Punk Rock Bride

In a building filled with artists studios on Capitol Hill, I had the pleasure of visiting DC's own designer in residence, Stephanie of Punk Rock Bride. To get to the studio, I passed through workrooms filled with pieces in progress and into the creative space of Punk Rock Bride.

While earning her degree at RISD, Stephanie originally majored in animation. Finding herself more drawn to and inspired by fashion as a form of wearable art, she changed her major to design.

After graduating, Stephanie's best friend, Elizabeth, asked her to design a wedding gown, and Stephanie's creativity took over from there! Before long, Stephanie had created a line of bridal gowns with non-traditional styling in luxurious fabrics like chiffon and lace. Made right in the metropolitan DC area (Virginia, to be exact), Punk Rock Bride is going against the grain: keeping manufacturing local and reworking the concept of a bridal gown.

This dress, called Caroline, is one of my favorites. You can't really see from the picture, but under the chiffon on the bodice there is a layer of the same beaded lace, which adds a lot of depth in person.

With Sara, I love Stephanie's use of Chantilly lace and chiffon to create a modern lace gown.

Meredith's wrapped bodice is stellar, and the color of the skirt in contrast adds to the overall sense of texture.

Check back later today for one dress from Punk Rock Bride's 2010 collection and the first step of our Punk Rock Pilgrimage.