Filed under: Style in the News, Dresses, Interviews
Bingo! “Say Yes to the Dress.” Photo: TLC
When Randy Fenoli, breakout star of TLC‘s reality hit “Say Yes to the Dress,” told StyleList he didn’t believe in Bridezillas we had to stop him.
Since we personally know at least three brides who grew claws and fangs while planning their nuptials, it was important to tell him we had seen the monster. She is real.
Yet by the end of a chat with Fenoli, we had almost forgiven those brides who tortured us planning their nuptials. Even the one who stuffed a certain bridesmaid into an ill-fitting Smurf blue dress.
Fenoli understands the beastie bride better than most. He began making wedding gowns after he swept a bridal design competition while an underclassman at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology.
Here, he tells us about his role as fashion director at Kleinfeld in New York — “the” bridal emporium where “Say Yes” is filmed — and as that of dress-fitting psychologist. “When a bride is getting really worked up during a fitting, I can talk her off the ledge.”
StyleList: How can you say there is no such thing as a Bridezilla? You’ve worked with plenty on the show.
Randy Fenoli: Because I don’t see a Bridezilla. I see a bride who is nervous, scared, anxious and who wants to look beautiful on her wedding day. I believe a lot of that Bridezilla behavior is caused by stress. I really do. You have women who are wearing dresses that are as close to couture as they may ever get.
They are going to be immortalized in this dress and photographed 1,000 times. It is going to influence how they are perceived. It’s overwhelming and it can make you a basket case.You may see a Bridezilla. I see a women who wants to look beautiful.
SL: You are very sweet, but I still say some of your brides have been wicked.
RF: I’ll give you this; if the behavior continues at the wedding they are a Bridezilla. There’s no excuse for treating people badly on your wedding day. On that day you should be happy and nice to everyone. Especially the groom.
SL: Some of your brides come in looking for dresses they really should not wear. How do you get them to “Say No” to the wrong dress and “Say Yes” to the right one?
RF: Very delicately. The dress they want may be a beautiful look in a magazine, but not on them. If I can ease them into one dress that is a better style and fit, we can usually make some progress. Sometimes I just need to elevate their taste level. The real trouble is when their vision is for a pile of glop – not a dress.
Continue reading ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ Star Randy Fenoli on the Best and Worst Brides Ever!
‘Say Yes to the Dress’ Star Randy Fenoli on the Best and Worst Brides Ever! originally appeared on StyleList Fashion Blog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
