Inspired by celebrity looks created by Nicole and Felicia

Nicole Chung told Business Insider that when working with celebrities, she and her team take a different approach to each design.

“Sometimes stylists contact me because they’re interested in a particular look or want to create a bespoke look from an existing collection,” she says. “Or you can start from scratch.”

The strapless gown with a rose-shaped shawl was originally designed in ivory for Nicole + Felicia’s Fall/Winter 2024 bridal collection. But for the Golden Globes, Lopez’s team requested a custom-shaded dress.

Chan told BI that Nicole and Felicia presented her with several options and Lopez’s stylist, Rob Zangardi, chose pale pink.

“I think they only gave us a week, but the whole team was working on the gowns,” she added.

Still, Chang said it was a surprise when Lopez showed up on the carpet wearing the dress, since it’s almost never guaranteed that a celebrity will wear the design. She noted that in most cases, stars aren’t able to see or try on a designer’s work until the day of the event.

But in this case, Lopez liked the look. Maybe it’s because her “Can’t Get Enough” music matched the pink floral pattern of her video.

“It was a coincidence,” Chan said. “I found out later that she recently released her new single and it was all about roses and flowers.”

The two-piece set was custom-made for Monáe, but Chan says it was inspired by Nicole + Felicia’s fall/winter 2024 evening collection.

“We were doing fittings in-house, and I was photographing the model and watching the fitting, and her stylist happened to get in touch and ask if I had a style that would work for her. ” Chan said of working with Monáe’s team.

So, looking at the collection’s gowns – a black strapless dress with two golden roses on the chest – Chan said she knew a custom version would suit the musician.

Nicole and Felicia created a black bralette adorned with the brand’s signature floral print, a high-waisted skirt, and a rose-covered choker that ran down Monáe’s back.

“I think that’s what made the whole gown really special,” Chan said of the latter piece.

Floral decorations are usually made from pastel soft fabrics, but Nicole + Felicia aimed for something different.

“We really wanted to create something that represented her young, fun energy and power,” Chan said. “It took about 48 hours to make the two flowers. They are actually pieces of metal that were handcrafted in our studio.”

“We can grow this floral idea from just something soft and feminine to something strong,” she added.

Although she rotates outfits every night on tour, Swift has at least three Nicole and Felicia designs in her arsenal for the “Speak Now” portion of the show.

Chan told BI that her team was approached by Swift’s stylist Joseph Cassel and first created a sparkling purple ballgown that paired a sleeveless top with a three-tiered skirt from 300 yards of fabric. It is said that he designed the .

But while they saw the stage preview and knew the dress was made for the Elas tour, that was the only information Nicole and Felicia received.

“We didn’t know when or where she would wear it,” Chan said.

Nicole + Felicia public relations manager Amy Chen told BI that the brand simultaneously developed a purple dress and a sleeveless tan ballgown covered in metallic glitter.

“We thought they just wanted the option,” Chen said. “I didn’t know if she would consider both, and I had no idea what the colors meant. They kept everything very private and very quiet.”

“The whole process from when I first contacted the stylist, started sketching, making samples, and showing treatments and beads, it probably took three to four months from start to finish,” she added. .

“I got a message from her stylist again. He said he wanted to create a different look, and he said very specifically that it needed to be blue,” Chan said. Ta.

“It’s a very special blue,” Chen added with a laugh. “And we had no idea how important it was.”

The significance, of course, is that sky blue is the color most associated with Swift’s “1989” era. So during the Los Angeles stop of the Elas tour, Swift donned six never-before-seen blue outfits on stage before presenting “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

One of those outfits was a blue halter dress covered in sparkling beads. It was designed by Nicole and Felicia and sent to Swift “just a few weeks before she wore it,” Chan said.

“My favorite is the blue one because I know how much work went into it,” she said. “The entire gown is fully beaded. It’s not fabric, it’s literally made stitch by stitch.”

“Every time we sent a gown, they asked for swatches of the fabric they would use for the gown,” Chan said.

The fabric was then used to make guitar straps, cover the battery packs Swift wore with her clothes, and match microphone cases to her costumes.

German influencer Leonie Hanne gained attention that year when she appeared wearing a hot pink dress made of tulle.

The dress had huge puff sleeves, a cut-out bodice, a tutu-like miniskirt, and a long train that flowed behind her.

“I think Leonie is always on the edge of her seat,” Chan said with a laugh. “She always has so many ideas and all of a sudden she says, ‘Guys, I’m going to Cannes in two weeks. Can you create a look for me?’ And we always work with her. It’s so much fun to do.”

The designer said that after wearing the tulle Nicole + Felicia look in 2021, Hanne knew she wanted to go bigger next year.

“She wanted a pop of color,” Chan says. “I remember we chose from some really bright pink colors and she wanted dramatic shoulders, so we created that for her as well.”

At the 2023 magazine event in Saudi Arabia, supermodel Naomi Campbell wore a black wedding dress designed by Nicole + Felicia for the brand’s Spring/Summer 2023 bridal collection.

The strapless dress was originally paired with a gold cape, but Campbell paired it with a sheer one covered in sparkles.

“Starting in 2023, we’ve gone in a really modern and fun direction with bridal, designing for brides looking for something special,” said Chan. “And after Jennifer Lopez requested that one of our bridal looks be an evening look, I feel like they’re heading in the same direction. Our bridal look and evening look are more They have a similar design identity.”

Also in 2023, actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan wore a golden ballgown created for the Spring/Summer 2023 bridal collection to the Never Have I Ever premiere.

Chan said the gown was the ultimate example of the brand’s ability to blend bridal and red carpet fashion.

“We always want to experiment with different areas of manufacturing,” Chan said. “We’re looking for new vendors and suppliers, and we’re always looking for new things to add to our bridal collection. It’s not always just lace and tulle. There has to be something new that draws people to look at your collection.” No need.”