What is the bridal experience without romance?
Leave it to Metro Manila-based womenswear designer, Vania Romoff, to truly understand what romance is with her signature style, marrying gentle color stories with exciting yet sleek silhouettes in classic pieces for all occasions, made unique for the strong, yet graceful, modern woman.
However romantic Vania Romoff’s ready-to-wear pieces are, it’s her bridal gowns that truly bring the romantic fantasy. And to fulfill this fantasy, Vania Romoff finally opens her first Bridal Salon.
Coming from the success of Vania Romoff’s Bridal Studio, an online haven with ease-of-access for brides-to-be looking to curate their special day with the VR touch, is Vania Romoff’s first bridal salon.
Located at the heart of Metro Manila, in the warmth of Shangri-La Plaza’s East Wing, is a space anyone can step into to get a glimpse of the Vania Romoff bride’s world.
As one crosses the threshold from the mall space into the boutique, they’ll first be greeted by the boutique’s curtain-like facade populated with samples from seasonal pieces that are so easily identifiable as signature Vania Romoff pieces even if the sign was absent.
Beyond the entryway, displayed with careful museum-like curation are select VR pieces from the ready-to-wear line so anyone can experience the romance of Vania Romoff designs, bride or not.
And as one turns to face the full-length mirror or move into the dressing room, there’s a curious door with translucent glass on it. No one can see what’s inside, but the warm light invites anyone’s curiosity. On the threshold of that door is a sign, in elegant, gold letters that say “VR Bridal Studio”. This is where the fantasy begins for the bride-to-be.
The search for the wedding dress is essential to a complete bridal experience. By appointment, any bride can now make sure Vania Romoff is a part of that journey and schedule their private fitting within this space.
What’s so special about the try-on experience anyway?
In the fluffiest of romance films, oftentimes, the time the woman gets to share her gown searching journey with her loved ones is when it truly sinks in that she’s about to become a bride. It’s a pivotal moment and should only be spent in a space that’s as committed as the bride to that experience.
To usher in this part of a bride’s journey, a large portion of the 41-square meter space of this boutique is dedicated to the privacy of a single bride’s personal experience. In one corner, a couch for her friends and family to join her. At the center, a display for all the possible gowns, curated by the dedicated team of Vania Romoff. And on the side, a warmly lit space solely for three angled mirrors to view the bride’s full look in what could be the “one”–the dress that fulfills her bridal fantasy.
While a bride is meant to be dolled up in a beautiful gown, the gown should never wear the bride. That’s precisely why one’s breath gets caught in their throat at the sight of a VR bride, because the timeless design choices that Vania Romoff displays through her artistry all pass through the female gaze, rich with femininity but far beyond archetypal womenswear.
The ready-to-wear area of the boutique is open for walk-ins during Shangri-la Plaza’s mall hours. But the VR Bridal Studio is accessible by appointment only. Appointments can be made through VANIAROMOFF.PH or email [email protected]. The VR Bridal Boutique can be found on the 4th floor of Shangri-la Plaza mall’s East Wing in Mandaluyong.
