This Designer Wants You to Look ‘Powerful’ on Your Wedding Day

On April 4, 2022, Sally LaPointe, designer, co-founder and creative director of her namesake company, LaPointe, a ready-to-wear, monochromatic color-driven luxury fashion brand, took on an additional role — host.

Ms. LaPointe, 38, clad in black, stood out instantly, perhaps almost purposefully, in her one-bedroom apartment, on Broome Street in SoHo, as everything was dripping in cream: the walls, shag carpet, couch, even the floor-to-ceiling drapes hiding her exposed closets. It seamlessly matched her first cream inspired bridal collection, which debuted last month online and in stores.

The 46-piece collection (31 new pieces and 15 from previous collections) offers an array of sexy and nontraditional bridal textures, designs and stylings. There are feathers, sequins, faux leather blazers, cropped tops and thong bodysuits paired with high-waisted pants.

The LaPointe brand was conceived in 2010, and Bergdorf Goodman showcased its first collection three years later. When business flourished and more stores began offering the brand, so did the number of celebrities wearing it, like Jennifer Lopez, Jill Biden, Zendaya and Jessica Chastain, among others.

To celebrate the bridal line, 20 or so friends, brand ambassadors and influencers, some whom arrived decked out in full bridal offerings, were invited to a champagne and caviar-filled showcase of the collection in her apartment. Though editors had previewed the release in October with a digital lookbook, Ms. LaPointe and Sarah Adelson, the brand’s co-founder, co-owner and chief executive, thought a party would be more personal and a deviation from past previews.

“We stopped doing runway, which we had done from the beginning, when Covid happened, so we had to think of other nontraditional ways to show,” said Ms. LaPointe, a Massachusetts native and graduate from Rhode Island School of Design. “The runway is drama, it’s an amazing moment, but an event like tonight is smaller and more intimate. I get face time with people in my apartment which makes it personal.”

What made you include bridal this year?

Bridal was a natural evolution. Though cream is in our main collection, it’s very tight, maybe 10 pieces, because we do a lot of colors. We noticed clients were wearing our cream pieces to their weddings, at bachelorette parties, the morning after breakfasts and engagement parties. They would tag us on Instagram. We would get feedback from retail stores. It caught on. So, I jumped on it and turned the line around within six months.

In 2021, you went through a divorce. Was this collection more emotional for you?

Every collection I do somehow mirrors what I go through in my personal life. This was about finding my voice, being confident and infusing that into these pieces for other people that perhaps are like me. It became about being OK with who you are.

I lost my voice and found it in this collection. When you’re attached to someone so closely there’s no way you can’t lose a piece of yourself. We were together for 10 years and married for four. When you partner with someone you meld into one. I’m seeing myself now as an individual. I think regaining that has been empowering for me.

This collection is about transformation and bringing out the confidence to be alone. It’s about learning to be by yourself, to be an individual and to not be afraid to be who you really are without being attached to someone else.

What do you attribute the rise in nontraditional bridal looks to?

The traditional idea of weddings has changed. Covid made people think outside the box about how to get married. That was exciting. That catapulted the line. People are doing shotgun weddings or going to Vegas. They’re doing small, intimate dinners. Weddings don’t have to be this big production. That translated in fashion. You don’t have to wear the ball gown or be a princess. Brides can mix and match pieces. I love wearing a suit to weddings. It’s a feeling of power.

Why is that feeling of power so important to you, and how do you visually translate that into bridal wear?

I love powerful women who own who they are, and own a room when they walk in. I’m proud to have dressed some of them — Adele, Beyoncé, Oprah, Lizzo, Rihanna. When I was a guest at weddings, I would shun the idea of wearing a cocktail dress. I’d wear a suit. I thought it was very confident and challenged the traditional idea of what you’re supposed to wear to a wedding.

How are your designs different from other bridal designers?

I’m a master disguiser because I’m not a size 2. I know where to hide things. A lot goes into my designs: creating perfect proportions, where things hit, how to adjust the sleeves so that it’s not bulky, using fabrics that stretch. I’m shunning the idea of a gown and doing separates. There’s a thong bodysuit with a see-through pant; it’s a little risqué and a little naughty. I’m not afraid to go there. There’s a see-through cupro pant with feathers down the side; also double face satin and lace-up dresses. I did sheer trench coats, pants that have high-slit cuts, feathered bridal suits and cutout bodysuits. It’s mixing sequins with a crop top instead of doing a sequined dress. These are sexy, pretty pieces for the bride who’s not afraid to have attitude.

Was it hard designing bridal outfits while you were experiencing a breakup?

I had to shut down wondering how everyone was going to think about this collection. Are people going to like it? Will people understand it? I wanted to present something that’s not overthought. I’m providing this new bride, who could potentially be me, or another version of me, confidence. Our bride is inspired and optimistic. She’s a cool, rad, powerful woman who’s inspired by love. That inspires me.