Austin Scarlett is a New York designer whose work spans the realms of fashion, theater and pop culture. Committed to the tradition of haute couture and beauty in all things, Austin’s inspiration is to make women look and feel their most beautiful. His first complete wedding gown collection available under his own label, debuting his signature line at the Neiman Marcus Flagship store in Dallas, Texas. Grand yet delicate, romantic yet unexpected, the Austin Scarlett collection takes a thoroughly modern approach to vintage Paris couture. Creativity and classical elegance combine with time honored techniques to create a glamorous collection that enchants the senses and redefines romance.

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}: How did you get started in bridal fashion?

{AUSTIN SCARLETT}:  As a child my favorite thing was to design fairy tale gowns by draping my sisters in the bedclothes or tablecloths. So my love of couture fashion started then and has never stopped! Now I’m using much finer fabrics than bedclothes and tablecloths but the same love of fairy tale gowns is what drives me today.

{TBC}:  Tell us about Austin Scarlett and your design process:

{AUSTIN}:  Austin Scarlett is a couture evening and wedding gown collection based in New York City. My design process is organic and changes based on what I’m designing and who I’m creating it for. Generally the designs start from a sketch and then from there my team of expert couturiers transform the sketch into a draped pattern on the form under my supervision. From
there little tweaks are made to mold the gown to the body and make sure the fit is perfect. After the initial design is sewn together we begin the finishing and hand sewing process and at last the gown is complete!

{TBC}:  Besides being the world capital for many things what made you open up your atelier in New York City?

{AUSTIN}:  New York City is my home and also the center of fashion so it only made sense to have my atelier here.

{TBC}:  Do brides get a chance to meet you? If a bride was interested in a couture gown what is your process in designing and producing the gown?

{AUSTIN}:  I do travel and meet brides across the country whenever I can. Usually at special events hosted by salons that carry my collections. If a bride is interested in a couture gown the process begins by talking to her about all the details of her wedding. We discuss what she envisions and where the wedding will take place. How many guests she has, what season, the style of the wedding, the flowers, no detail is too small to mention! After the initial consultation I start sketching and present her with options based on our discussion. Fabrics and beading are selected and design tweaks are made to suit her preferences. Then we drape a custom pattern to her exact measurements. We make a muslin of the gown which is basically a replica of the gown in a simple fabric which is fit to every inch of her body until it is exactly perfect. The muslin is then used to create the final gown.

{TBC}:  How would you define your personal style and what type of bride do you cater to?

{AUSTIN}:  My personal style and the style of my wedding and evening gowns embody the spirit of enchantment, creativity and the feminine grace of the golden age of couture.

{TBC}:  What trends can you expect to see in 2013?

{AUSTIN}:  I don’t like the idea of trends so I try not to pay attention to them. I value old world beauty and craftsmanship more than what’s hot now and I think that comes through in my designs as well.

{TBC}:  What was the inspiration behind your latest collection?

{AUSTIN}:  The fragile and immortal beauty of a flower.

{TBC}:  From where do you draw your inspiration and your ideas about fashion?

{AUSTIN}:  I draw inspiration from everywhere but notably history, nature and my subconscious.

{TBC}:  How would you define glamour and elegance?

{AUSTIN}:  Glamour is incendiary, elegance is serene.

{TBC}:  When you travel what won’t you travel without?

{AUSTIN}:  A steamer trunk, although it can be tricky to fit into an overhead compartment.

{TBC}:  Favorite places to shop?

{AUSTIN}:  The flea market!

{TBC}:  Favorite item in your closet?

{AUSTIN}:  My ribbons and scarvery! One can never have too many scarves.

{TBC}:  What is your necessary extravagance or guilty pleasure?

{AUSTIN}:  I have many pleasures, none of which I feel guilty about!

{TBC}:  What was the last movie you saw or book you read?

{AUSTIN}:  I recently saw Lincoln and read O’Henry Short Stories. I loved both!

{TBC}:  What’s on your nightstand?

{AUSTIN}:  A fancy lamp with a lady hoop skirt is a beautiful, luminous nightlight.

{TBC}:  What is a little known fact about you that would surprise us that you would like to share?

{AUSTIN}:  Little facts are tedious, make believe and grand ideas are so much more fun!