Designer Profile: Priscilla of Boston

One of the most liberating things about no longer owning my shop is being able to highlight designers that we didn't carry. So, I am going to try to profile a couple designers a month to feature and indulge my own obsession with bridal gowns!

Priscilla Kidder, the designer behind the Priscilla of Boston name, opened her bridal salon in 1945 in Boston on Newbury Street, offering elegant beespoke gowns. She was inspired by European couture, but was also savvy to who her customers were - the tony set in Boston. She designed gowns that were inspired by modern ideas but cut with a formal, classic customer in mind. That combination made her a resounding success. Before long, Priscilla of Boston's gowns became synonymous with taste and sophistication and, in 1956, she was chosen to design the bridesmaid dresses for Grace Kelly's wedding. Priscilla of Boston also created bridal gowns for two Presidential daughters, Tricia Nixon and Luci Johnson.

(Tricia Nixon)

Priscilla of Boston is one of those designer names that resonates with more than one generation. In fact, when I first decided to open my store and shared the exciting news with my Nena, she immediately began telling me about Priscilla of Boston and the wonderful trips she made with my Aunt Jeanette and my mom to Boston to choose their gowns!

(Luci Johnson)

Priscilla of Boston was also a design pioneer. She was the first bridal gown designer to hand clip French and Belgian lace pieces on her gowns as a design element, rather than placing them whole.

As her popularity grew and the demand for her gowns increased, new designers were added to the design team to assist Priscilla in fulfilling orders for her wedding gowns. In fact, one of the best designers on her team, John Burbidge, designed the gown worn by Tricia Nixon. By now, Priscilla of Boston was a household name with the Priscilla of Boston stores we are familiar with today open across the country. The May Company eventually purchased Priscilla of Boston in 2002 and now manages the collections under the Priscilla of Boston name. While Priscilla Kidder retired in 1993 and passed away in 2004, the essence of timelessness, formality, and tradition continues in current Priscilla of Boston collections.