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Monique Lhuillier's Jane Eyre Brides

In just six years, Monique Lhuillier has established herself as a designer of some of the most coveted wedding dresses in the U.S. She's a bridal market superstar. Her success lies in her ability to create gowns that don't feel like traditional wedding dresses – in other words, no tacky embellishments or cheap-looking satin fabrics here.

Instead, Lhuillier imparts an elegant, high fashion sensibility to her bridal collections. It makes sense, as Lhuillier also designs ready-to-wear collections and is a popular choice for celebrities walking the red carpet (she's dressed everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Catherine Zeta-Jones to Marcia Cross). Hers are wedding gowns with a design that wouldn't be out of place at a black tie affair.

For Lhuillier's Spring 2008 bridal collection, shown in the heart of New York's Chelsea gallery district on Sunday, October 21, she presented a wide offering of airy, intellectual gowns with subtle Victorian influences that one could picture modern day versions of Jane Eyre characters wearing on their wedding day. On several gowns, silk chiffon was gathered into cloud-like folds and layers, a Lhuillier signature. Another gown, in crepe de chine, featured artful twists and gathers to form a soft bodice that flowed gracefully from the waist.

Embellishment of the "bling-bling" variety was nearly non-existent, with a few gowns instead employing lace overlays or tone-on-tone floral appliqués for extra effects to the otherwise simple silhouettes.

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