RACHEL LEONARD SAT DOWN WITH INTERNATIONAL BRIDAL COUNCIL MEMBER GALIA LAHAV'S HEAD FASHION DESIGNER, SHARON SEVER, FOR A QUICK 10 QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE ISRAELI BRANDS' NEW WEST COAST BOUTIQUE

1) WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A DESIGNER?

IT WAS KIND OF A GIVEN, AN OBVIOUS FACT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, AND ALWAYS KNEW I WILL DO. THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF ANYTHING ELSE TO HAPPEN. 

2) DESCRIBE THE GALIA LAHAV BRIDE?

A MODERN WOMAN SEEKING SOMETHING UNUSUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY. SHE IS FASHIONABLE AND TRENDY, AND WISHES TO BE A SUPERMODEL FOR HER WEDDING DAY. 

3) WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR DESIGNS THAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE?

THE DESIGN :) OUR DIFFERENT APPROACH TO DESIGN - I SEE IT AS PURE FASHION, NOT “BRIDAL." CREATING SOMETHING TRENDY, FOR THE SAKE OF FASHION. 

4) WHERE ARE THE DRESSES MADE?

EVERYTHING FROM SKETCHING THE DESIGN TO TROUGH CUTTINGS AND SEWING, TO THE DELICATE HAND-BEADING WORK IS HAPPENING IN OUR STUDIO IN TEL AVIV. 

5) HAVE YOU DRESSED ANY CELEBRITY FOR EVENING-WEAR OR WEDDINGS?

OUR DESIGNS ARE BEING COVERED BY MAGAZINES SUCH AS VOGUE, ELLE AND COSMOPOLITAN AND WORN BY CELEBRITIES SUCH AS JENNIFER LOPEZ, VANESSA HUDGENS AND MICHELLE KEEGAN, ALONG WITH MANY MORE.

6) WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRESS FOR THE RED CARPET?

I HAVE A WHOLE LIST! I WISH I WAS ABLE TO CREATE SOMETHING FOR MARILYN MONROE, BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO "SETTLE" WITH CATE BLANCHETT - I WOULD LOVE TO DRESS HER.

7) WHY IS IT WHEN A WOMAN TRIES ON ONE OF YOUR DRESSES THAT SHE LOOKS SO SLIM? WHAT’S THE SECRET?

THE SECRET LIES IN THE UNIQUE METHOD OF THE CUTS, CREATING OUR SYMBOLIC BODY-HUGGING SILHOUETTE USING SECRET TECHNIQUES. 

8) DESCRIBE THE MOST NON TRADITIONAL WEDDING DRESS YOU HAVE DESIGNED FOR A BRIDE? WHAT WAS THE VENUE THAT SHE WORE THAT LOOK?

WE HAVE HAD ALL SORTS OF UNCONVENTIONAL BRIDES OVER THE YEARS. MOST RECENTLY WE'VE CUSTOM-MADE WEDDING GOWNS IN CRAZY COLORS SUCH AS PURPLE, GREEN, RED AND EVEN BLACK. BUT THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO A BRIDE THAT ONCE HAD A REQUEST TO HAVE MICKEY MOUSE EMBROIDERED ON THE BACK ON HER GOWN (IT TURNED OUT REALLY COOL!), OR ANOTHER TIME A BRIDE REQUESTED WE EMBROIDER HER DRESS WITH NO LESS THAN TWO MILLION CRYSTAL BEADS. 

9) WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE LA FOR YOUR 1ST FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE IN THE US?

SINCE LA IS A YOUNG AND TRENDY CITY WITH A GREAT DEVELOPING FASHION DISTRICT, I THINK IT SUITS THE FASHIONABLE AND GLAMOROUS APPEAL OF GALIA LAHAV. WE ALSO RECEIVE COUNTLESS INQUIRES FROM CELEBRITIES AND STYLISTS LOCATED IN THE CITY, CRAVING FOR A FASHION HOUSE WITHIN REACH AND DIRECT ACCESS. 

10) TELL US ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THE BRIDE WILL ENCOUNTER AT THE NEW STORE.

A GIRL ENTERING OUR NEW STORE IN LA WILL ENTER INTO GALIA LAHAV'S PALACE. SHE WILL RECEIVE THE COMPLETE EXPERIENCE IN THE BEAUTIFUL STORE WITH OUR OWN PROFESSIONAL TEAM. ASIDE FROM OUR VIP SECTION AND COMPLETE HAUTE COUTURE BRIDAL AND EVENING WEAR COLLECTIONS, ANYONE ENTERING OUR FLAGSHIP WILL BE HANDLED BY GALIA LAHAV'S TEAM - THAT'S OUR PEOPLE, THAT'S US.