Local designer Michael J. Nolte’s bridal gown collection has gone national
Over the years bridal consultant Michael J. Nolte couldn’t resist making changes to the gowns he ordered for his Overland Park salon.
He added a ruffle here, a lace sleeve there and a puff of pleats on the skirt in the back.
To his delight, he noticed these gowns sold especially well.
Customers would say, “I’ll buy that dress if you leave that ruffle or lace.”
When he made a gown for designer Stephen Yearick, he sold 150 starting at $3,500.
So last year an idea took root. He began to visualize his own wholesale collection.
He flew to Chicago to test the waters.
Before he had time to think about it, he was flying to China in search of a factory.
He introduced the collection late last year and now ships dresses to 50 retail stores around the country. It is an impressive start.
“I feel like I have a new daughter,” says Nolte, the father of three girls. His collection’s signature details set it apart.
The back of a gown is important, he says, because the guests spend so much time looking at it. He adds puffs of lace to the hem or ruffles to pump up the back view.
One of his trademarks is the detachable veil that matches the dress or is worn as a glamorous accessory for another gown.
For instance, if a bride wears a simple strapless Vera Wang gown, the veil pumps up the glamour.
He names his own designs for family members, including his wife, Barbie, his daughters and family dog.
Nolte opened his first salon in 1980 in Columbia. In 1992 he launched the first Kansas City area shop in Hawthorne Plaza. He is known for high-end designer gowns and prestigious labels. He saw a need in the Kansas City area when specialty store Swansons closed, leaving the city without a carriage trade retailer.
Early in his career he carried the popular luxury line Priscilla of Boston, now closed. In addition to his own label, the salons are marked by such labels as Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka and Reem Acre.
As for bridal trends, he says he watches the red carpets. But major shifts typically come from famous nuptials. Princess Diana’s wedding gown turned the bridal business upside-down.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s minimalist gown from Narciso Rodriguez is still the model for many young women. Now he is looking forward to Jenna Bush’s wedding later this month. He hopes she will wear lace. After that the next big event will probably be Prince William’s wedding.
“For that wedding, I will go to London and sleep in the streets,” he says.
Nolte has written two books. One is about wedding gowns. The most recently published is Burned But Not Broken (Indigo Press).
It is his account of near-fatal burns he suffered in 2003 in a highway traffic accident.
Grand Entrance: Bridal Consultant Michael Nolte, who recently introduced his first wholesale bridal collection, designed this gown with Alencon lace, delicate cap sleeves, a keyhole open back and chapel train. He is known for his detachable Alencon lace veils that glamorize simple gowns or match embellished dresses. Lace gown $2,500, Nolte's Bridal
Michael J. Nolte outfits a model in his “Monique,” an A-line Italian satin strapless gown in honey and gold with detachable cathedral veil and train. The photo was taken at Nolte’s new salon at Briarcliff Village.To reach Jackie White, fashion editor, call 816-234-4462, or send e-mail to jwhite@kcstar.com.
