I knew Id never get married in a dress.
I always wanted a skirt suit.
When I spent summers working for Rodkin at his camp and school, I covered my arms and knees.
Photo: Lucia Bell-Epstein
Whenever I enter a religious home or space, I still cover myself.
No problem.Bevza has inherent elegance and modesty in her designs.
She would be the perfect woman to create the look.
Photo: Lucia Bell-Epstein
Over the next few months, she worked with her team in Kyiv to create the skirt suit.
Bevza and her team were operating under precarious conditions.
Eventually, the dress did arrive about two weeks before the wedding by Ukrainian postage.
Photo: Lucia Bell-Epstein
I put it on, and it fit perfectly.
Bevza innately understands how to cinch the waist and, indeed, let the bust bloom.
My bursting bosom made me realize we had another component to tackle: the modesty factor.
Photo: Lucia Bell-Epstein
I couldnt be under the chuppah while, well, busting out.
So Iwent to visit Ornela Flamuriuptown to give the piece a touch of holiness.
(Her sister, mother, grandmother, and so on.)
Photo: Lucia Bell-Epstein
Ornela suggested there should be a panel that would cover the collarbone.
Its the most storied piece of Old Testament history!
The veil could have been a sheet.
It could have been a piece of paper towel.
Whatever it was, I needed a face coveringand I immediately thought ofBatsheva Hay.
The dress was sleek satin, so why not go the full, exaggerated, gem-slathered mile?
I bought crystal embroidered fabric that I took to Hays midtown office.
(According to Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, the bride does not wear jewelry during the ceremony.)
No outfit change necessary.
In fact, the only item that stayed on throughout?
Cream heels by the mensch of all footwear designers, Stuart Weitzman.
