Retro Romance for the Now Bride

Style-conscious brides who cherish the elegance of eras past but don’t want to slight the cutting edge might consider slipping into one of Camille DePedrini’s dresses. Traipsing down the aisle in the designer’s lustrous “Garbo” gown, a silk charmeuse sheath anchored by a short train with ruche detailing around the bust, could make any woman feel like a ‘20s film star, while DePedrini’s above-the-ankle dupioni “Dior” number looks right for afternoon tea at the White House with Jackie Kennedy.

“I use the best of what the past has to offer,” DePedrini says, “and change it to what my customers like--something that’s classic and contours the body, but is comfortable, too.” When it comes to influences, she cites masters such as Chanel, Dior and (for color) the American couturier Charles James. She also wanders local museums, taking cues from various eras and cultures.

DePedrini began preparing for her fashion career at the age of 9. That’s when her grandmother started taking her to a small bridal shop in their hometown of Hackensack, N.J., to get dresses made for special occasions. “I loved getting fitted, picking the fabric and all those little details.” DePedrini’s mother, another inspiration, sold couture clothing at Bloomingdale’s and possessed a fabulous wardrobe filled with Missoni classics. DePedrini studied at the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion in San Francisco and launched her wedding line during the early ‘90s. She designs in her Eagle Rock home studio, then contracts cutters and seamstresses to materialize her visions. The collection is housed in a quaint showroom at Sonnie’s, an eclectic boutique in South Pasadena.

The retro-inspired gowns range from $600 to $3,500 and employ witty touches such as wispy organza for a kimono-style coat with delicate obi train over a simple slip dress. DePedrini’s antique-colored “Maria” dress overlaid with lace around the bodice evokes Victorian-era romance; the more playful scoop-necked “Amber” features an unexpected layer of bright chartreuse silk peeking out from beneath the hem. “The women that come to me are modern, but they also appreciate the past,” she says. “They understand that fashion can be timeless.”