A Designer's Engagement: Style, Romance, and Craftsmanship
Fashion becomes truly special not through a price tag or a flashy logo, but through meaning. It is about craftsmanship, about clothes made to last and designed with intention. The most elegant women I know don’t dress to show off. They value quality over trend, comfort over gimmick, and personal style over spectacle.
That’s the spirit I channeled when I designed my engagement dress.
Only 34 were made in a rare, salvaged linen fabric with a subtle silver stripe that catches the light like sun shimmering on the sea. It wasn’t created to go viral. It was created to be an heirloom—something to wear on a day you’ll never forget, and treasure for years to come.
Our Story
John and I are artists at heart. He understands my love of the ocean, of detail, of dreaming. We even both have octopus tattoos—an animal we both admire for its intelligence, creativity, and quiet mystery.
He proposed while we were on vacation in the French Riviera. He worked with CVB Design to create a custom ring: a deep ocean-blue sapphire set in a motif of waves and shells. He carried it in his pocket for days (with some anxiety, not doubt!), waiting for the right moment. Finally, aboard a sailboat gliding through the Mediterranean between France and Italy—a place that holds extra meaning for me because of my Italian heritage—he asked me to marry him.
The Location
We live in the Hollywood Riviera of California. It’s as close as the U.S. gets to feeling like Europe. Blue ocean, swaying palms, terra cotta rooftops, and cliffs that fall into the sea. It's where we met, fell in love, and decided to take our engagement photos.
This place, like our story, is full of quiet beauty. A little sun-drenched, a little wind-kissed, and completely us.
We have Victoria of Cruzio Studios Photography to thank for our beautiful pictures.
The Whitecliff Dress
In my journey as a designer, I've often been advised to cut corners: use cheaper linings, buy less expensive trims, simplify patterns. But I refuse. I believe that true luxury lies in integrity.
This dress uses a soft, heavy-weight 100% linen with fine silver threads woven through—like sunlight on water. I salvaged the fabric, giving it new life in something lasting and beautiful.
The lining is also 100% linen. Even though it’s hidden, it touches your skin. It matters.
The buttons are natural shell—delicate, pearly, oceanic. A subtle nod to the sea I love so deeply.
Its shape is timeless: darted cups, a fitted waist, flutter sleeves, and a full midi skirt that moves with weight and grace. I built stretch into the back with elastic and shirring, so it fits comfortably without compromising the silhouette.
Handmade in California by Sun & Sanctuary's skilled seamstresses, every detail is intentional. Every stitch holds meaning.
The Feeling
I’ve never felt more radiant than I did in that dress.
It was more than just an outfit. It was a reflection of who I am—a designer, a romantic, a woman who sees beauty in thoughtful things.
I hope this dress can be that for you, too. Whether you wear it for your engagement shoot, a wedding event, or simply an indulgent day, may it make you feel graceful, confident, and deeply beautiful. Like the kind of woman who writes her own story—in style.
Shop the Dress
Thank you again to Cruzio Studios Photography for taking these beautiful pictures!
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