For nearly 20 years, designer Jenny Yoo has been wooing brides all over the world with her feminine but modern wedding designs. Yoo likes to say, “Weddings are traditional, but rules can and should be modified”, and her designs definitely live up to her vision. Whether you’re looking for timeless elegance or fun and free spirited, there’s something for every type of bride.
How It All Began for Jenny Yoo
The idea behind Yoo’s company started inside a small New York City apartment in 2002. Yoo had just graduated from Parsons School of Design and noticed a lack of bridesmaid dresses for the stylish, modern woman. She wanted something understated, yet polished.
Combining her creative, visionary talent with her corporate background (she previously worked as an associate designer for Ann Taylor), Yoo launched her first bridesmaid collection in November 2002. From then on, Yoo vowed to emphasize this philosophy: designs were meant to evolve with the changing times, meaning brides would always see something new and fresh.
How Jenny Yoo Got into the Bridal Industry
Yoo’s stunning bridesmaid dresses were getting attention all over the U.S., so she decided to expand into full bridal. In 2006, Yoo launched her namesake bridal collection full of exquisitely crafted designs for the contemporary woman.
Her signature style includes clean lines, modern cuts and attention to detail. In 2016, Yoo expanded her bridal line and designed a more youthful and free-spirited collection called Jenny by Jenny Yoo.
The designer believes that a brides’ wedding day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate her personal style. She encourages brides to choose a gown that brings her comfort, is figure flattering and feels great in her wedding-day setting.
Alongside the two bridal lines and super-popular bridesmaid collection, Yoo also creates flower girl and special occasion dresses. She also has a ready-to-ship collection, called Little White Dress, and bridal accessories.
The Empire Today
The brand has grown leaps and bounds from Yoo’s little apartment, and operates today as a family company. Yoo’s brother and sister work at the company and take on key roles for the label. All gowns are designed in the NYC-based office (where the flagship store is located) and manufactured in factories in China and India. Yoo’s design team visits the factories every year to ensure quality and fair labor practices.
The dresses are rich in luxurious silk, chiffons, tulle, and delicate lace. The designs boast modern silhouettes, playful patterns and colors, and charming textures made ready for the sophisticated, effortless bride. Yoo says she gets inspired everywhere—from architecture to landscapes. Gowns come in sizes 0-24 and range from $1,300 to $3,200.
The company prides itself on using sustainable materials and fabrics in each design. Yoo partners with Fabscrap to recycle and repurpose any unused fabrics, and donates fabrics and trims to a NY-based fashion design school. The students visit her studio yearly as a way to educate the next generation of fashion professionals.
Our Fave Jenny Yoo Looks
Courtesy: brides.com.
Made with the minimalist bride in mind, the Jenny by Jenny Yoo Spring 2022 collection is nothing short of fabulous. We’re in love with the simplicity, the clean lines, and the feminine touches. The Bronte dress is minimalism at its finest—a strapless, chiffon ball gown without extra embellishments to really make the bride shine.
Want to look lovely in lace? Both the Sydney and Angelica gowns feature stunning lace, but in two totally unique ways. The mermaid-cut Sydney gown is draped in all-over lace with beaded straps, but the off-the-shoulder Angelica gown steals the show with a nude bodice and sexy silk skirt.
Courtesy: jennyyoo.com.
The collection may be called “Little White Dress”, but these dresses have a big impact! For the Spring 2022 collection, we’re seeing tons of chic options for your bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, or a reception look! Say hello to Blaire—she’s full of modern flair, hugs your curves beautifully and the square neckline is giving us straight ‘90s vibes.
The Hart dress is that perfect little lace number you’ve always wanted! We love her mock neck and oh-so romantic sheer sleeves. Campbell rounds out the trio, and is a totally luxurious choice. Made of soft Mikado fabric, the dress features a plunging V-neckline, delicate spaghetti straps, and a cumberbund waist. It’s the perfect pick for dancing the night away with a twirl-worthy skirt!
Courtesy: jennyyoo.com.
We can’t look at Jenny Yoo dresses without going back to the beginning—the bridesmaid collection! Many of these made-to-order gowns come in an array of colors, and some styles are available in plus sizes.
We’re crazy about velvet this season, so the Selma and Malia dresses are absolute perfection. Selma comes in two color patterns, and the side slit on the A-line skirt adds a hint of sexy. The Malia is super sophisticated with a plunging V-neckline and sultry slit. Either dress would totally elevate your wedding party look!
If you’re going for versatility, Elsie is your girl. The off-the-shoulder chiffon dress is romantic and super flattering. The gown comes in a variety of colors, so it’s the perfect year-round pick.
Courtesy: essensedesigns.com, theknot.com, instagram.com.
We’re not the only ones who are fans of Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dresses—celebrities love them too! Yoo’s bridesmaid dresses are known for their versatility through convertible straps and sleeves and that’s exactly what singers Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga sported when they were bridesmaids.
Gaga wore a stunning lavender chiffon gown for her high school friend’s wedding in 2015. Swift also stood by her BFF in 2017, wearing Yoo’s super-popular “Mira” dress for the Martha Vineyard nuptials. She went with a halter neckline, one of the 15-plus options the convertible gown offers.
Eva Longoria also sported a convertible number for her friend’s wedding in Spain. The “Annabelle” dress is another fan favorite for bridesmaids and the ciel blue color looked stunning on the actress.
