sample sale dress

What is a Sample Sale and is it a Good Option for Me?

Still haven’t said “YES” to your dress but have your wedding gown vision and budget nailed down? Our sample sale could be the perfect match for you! Sample sales are great for a bride who is searching for budget friendly  wedding gown options but still wants a luxury bridal experience. It’s simple, you fall in love with a Modern Trousseau dress and you get to take it home the same day! All of our Modern Trousseau flagship locations are hosting sample sales, featuring discounted, luxury one-of-a-kind gowns! Thinking of booking a sample sale appointment? Here’s a few tips to make the most of your bridal appointment, below. Each dress in the sample sale is a handmade luxury bridal gown, just at a deeply discounted price. They are dresses that have been floor samples in our boutiques, but have never been worn down the aisle. Our sale is composed of gowns with lace and fabric that is no longer available, and we can no longer remake. By purchasing a sample sale dress, you get to wear an exclusive, one-of-a-kind designer gown, just at a more affordable price! The early bird gets the worm—or in this case, the dress! All of our sample sale dresses are first come first serve, so be prepared to purchase a dress when  you are walking into an appointment. It’s important that you book an appointment ASAP to discover your perfect gown before it's gone! We do not recommend that you begin your dress shopping experience with a sample sale, and advise you to have an idea of what you’re looking for. Something really special about our boutique sample sale experience is that one of our amazing bridal stylists will help you every step of the way. Read our previous blog post to learn about how to describe your dream dress to your Modern Trousseau stylist. Ready to find your perfect gown at our sample sale? Be prepared to find amazing deals on beautiful bridal pieces! It all starts with an appointment at one of our flagship stores. Secure your sample sale appointment today and get ready to discover your...

How to Describe your Dream Wedding Dress

Chances are, you have been dreaming about your wedding dress since before you even met your fiancé! The problem is, you can picture it in your head, but it’s difficult to get that perfect image into words. Trying to describe a dress as a whole can be difficult, so we broke down each element of our gowns into parts. This way you will be able to perfectly verbalize what you want to your Modern Trousseau stylist during your bridal appointment and discover the dress you’ve been dreaming about!           1. Silhouette The silhouette is the overall outline of the dress. Rather than all of the little details of a gown, this describes the way a gown will fit the body. Many different silhouette shapes are made to flatter or emphasize different elements of the body like A-line, ballgown, and fit-to-flare silhouettes. Learn more about common wedding dress silhouettes in our prior blog post! Knowing what type of silhouette you like and being able to describe it is one of the best ways to begin your dress search! 2. Neckline Similar to silhouettes, there are many different types of necklines to choose from when it comes to wedding dresses. Here are some examples of popular bridal necklines to describe to your Modern Trousseau stylist!  Sweetheart: creates a heart shape on the bodice, commonly used in strapless gowns. Scoop Neck: gently scoops down the front creating a U shape. V-neck: creates a V shape on the front (or back) of the gown. This neckline can vary in depth, so be sure to specify which you prefer to your stylist.  Straight: this minimalist neckline simply goes straight across the bodice. Off the Shoulder: can be combined with some of the necklines above and features fabric or sleeves that gracefully drape off the shoulder.           3. Straps vs. Sleeves When it comes to straps and sleeves, choosing is typically an easy call. It all depends on your personal preference! Do you prefer straps or no straps? And remember, straps can come in different widths thin, thick, and even spaghetti! If your dream gown has sleeves, try to describe the...

A Dream Becomes A Dress: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Your Custom Modern Trousseau Gown

