Wedding Dress Designer Profile: Amsale Aberra

Known by most simply as Amsale, Amsale Aberra has been designing couture wedding gowns since 1986. A native of Ethiopia, Amsale migrated to the United States to pursue an education. In 1985 she became engaged to film executive Neil Brown, and thus began her search for the "perfect" wedding dress. Amsale became frustrated in her search for a simple, yet sophisticated gown and ended up designing her own dress. Realizing that many women shared her difficulty in finding the "perfect" dress, Amsale launched her business in 1986 as a designer of fine bridal wear for select clientele.

After college, Amsale attended New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. After receiving her associate degree in fashion design in 1982, she worked as an assistant to designer Have Bernard and learned further about the fashion business.

Amsale first starting selling her bridal creations out of her own garment-district loft, and today, eager brides-to-be must book in advance to shop in her spacious and serene second-floor boutique on Madison Avenue in New York. Here, wedding gowns are suspended from ceiling bars, creating their own version of the march down the aisle. Fresh flowers, rich, dark wood floors and lots of shiny white-paneled, hidden doors show off the gowns in true Madison Avenue high-style. The fitting rooms are also perfect for brides-to-be and their entourages, large enough to accommodate everyone.

Amsale's style is often remarked by many as "forever modern," featuring classic dresses with a modern point-of-view. She designs for women who desire a fashionable, sophisticated and timeless look. Her gowns are couture without the snobby attitude. Amsale is the designer to choose when Vera Wang is too pricey, and Yumi Katsura's too over the top. Prices range from $2,000 to $4,000. Most of the dresses are full-skirted and often beautifully detailed with slightly contrasting fabric bows or pleats. Amsale gowns are both timeless and fashionable, combining luxurious fabrics with fine hand-crafted beading, laces, silk flowers and tailored bows, creating a strong, yet feminine look.