Posted on September 29, 2023 by Jacqueline Larcara
Last week, I attended the grand opening party for bridal gown designer Sareh Nouri’s new flagship salon in Livingston. Before I give you the inside scoop on the shop, here’s some general information. Sareh recently outgrew her location at the Mall at Short Hills, so she moved to this 5,000-square-foot spot in Livingston Town Center. Outfitted with couches, grand mirrors, and racks of bridal dresses, evening gowns and accessories (veils, bridal robes and headpieces), the salon is spacious yet cozy. The opening comes just in time for the release of Sareh Nouri’s fall 2024 bridal gown collection, Love Sareh, which is available in the shop starting in November 2023. Here are five things that stood out to me during my Sareh Nouri salon tour.
In this large space, one of the goals is to make appointments more private and provide more attention to each client. So, the salon team plans to take only two bridal appointments and two evening gown appointments at the same time. This seems reasonable considering there are two distinct dressing room areas. The salon is open on Tuesdays as well as Thursday to Sunday. Their team has handpicked gowns from each season to have in the showroom. That means some of the gowns from Sareh’s spring 2024 collection, Something Blue, will be available to try on. A voluminous gown with blue hydrangeas (see above) is a show-stopper for the bride who wants to venture beyond the traditional all-white look. Fun fact: Just last year, a gorgeous Sareh Nouri gown graced the cover of New Jersey Bride magazine.
Since 2021, Sareh has released one evening gown line per year. I was impressed with the variety of colors, styles and patterns that I saw on the evening gown rack in her salon. Often, it can be difficult to find mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom dresses that are chic and flattering. I’m told that the evening dresses are custom-made, so if moms want to add a sleeve or need to accommodate their body shape in some way, changes can be made. The evening gown line also offers great options for wedding guests.
High ceilings, exposed air ducts, and bright (but not harsh) lighting create a warehouse chic vibe in the salon. With white walls and gray flooring, the space feels clean, polished and elegant. Couches and chairs make the space cozy. Quite a few large mirrors create a spacious feeling. Simple tables add to the minimalist look. There are showcase windows on three sides of the building so you can also take a peek from the outside.
Since she lives just five minutes from the salon, I’m told that Sareh comes to the flagship store often throughout the week. Maybe she’ll be there during your appointment! Here’s a little more about Sareh: She’s inspired by the classic elegance of Hollywood starlets like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Lauren Bacall. She came to the United States from Tehran, Iran at age nine. When Sareh began searching for her own wedding gown, she wasn’t having much luck. She decided to design her own wedding dress. After having many different roles in the bridal industry, she was inspired to create her own bridal line. Her experience in the bridal world paired well with her background in graphic design. She now lives in Essex Fells with her husband and twin daughters. Want to know more about Sareh? Read our interview with her.
After shopping, grab a bite to eat. Great nearby choices for lunch include Thavma for very tasty Mediterranean fare (and well-priced lunch specials) or Sweet Basil’s for fresh and flavorful salads, sandwiches, bowls and more.