As Leigh Murdocvich—now Leigh Massi—and her husband Greg walked down the aisle in March of 2020, she was a glowing bride who radiated confidence, with a gown fitted to perfection. As a bridal shop owner herself, Leigh had spent more time than the average bride envisioning her own gown. Carefully considering her options, she turned to Modern Trousseau to make her dream dress a reality. [caption id="attachment_18108" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Walking down the aisle, Leigh is the most beautiful bride in her custom Modern Trousseau gown.[/caption] Wanting a one-of-a-kind custom design, Leigh and Modern Trousseau owner/designer Callie Tein worked together through a series of 4 steps to achieve her vision. Below, we follow Leigh’s journey to help future clients envision the process: [caption id="attachment_18109" align="aligncenter" width="227"] Exploring Modern Trousseau's signature styles. Leigh wears the Gracie, while admiring the Allegra fabric to envision how they might be combined.[/caption] First Appointment - Exploration: Leigh met with Callie, trying on dresses to assess shapes, styles, and fabrics. Leigh decided upon the A-line of the Gracie dress as a base, and fell in love with the ivory fabric of the Allegra. In this photo, Leigh is wearing the Gracie, while holding the Allegra fabric across her waist to envision how they might be combined. [caption id="attachment_18110" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Modeling the muslin sample to make adjustments to shape and fit.[/caption] Second Appointment - Muslin Fitting: A sample made from muslin fabric was made at the atelier for Leigh to try on. Leigh made adjustments to the shape, bodice, and back prior to the making of the actual dress. [caption id="attachment_18112" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A vision becomes a reality! Leigh tries her dream dress on for the first time.[/caption] Third Appointment - Completed Dress Fitting: Leigh tried her dress and veil for the first time! Some minor adjustments were made to the back, as well as slight adjustments to ensure that the fit would be perfect. Since the Allegra fabric had pink flowers in it, Leigh and the team made sure that the flowers were placed exactly as she liked. [caption id="attachment_18113" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Leigh's custom wedding dress is complete! With a few minor adjustments, it...

Modern Trousseau Bridal Stylist Advice For Brides

We chatted with our bridal stylists and they shared valuable first-hand knowledge to ease every bride’s wedding dress shopping worries. Our Modern Trousseau stylists gave us some helpful tips that will prepare brides for what to expect at their appointment. Finding the perfect gown is such a special moment and our stylists are here to make sure you have the best experience! The Modern Trousseau experience centers around the relationship between our stylist and you, the bride. Here are the tips from our bridal stylists for any bride to be when bridal gown shopping:   Picking a Gown  When you get the feeling that you’ve found the right gown, go with it! Don’t be surprised if you ‘say yes’ at your very first bridal appointment, it happens all the time! It’s also important to keep in mind that you might walk in with a vision and walk out with something completely different. That’s totally okay! As one of our bridal stylists always says, “Your wedding gown is like your fiance in a lot of ways - sometimes what you fall in love with might surprise you, or sometimes it's exactly what you expected...

Modern Trousseau Gown Customizations

Every bride has a unique vision of what her dream gown looks like. Whether it’s the style, shape, or pattern of the gown it can be a long journey to find the perfect one. That’s why an important part of the Modern Trousseau experience is the ability to modify each gown and customize it into the exact version of what the bride is envisioning! Here is a list of some of our top customization features: Modify Shapes  Finding the perfect shape is an important part of constructing a bride’s gown. The silhouette can be altered to better fit what a bride has in mind. If a fit and flare gown has too much flare, it can easily be modified to flare less. A bride might also prefer to add a longer train on the back. Each modification gets a bride closer to creating the gown of her dreams! Swap Out Laces  Alternating the lace on a gown can be the perfect modification for a bride in love with the shape of a gown but not the details on it. She might prefer lace scalloping over hand-beaded lace. Another modification could be adding in lace straps or even a lace bodice. These adjustments can have an enchanting effect on a gown, making a bride's vision come to life. Add Embellishments A gown's beauty can be accentuated by adding in extra details! Adding a ribbon belt, a bow, or even duchess-covered buttons can be the perfect touch on a dress. It can make a gown go from simple to breathtaking! Finding the right embellishments is a key part of establishing a bride’s signature style choices. Combine Tops & Bottoms  Mixing and matching tops and bottoms is one of the more unique customizations we offer. Brides who have a very specific idea of what they want can work with our stylists to determine what combination best suits them. This sort of customization really allows brides to design a gown that is unique to them.  Alter Necklines The neckline is such a focal point of every gown. Depending on whether a bride prefers a more modest neckline compared to more of a...

