VICTORIA KYRIAKIDES THE COUTURE BRIDAL COLLECTION - Social Life
This past autumn Victoria KyriaKides’ exquisite gowns hung glittering at the entrance to Saks Fifth Avenue’s bridal boutique in Manhattan. The occurrence marked the beginning of the brand’s partnership with the leading luxury retailer and the first ever opportunity brides across the United States had to engage with the designer in person.
There is something unique and magically alluring about the romance found in Victoria KyriaKides’ dresses. Their intricate details, sheer overlays, and sparkling embellishments, are quickly making them a favorite of brides around the world.
True to couture, every gown is created by hand to fit the precise measurements of the individual bride. Victoria deliberates over every small detail from the inside out and engineers it by hand on a mannequin. “Every dress is featherweight using the lightest, rarest materials available. All VKK designs are highly original, classical, and technically sharp,” she says.
Many characterize Victoria’s work as bold, subtle, and edgy, but always elegantly chic. “I look at the pieces I have designed 15 years ago, and I still love to wear them because they still look modern and timeless. Most of my clients say so, also!” she says.
When designing a new collection, Victoria draws inspiration from nature and well-done documentary films. She also begins by asking herself, “What would I wear?” The master atelier says, “I am a very meticulous person so when I make it personal, it helps me choose only the best of the best elements for the creation of every dress for my new collection.”
Victoria describes her bride as “Stylish and fashion-conscious. Intelligent. Elegant. Timeless.” Celebrities whom she would love to dress include Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Vikander, Emma Stone, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, and Jennifer Lawrence.
The talented designer can easily envision one of her creations walking down the aisle at a Hamptons wedding
For a celebration on the East End, she recommends the Leto or the Audrey dress. Victoria describes the Leto as possessing, “a refined fresh couture aesthetic” and the Audrey as “ethereal for the exquisite beach occasion.”
Her career as a designer of bridal and evening wear began in the early 2000s. The VKK brand quickly attracted the attention of fashion-savvy brides internationally. Brides from around the world began to fly to her atelier in Athens for couture meetings. “I launched my Manhattan studio a few years ago due to demand to be accessible to brides closer to here. It was always a dream of mine. I was honored when Saks Fifth Avenue loved and picked up my bridal collection for both its New York City and Beverly Hills boutiques,” she says.
Design and fashion have been an essential part of Victoria’s life since she was a young girl. “My mother had a real appreciation for tailored clothing, and had all of her clothing custom-made from the latest fabrics she and my father used to bring back from their travels to fashionable cities like Paris, Tokyo, and London. I’ve loved beautiful fabrics since I was young, and used to design and create original looks for my dolls. Learning about and appreciating true couture apparel at that young age played a pivotal part in my becoming an haute couture designer,” she says.
Today Victoria finds deep personal fulfillment from conceiving her next form and line. She says, “Designing a couture dress is the result of constant testing, rehearsing, draping, and exploration of different unique materials from all over the world. I love the ultimate result of the meticulous, detail-driven process: seeing a bride confident and blissfully happy on her most important day!”