Imagine a bridal company that has a five-generation legacy and combines passion with innovation. That’s the premise behind Maggie Sottero—a family-owned, women-led company that has been operating for more than 20 years. It’s a company full of creative design, artistry, and a whole lot of love.
How It All Began
In 1997, Maggie Sottero Designs came to life through Lesley Margaret Webster who assumed the name “Maggie Sottero” in honor of her great-grandmother. She started creating beautiful gowns in Sydney, Australia and spent the next decade teaching her own daughter Kelly about fashion, design, and the ever-changing bridal world.
Kelly Midgley lived and breathed the family business and was completely drawn to it, but she never pictured herself in the fashion or bridal world. However, it kept calling to her and one day she finally accepted her wonderful fate—going into the family business.
Courtesy: maggiesottero.com
Getting Into the Bridal Industry
When Midgley joined her mother’s company as a head designer, she was already looking ahead to the future. One of the first things she did was establish two new labels in 2006, Sottero and Midgley and Rebecca Ingram. Midgley saw a need in the market for upscale, couture gowns for the glam bride at an affordable price, so she created Sottero and Midgley. For the Rebecca Ingram line, another family name, she wanted something for the chic and unique bride looking to push the envelope. These labels, along with the signature Maggie Sottero line, are the three labels that still make up the company today.
Courtesy: maggiesottero.com
The Empire Today
Brides today can expect the same details that put Maggie Sottero on the map: timeless yet romantic designs, amazing fit, thoughtful structure, impeccable boning, and their signature corset. The modern bride will love their beautiful silhouettes and attention to detail. The company prides themselves on keeping up with emerging trends and learning more about what brides want to see. They also cater to as many brides as possible, no matter their budget. Brides can expect to pay between $800 and $4,000 depending on which bridal line they choose and any additional customizations.
Another great thing about the Maggie Sottero brand is that the gowns are handmade and range from sizes 0-28. Many gowns can also be ordered in petite or plus size. To personalize your wedding-day look even further, the company launched “Personalize It! For Your Love Story” where brides can customize details on her gown like adding sleeves or layers to the skirt, extending the train, changing neckline styles and more. This allows the bride to fit her needs and feel like her most beautiful self.
In the last year, Midgley was promoted to CEO, allowing her to oversee all business operations from design to marketing to production. One of the goals for the future is to be more transparent. She wants the whole world to know about her amazing staff (which she considers family) and find more ways to gain a personal connection with brides and retailers. Midgley loves brick-and-mortar boutiques and is proud to partner with hundreds of bridal salons across all 50 states and more than 70 countries!
Our Fave Maggie Sottero Looks
Courtesy: maggiesottero.com
It’s all about modern romance for the Maggie Sottero Fall 2021 collection. Beautiful details, sensual silhouettes and thoughtful constructions make up this dreamy line of wedding gowns and we love the fairytale-esque feel.
The off-the-shoulder Mirra dress is so feminine and elegant with the floral top and gorgeous tulle skirt. The Pearson gown is a great choice for the modest bride with gorgeous cap sleeves and a full ball gown skirt. But our swoon-worthy pick is Gretna. The elongated illusion train is amazing, and the sparkly all-over lace is a dream come true. Serious heart eyes over here!
Courtesy: maggiesottero.com
Merge shimmer with sophistication and you get “Celestial”—Sottero and Midgley’s Fall 2021 collection. These gowns boast luxe textures, elevated lace, and unexpected details. It’s affordable luxury at its best! We love the sexy silhouette and cold shoulder of the mermaid gown called “Dasha”. The Grayson gown is draped in all-over floral lace and is super flattering for all body types. Want to feel like a princess? Then Verina is all yours. The deep v-neck will surely turn heads, but the full skirt is fun and playful. It’s the best of both worlds!
Courtesy: maggiesottero.com
Now this is a must-see collection! The Fall 2021 Rebecca Ingram collection is all about the free-spirited, boho bride. It’s stylish, yet affordable without compromising quality. You definitely get princess vibes from the Sigrid ball gown with the illusion tank straps and airy fabrics. The strapless mermaid gown is oh-so dreamy with the floral lace. For an ultra-romantic look, the Beverly crepe sheath gown is to die for! It screams boho-chic, and the illusion bodice and sleeves are everything. We can’t wait to see what’s next for the entire Maggie Sottero brand, but it’s sure to be magical.