Lessons of Entrepreneurship from Modern Trousseua's Callie Tein

Lessons of Entrepreneurship

  “Entrepreneurship is wonderful and terrifying all wrapped into one empowering task.” - Callie Tein      At Modern Trousseau, we take immense pride in the women who lead our brand to success. We understand that whether you want to pursue your passions, experience an increase in career flexibility, or simply gain financial independence, taking matters into your own hands and creating a business can be a daunting feat. With that knowledge, owner and designer Callie Tein offers insight into the lessons she has learned in her own pursuit of establishing the Modern Trousseau design house.   1. Think your idea through The main thing you must do is to really think your idea through. Contemplate how it will work and how your day will be structured (i.e., how much time you are going to have to put into this). It is crucial to understand that you will encounter roadblocks but that so many good things will follow.    2. Plan for success  You should plan for failure, but it is even more important to plan for success. People often forget to do this. When you start a business, you must allow for growth. This means finding a space that will allow for expansion because in five years (or maybe even one)  you will need that extra space. Always be thinking about the next stage of your plan. Furthermore, sometimes women think that the best thing to do is to take on a business partner because they don’t want to do it by themselves. However, you must think this plan through because taking on a business partner means every decision you make is 50/50. Ask yourself if you are the kind of person who can live with making compromises or do you like to do what you want your way? The answer to this question will determine if adding a business partner will be best for you.   3. Do what is right for the business It's wonderful having your own business. It's also terrifying having all of that responsibility. You feel responsible for every employee because you feel as though you are responsible for their mortgages, car payments, and college funds for their...

Silhouette Guide: What Makes Each One Different?

Starting the wedding gown search is such an exciting time! With all the different silhouettes out there it can be difficult to decide between them all. We are here to help brides pick the perfect gown! It’s important for brides to feel confident and gorgeous in their dress. That’s where silhouettes can play a major role. The shape/style of a wedding gown is such an important part of the overall process. Curious about what the difference is between each silhouette? Well, here are 4 common types!  A-line  This silhouette is fitted right above the waist, which creates the classic ‘A’ shape as the skirt flows out from the waist down. This is a very popular and extremely flattering dress. It conceals parts of the lower half such as the hips and thighs providing ample room to dance. The shape of the dress puts an emphasis on the bust and the neckline. Our Raphael dress is an exquisite A-line gown. The perfect mix of fitted and flowy, it has a fitted lace bodice and an A-line skirt.    Fit And Flare Looking for the perfect curve-hugging gown? The fit and flare silhouette is the ideal mix of fitted paired with a whimsical flare. This silhouette often gets confused with A-line. The difference is in the fit. A fit and flare dress stays fitted until right above the knee. The flattering fit is then contrasted with a sudden flare at the knee. This highlights a bride’s gorgeous shape while also adding in a romantic skirt. Spencer is one of our lovely fit and flare dresses.    Sheath This silhouette is fitted throughout the body and is typically a very straight-cut dress. It puts a slight emphasis on the waist and is an overall simple yet stunning look. This modern style is perfect at elongating the body, giving a bride height while also eliciting a flattering curve-hugging fit. Our Hunter gown is a classic example of a sheath silhouette. This gown is the definition of pure elegance. Ball Gown On the search for a gown that radiates glamour and elegance? A ball gown is a timeless choice. It is fitted through the waist...

Callie Tein - owner and designer of Modern Trousseau

10 Facts About Owner and Designer Callie Tein

  Purchasing a wedding gown from Modern Trousseau immediately transforms you into a #moderntrousseaubride. With that knowledge, we want to welcome all of you to enjoy a peek into the life of the woman behind our standard of nothing-less-than-perfect. Continue reading for 10 facts about Modern Trousseau owner and designer Callie Tein.   1.   She loves to oil paint When Callie isn’t drawing dress sketches or working with brides to create their one-of-a-kind gown, she turns to oil painting to help her relax. For designer Callie Tein, there’s nothing better than putting on an old shirt, standing in front of a blank canvas and just imagining what could be.   2.  Born and raised in Australia  Living in Melbourne, Australia had many perks for Callie: she was close to her family, indulged in the delicious food scene, and partook in the famous laid-back Aussie lifestyle. However, it is the climate, or, more specifically, the weather in February that she misses the most. According to Callie, “There is a lot to be said about the good Melbourne weather.”   3.  She’s always been passionate about the arts A career in design always seemed imminent for Callie. As a young girl, she knew she wanted to do something creative and artistic but struggled with understanding how to turn that passion into a sustainable career. After she finished high school, Callie enrolled in an art and design course where she studied photography, ceramics, painting, and other creative disciplines. It is during this experimental period, Callie realized she loved fashion. This realization drove her to enroll in Fashion Design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and, from there, it was all about fashion design!   4.  She grew up in the 8O's Fashion was everything in the ‘80s and a great time to grow up. Music videos emerged into the pop culture scene. Singers and celebrities, like Madonna, donned amazing clothes in their videos, inspiring people to want to look like them. For Callie, this decade was a crazy, interesting time for fashion.   5.  She works with her dream client everyday Callie’s dream client has always been each individual Modern Trousseau bride. She loves getting to know...

