We had such a fun day at New York Bridal Fashion Week yesterday! (Makes me want to get married again just for the gown shopping experience!) We went to three very different shows—Justin Alexander, Sareh Nouri and Jaclyn Whyte. While chatting with the designers and just hearing what photographers, publicists and other guests at the shows were talking about, the topic of brides in 2026 wanting something different that they haven’t seen before was a key theme. A desire for almost anti-trend dresses.
Below, I explain some of our fave dresses that really stood out. (Like all bridal market weeks, the shows previewed Spring 2027 collections, meaning these gowns will be hitting salons soon). Seeing the gowns in-person makes such a difference compared just seeing photos or even videos so I’ll try to do these works of art justice in my descriptions.
When I said “anti-trend” earlier, don’t get me wrong, we still saw corset backs, bow details and scarves as sustaining trends. And convertible dresses that become two or even three looks are still a thing as well, which makes sense with so many brides choosing to have a second look. But the gowns below are for the bride who wants fresh inspo and not your typical gown.
Justin Alexander Signature, Poeza & Fable
We started the morning at Justin Alexander’s runway show. This Jersey boy designer (he’s from River Vale and now lives in Westfield with his wife and two young sons) never disappoints and his styles are so wide ranging. We were able to nab a one-on-one interview with Justin after the runway show and here’s what he said about the collection:
“My theme for this collection is Chiaroscuro. I was fascinated by the design principle of contrast. Contrast is such an important thing in the bridal space. When you think about a wedding—a wedding stands out so much from every other ordinary day. We also took that and translated it into wedding dresses.”
One of those wedding dresses is the Bravura gown (above). It was so bedazzled it looked like a chandelier, in the best way. It has an amazing bow train that is detachable. So much drama and glamour in one versatile dress! Here’s what Justin told us about this gown: “Here you have the most lavishly beaded dress and an iconic detachable train that finishes it off…You have a minimalist effect on the back and just an avante-garde beaded moment on the front. This is one of my favorite dresses.”
After the Justin Alexander Signature show, which also featured a rack debuting his flower girl collection, Fable for sizes 9 months to 10 years, we were whisked into another room for the launch of his luxury collection, Poeza, which takes its name from “Poezja,” the Polish word for poetry. To set the mood, there was poet set up on a typewriter in the corner and everything. The Rivelle gown (above), has detachable voluminous sleeves that offer a romantic and dramatic detail.
Where to Buy Justin Alexander Gowns ➡️ You can find this designer in salons all over New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. To name a few: Castle Couture in Englishtown, Seng Couture in North Plainfield, and I Do…I Do in Morristown.
Ready to Start Dress Shopping? ➡️ Read these 4 wedding dress shopping tips from Justin Alexander.
Sareh Nouri
Then, we went uptown to Sareh Nouri’s show at the Luxury Collection Hotel. Her set up was completely different—no runway. Instead, models were stationed around the room and the gowns were admired like works of art in a gallery…and honestly, they are.
In a release about her Persian Muse –A Tribute to the Women Who Rise collection, Sareh Nouri says, “Inspired by my Persian heritage, this collection showcases romance, power and timeless beauty in every gown. It is about confidence, femininity and that quiet fire within—designed for brides who want to feel not just beautiful, but unforgettable.”
Sareh Nouri, whose flagship store is located in Livingston, always has an unforgettable floral gown in every collection. The Shirzan gown (above) may be my favorite statement piece from her yet. This dramatic ball gown has pretty mauve and pink colors in the tulle underlay and flowers on the skirt—perfect for a spring wedding.
If “ballerina” is the vibe you want on your wedding day, the tea-length Neda gown (above) is for you. The model at the show who was wearing this gown just kept twirling around with a huge smile on her face and that just made me think about all the brides who will be doing the same in this dress.
As an added bonus, Erin Rhyne, a Houston-based accessory designer who makes headpieces and jewelry from clay and pressed flowers, had a gorgeous display of her pieces at Sareh Nouri’s show. These pieces are truly the perfect accessories for Sareh’s dresses—so dainty and feminine. Erin’s accessories are available for purchase at Sareh’s Livingston store.
Ready to Start Dress Shopping? ➡️ Check out Sareh Nouri’s Livingston flagship salon.
Looking for MOB and MOG gowns? ➡️ See Sareh Nouri’s new evening wear line that is made for mom.
Jaclyn Whyte
Last but not least, we popped over to the Plaza Hotel for our appointment with Jaclyn Whyte. The fabulous mother-daughter team behind this brand (Francesca Guzzo-Whyte, has been dressing brides for more than 40 years and Jaclyn is her daughter) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. But they’re giving Jersey energy with their sexy and unique gowns.
We spent a lot of time with the designers, models and gowns in their latest collection XOXO. A release about the collection says, “the collection highlights what the mother-daughter design duo does best, impeccable lacework and striking silhouettes that not only highlight the female form but offer versatility with select styles that seamlessly transform into multiple looks within one dress.”
One of those versatile dresses is the Jane (above), a lace two-piece set featuring a long-sleeve sheath with a mini slip dress. Of the mini dress, Francesca said to us: “It’s not your party dress. It’s your go to sleep, wedding night dress,” she says…”or your sex dress.” Basically lingerie for your wedding night or a boudoir photo shoot.
My personal favorite gown in the collection was the tea-length Thalia (above). The model in this gown at our appointment went onto a balcony so we could see how this gown reflects the natural light. The fabric (Italian liquid silk blend organza) is amazing—when the sun hits it, it shimmers in a way that almost looks like it’s wet or made of glass.
Another standout piece from this collection is the Madeline gown (above). I loved this light-pink lace gown because it has a soft spring color palette and it’s a convertible gown. We saw it transform in-person and it was so exciting to see it go from classy, dramatic ball gown to a fun mini.
Where to Buy Jaclyn Whyte Gowns ➡️ Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, The Bridal Salon at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, and The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
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