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Couture bridal designer Kirstie Kelly dishes about her new princess-inspired line for Disney.

Q: What made you want to become a bridal designer, and what do you like best about it?
A: Even as a child, I loved the whole idea of romance. And what better way to embrace that later in life than by designing wedding gowns? There’s something very special about working with brides and playing a part in a day they’ll always remember. It’s an amazing feeling when a bride who’s wearing one of my gowns looks into a mirror and cries happy tears because she sees her dream coming true. There’s really nothing like it.

Q: When Disney asked you to design a collection based on their much-loved princess characters, what did you think?
A: I was really intrigued by the opportunity to incorporate the different princesses’ personalities into dress designs and, by extension, to tap into the diverse qualities of women today. To prepare, I watched a different princess movie every night with my son, Theo. He fell madly in love with Belle! I figured out how each could relate to a real woman, and came up with a line divided into six different collections: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine and Belle. The dresses are all wonderfully unique, with reasonable prices—they start at about $1,000—and top-notch quality, with beautiful laces and beading.

Q: Tell us more about how the princesses relate to real brides. How do you describe each one?
A: Cinderella is a traditional bride—she probably has a larger wedding and chooses a classic ballgown. Snow White is a demure bride, maybe younger, and the gowns reflect her modest, pure style. Belle is stylish and sophisticated. She’s a no-frills woman, so there’s not a lot of beading on the gowns. Nonetheless, she’s still very romantic and is drawn to a more tailored ballgown. Sleeping Beauty is the natural bride, who likes to daydream. She wears fuller, A-line gowns that feel very organic. Jasmine is the quintessential bohemian-chic bride. She’s all about simplicity and wants to get married outdoors. Ariel’s personality brings a sexier, sultry allure to the line. My hope is that every bride can find a gown in the collection that represents who she is and what she’s looking for.

Q: You’ve also created coordinating bridesmaid gowns and jewelry. What should we expect to see?
A: When I created the bridesmaid gowns, I used eveningwear design concepts. These designs are really cocktail gowns masquerading as bridesmaid dresses—even women who aren’t planning to be in a wedding party in the near future are saying, “I have to have this dress!” The jewelry is gorgeous, too. There is a ton of fabulous Swarovski crystals and plenty of chunky jewelry—earrings, bracelets, necklaces, headpieces and hairpins—that photograph beautifully. And all the jewelry and accessories complement the different personalities of the gowns, so the looks are really pulled together and cohesive.

Kirstie’s Tips

• Don’t purchase a gown just because it’s trendy. Five or ten years down the road, you’ll realize that everyone else wore that same dress. Stay true to who you are.
• When it comes to accessories, consider your proportions. If you’re really small, you might not want a full-length cathedral veil. You never want what you wear to outshine you; accessories are supposed to add to your look, not overwhelm it.
• You don’t have to wear heels all night. There are lots of fun styles you can change into, like flip-flops with crystal rhinestones or flat ballet slippers. One bride I know wore fuchsia flats. It’s your day, so anything goes.

Simply Magic

From left: An off-the- shoulder Cinderella gown is made of layers of tulle dotted with crystals, about $2,900. This silk charmeuse Jasmine sheath is adorned with pearls and beads at the empire bodice. Gown, about $2,100. A portrait neckline defines this silk chiffon Snow White gown, about $1,900. Gowns by Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings; call 212-594-9480 for information.

Visit our Wedding Dress Gallery to find more Kirstie Kelly gowns.