5 Dresses For 5 Types of Unique Weddings

  From backyard nuptials to courthouse I Do’s - Modern Trousseau has the perfect dress!  2021 is the year of fresh starts and we’ve worked hard to curate a collection of dresses that fit every bride's dreams. You pick the venue, we design the dress. Microweddings and minimonies are becoming the new normal. These weddings are pushing brides in a new direction style-wise. Brides are opting for a more simple, yet classic look this year to fit the aesthetic of a more intimate wedding.  Take a look at our take on the perfect dress for each out-of-the-ordinary venue: Minimony: The Georgia dress is the perfect choice for brides opting for a small gathering of close family members. The corseted bodice creates a beautiful shape, not to mention that the gown is 100% lace with silk lining.  Backyard wedding:  Adrian is a great choice! A timeless beauty with a fit flare style. The backless v-shape paired with the architectural bow creates a stunning look. Microwedding:   Octavia is a fabulous dress! It brings glamour and awe to every bride. The off-the-shoulder straps are paired with an a-line silhouette. Plus, who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?! Elopement:  Keep it intimate with Valentina.  A beautiful fitted lace dress with a charming velvet bow to accentuate the waist. The dainty leaf appliques that adorn the body of the gown have an alluringly romantic effect. Courthouse wedding: Looking for something more modest with a classic look? Delfina is the ideal dress! This gorgeous A-line gown is made with french lace and has a flattering beaded belt.    No matter the venue, we have the perfect dress for it! Schedule an appointment at one of our flagship stores in Charleston, Louisville, Nashville, Washington D.C., or New Haven. Your dream is our dream and we're here to make it come true.        ...

WanderLust Girls model Modern Trousseau MUSE Collection wedding gowns that will be available at the upcoming 2021 trunk shows.

Modern Trousseau 2021 Winter Trunk Shows

At Modern Trousseau, we want to be there to help you find a timeless, elegant wedding gown to wear the moment you become a bride. Come join us for our upcoming trunk shows across our flagships for the opportunity to see our latest collections with the assistance of our specially trained consultants! Our team has organized a series of trunk shows in our flagship stores during the months of February and March. These events will feature wedding dresses from our new MUSE and Fall 2021 Collections that are waiting to be tried on by you! With the MUSE collection, Callie explored gowns featuring clean lines and classic silhouettes at a more approachable price-point. For the Fall 2021 collection, feel and see the perfection of the gowns’ texture, where we combined exciting prints with drama. To find your wearable work of art, view the event details below and book an appointment on our website or via phone to participate in one of our Modern Trousseau trunk shows.   Trunk Show Details February 4 - 13, 2021 MUSE Collection Modern Trousseau Louisville 300 W Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 749-4773 louisville@moderntrousseau.com February 18 - 28, 2021 Fall 2021 Collection Modern Trousseau DC 1523 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 (202) 803-0065 dc@moderntrousseau.com March 11 - 21, 2021 MUSE Collection Modern Trousseau Charleston 418 King St, Charleston, SC 29403 (843) 722-6300 charleston@moderntrousseau.com March 11 - 21, 2021 Fall 2021 Collection Modern Trousseau Nashville 425 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219 (615) 733-0155 nashville@moderntrousseau.com   Book an appointment now!   Photography: Wilde Company || Models: WanderLust Girls...

