Page 54 - Real Style Summer 2017

reworking past highlights into present out ts of the day. Pastels reigned with minty green, pale pink, lilac and blue seen throughout. A oral lamé jumpsuit and sheer pink gown with a sweetheart neckline and tiny, sil- ver heart embellishments con rmed that spring had sprung feminine and irty. For this year’s Golden Globe Awards, Drew Barrymore slipped into a silver and white, cut-out shoulder, sparkly sheath dress from this very collection. “I dress my woman from earlier in the day to evening. There are a lot more separates in the line. There’s outerwear, handbags, fur, cocktail dresses, beautiful statement blouses—there’s something for everybody,” she says.
After catching the attention of the who’s who of celebrity, including Emma Stone, Sandra Bullock, Anna Kendrick, Taylor Swift, Reese With- erspoon, Jessica Alba and Demi Lovato, Lhuillier is still able to choose a standout look. “I have to say, when I dressed Michelle Obama multiple times throughout the White House years, I felt that was a highlight of my career,” she confesses.
Making it in La La Land has certainly been a reality for the Philip- pines-born, Los Angeles-based designer—of course, her name written on clothing labels, rather than in lights. “I think one of the highlights in the beginning was after year three, people started to say my name right. I knew we were on to something,” says Lhuillier, laughing. In 2000, the rst retail store opened in Beverly Hills, followed by a second boutique in New York.
Husband Tom Bugbee is the chief execu- tive of cer of the company. The pair met while Lhuillier studied Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising. They now have two children: Jack, age 11, and So- phia, age 7. “We didn’t start our family until 10 years after we were married because our rst child was our company. Once it was rooted, that’s when we decided to bring children into this world, so we could manage it more and be more present,” she shares candidly.
54 Real Style Summer 2017
“SINCE I’VE BEEN DOING BOTH [BRIDAL AND READY-TO- WEAR] I THINK MY BRIDAL COLLECTIONS ARE STRONGER.”
A DAY in tHe life
Juggling raiSing ChilDren anD running a Company, moniQue lhuillier giVeS uS a glimpSe into her typiCal Day.
6:45 A.M. gooD Morning
“i wake up and make sure my kids are up. get everybody ready for
school. i do drop-off and then i do a little workout. i love to hike, swim
and dance.”
8:30 A.M. fAsHion AnD function
“i come home. because of my busy schedule, i like [to wear] something that is more tailored and that can take me to work and, say, a cocktail meeting.”
PhotoS, Monique LhuiLLieR