There is no single item more important to a bride-to-be than her wedding dress. Women spend months, sometimes years, searching for the perfect fit, style and color to match their personal style. However, in the world of wedding fashion, very few designers cater to the bride looking for a departure from the traditional white gown. Insert Cassandra Bromfield, a Brooklyn-based veteran in bridal fashion, who specializes in custom couture gowns infused with details inspired by African, Caribbean and European cultures. Cassandra's unique designs have graced the pages of some of the top bridal and fashion magazines including Bride's, Essence, Ebony and many others. She is considered one of today's top Black designers for Afrocentric wedding and social occasion dresses. We got a chance to catch up with Cassandra and find out a little more about the woman behind the beautiful fashions:
1. Tell us a little about your background and how you got started in the bridal world.
Although I had created clothing like beaded t shirts, I was always drawn to the wedding dress. When Harriette Cole’s "Jumping the Broom" came out, that was the opportunity for me to “jump” in [the bridal industry]. I had made wedding dresses before the book, but at that time, the book gave me an opportunity to enter the bridal world.
2. When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
If you were to ask my mother, I was always a fashion designer. I was always creating something. There was always a Singer sewing machine in the house and a project to work on, like doll clothes, new dresses, or anything. However, I didn’t realize it as a business for myself until after I had received my Bachelors and decided to go back to school and to get an Associates in Fashion Design at FIT.
"Halsey Street," a silk organza patchwork that has been tie dyed and embellished with crystals. This dress is available at Soliloquy Bridal
3. When designing for women, what are your inspirations?
I have lots of inspirations: old movies, vintage patterns, African and other cultural traditional clothing. Sometimes my inspirations are not clothing related at all, music and nature can provide the inspiration.
4. Any advice for certain styles for different body types?
My advice for any body type is to wear the right underwear. Just the other day I saw a plus size woman, who would have looked very nice except for the bad ?tting bra. The best advice it get the right underwear to begin with.
A jersey gown with organza jacket that has pearl embellishments.
5. What does bridal fashion mean to you?
Bridal Fashion means "let me create something beautiful."
For more information on where you can get your own Cassandra Bromfield design, visit www.cassandrabromfield.com
Credit: Photographer: Keston Duke/Hair: Khamit Kinks/ Headpieces: Beauloni Style/ Makeup: Jigga Jewel