The Curvy Collection

This year I was looking for a silver lining to help deal with all the craziness of 2020. My team and I had a lot more time on our hands than usual, so we decided to work on a project that was long overdue. It had always been our goal to make Modern Trousseau more inclusive and representative of all the different types of brides who walk through our doors. With that in mind we decided to create a better selection of wedding gowns for our fabulous plus size brides; and The Curvy Collection was born. Sleek, sexy and definitely curvaceous our Curvy Collection is designed to flatter a fuller figure without sacrificing the latest fashion trends or designer details. Our Curvy gowns feature classic ballgowns as well as more figure hugging fit to flare styles with plunging necklines. Our commitment to beautiful fabrics and high quality workmanship applies to everything we create and these gowns are no exception. As with everything Modern Trousseau, we offer the ability to customize any gown in the collection. I hope you will scroll endlessly through the gallery or visit one of our flagship stores and let us help you create your perfect wedding gown for the big day. [ngg src="galleries" ids="35" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_width="290" thumbnail_height="430" thumbnail_crop="0"]  Photography: Wilde Company || Hair and Makeup: Indigo Beauty...

Modern Trousseau Atelier. Made in the USA by Modern Trousseau

How I Make A Modern Trousseau Gown

I make bridal gowns the old-fashioned way - it’s the way I was taught. The word “couture” gets bandied about these days like peach taffeta at an eighty’s prom. Its true meaning is often misunderstood, except in France where the fashion Industry still takes couture very seriously. The Chambre Syndicate de la Haute Couture, keeps a list of all official couture houses that adhere to its strict guidelines. It is the holy grail of high-end fashion and only those named on the list can use the term Haute Couture. While l don’t expect to have my name added to the list anytime soon, I do adhere to the principles of couture such as making a gown to a client’s specific measurements and requirements. This requires at least two fittings and most likely a toile, a prototype of the dress made in a plain cotton fabric. In America it’s also known as a muslin, but I prefer to use the French term; toile. Toile’s are fun. As a designer I get to play with my design, suddenly a two-dimensional sketch is now a three-dimensional creation that can be worn.  Whether it’s on a form or a real model, l can see how the design lines come together. I can also see what’s not working, which is just as important. If the seams are at war with each other, if the fabric is pulling, puckering or behaving badly, all will be revealed. Remember a toile is the stage where the issues and problems are worked out. At this stage I often feel like I’m drawing up a truce between two waring enemies. On one side is my creative imagination where I can see the gown down to the finest detail, versus the ever practical and tirelessly stubborn toile which takes great pleasure in pulling me back to reality. This too and fro tug of war is exhausting and thrilling. At the end of the battle the sewing room floor is littered with pins that lie where they have fallen. Piles of cut up fabric, once beautiful and expensive are now discarded, destined for...

Modern Trousseau Featured on Southern Bride

We are loving this incredibly romantic beach bridal portrait session and the premise behind it. Things get crazy on the big day and it’s so important to take time for the bride and really focus on her portraits. Photographer, Danielle George, explains. What we love most of this portrait session is the combination of soft, beach light and the lightness, of the bride's custom Modern Trousseau strapless ballgown. Whoever said ballgowns cannot be worn on the beach clearly never saw this bridal portrait session. [gallery ids="7476,7474,7473,7472"] photographer:  Danielle George Photography | invitation designer: Cake Papier | dress designer: Modern Trousseau | beauty: royal makeup and hair | floral designer: Kiwi Fleur Inc | design and decor: Gather Vintage Rentals | event venue: Tybee Island Beach...

Modern Trousseau New Haven Named Winner in The Knot Best of Weddings

 Modern Trousseau New Haven is pleased to announce that they were selected as a winner in The Knot Best of Weddings, an award representing the highest-rated wedding professionals as reviewed by real couples, their families and wedding guests on The Knot, the leading online wedding brand and app. Only 3% of the approximately 300,000 local wedding professionals listed on TheKnot.com have received this distinguished Best of Weddings accolade. The Knot continues its longstanding tradition of supporting local wedding vendors with The Knot Best of Weddings, a by-couples, for-couples guide to the top wedding professionals across the country. To determine the winners, The Knot assessed almost 3.6 million reviews across the various vendor categories--venues, musicians, florists, photographers, caterers and more. These winners represent the best of the best wedding professionals that a bride or groom would want to consider booking for their own unique wedding. "Modern Trousseau brides are our sales and marketing department. We are thrilled to win this coveted award. We have worked with many wonderful brides, and are beyond thankful that they took to The Knot to share their gown shopping experiences at Modern Trousseau . This is a great way to springboard into the new year and lead us to many more Modern Trousseau brides," said the Modern Trousseau team.   ...