridal critics believe, the American bridal consumer is ready for you!!

—William S. Gooch