A wedding gown is more than a simple fashion statement, it’s that special item that will be associated with one of the most beautiful days of your life. That’s why designers like Cocoe Voci are so special – even she loves her wedding gown more than any other! How do we know that? Well we made a wonderful interview with her and found out all about her style and work. To learn more keep on reading and don’t forget to check her website afterwards.

1. When did you decided to become a designer and why did you find this domain interesting?
I have always been a designer. As a young child, I was drawn to beautiful colors, textures, spaces and objects. I experimented with the making of tiny clothes for my dolls and sketched fanciful dresses for hours on end. I was introduced to bridal at 16 when I was hired by a local bridal salon. I sold, organized, steamed gowns and soon began helping the store owner with the making of bridal accessories and beadwork. I fell in love with bridal fashion.

2. Talk us trough the first years of you work. Maybe you could tell us what did change in time? Are your designs different from the very beginning?
I opened my first bridal boutique when I was in my early twenties. I actually did not prepare much to do this so I found myself with a space in West Hollywood without any product. I bought some merchandise sight unseen so that the store would not be empty. When I received the product, I was disappointed with the designs and fit. I quickly cut and altered the shapes to be more attractive. I sold off the merchandise and found that my forte was creating custom, one-of-a-kind gowns for my clients. It was fun, creative, inspiring and challenging. What has changed in time is that along with my one-of-a-kind pieces, I create collections that can be represented by other quality salons around the world. I believe my designs continually evolve and the fit and workmanship continues to blossom.

3. Why should a bride-to-be choose one of your designs?
A bride that wants to experience luxury, elegance, timeless grace and quality workmanship for her monumental day should wear a COCOE VOCI design. That said, she should be cautious as to where she purchases her gown because there are countless counterfeiters that exist today. A bride should contact us directly through our web-site contact information to determine whether the salon or web-site is an authorized COCOE VOCI representative. For the record, we do not sell to any or through any on-line vendors. A COCOE VOCI gown is meant to have personal service and attention at a fine salon.

4. Do tell us a bit more about your inspiration sources.
I am greatly inspired by literature, art and film. Textures for the mind.  My latest body of work was inspired by the author Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

“To him she seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people that he could not understand why no one was disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, Why no one else’s heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, Why everyone did not go mad with the movement of her braid, The flight of her hands, The gold of her laughter. He had not missed a single one of her gestures, Not one of the indications of her character, But he did not dare approach her for fear of destroying the spell”

5. Have you got any piece you’ve created and that has a very special meaning for you? Can you describe it or can show us a picture?
All the gowns I have created have special meaning.  I hold dearly the memory of creating and wearing my own design for my wedding in 1998.

6. From your point of view, how should a perfect bride look like?
She should look graceful yet effortless because her fashion on her wedding day is a special expression of her inner self.

7. And tell us what would you give her and, maybe, other brands can’t.
I can give her a truly special bridal gown and accessories that are finely handcrafted and not mass produced. My gowns are made at my Los Angeles atelier from luxe fabrics that I source from the finest textile houses and lace mills. We make the gown from start to finish here. The bride will not only look beautiful, she will feel beautiful.

8. Last but not least, do you have any advice for FashionBride readers?
As important as the specific gown you decide to wear on your wedding day is the designer and bridal salon you purchase from. The experience you will have as a bride from the moment you view your gown, the actual purchase to all of the fittings of your dress will be forever memorable. By working with great people and exquisite products, you will have a beautiful memory that you will truly cherish.