Lily: Gabrielle! How exciting that we get to pick your brain for our new series, Ladies of Leisure! Tell me, who are some of your favorite ladies?

Gabrielle: I love this question! I’m currently very excited about the prospect of our first female president. I am excited to vote for Kamala in November! I’ve been listening to Chappell Roan and Olivia Dean on repeat for months. For interiors, I love Elizabeth Hay Design and Kit Kemp. For fashion, I love to see what Amanda Jones Vaughn is wearing. I love following what Australian artist CJ Hendry is up to. I also obviously love my friends, my three sisters, and my mom.

"My job as a bridal stylist is to act as a bride’s creative director for all of her wedding fashion."

Alrighty, we’ve got some xtremeley important Qs! The brides better be listing up. Thank you so much for taking a moment to give us all the deets. 

First things first, where do you currently reside?

Currently living on the Upper West Side in Manhattan!

You are a bridal stylist! For our stylist-curious brides out there, can you explain what it means to work with a stylist and a bit about what you do for your brides? 

My job as a bridal stylist is to act as a bride’s creative director for all of her wedding fashion. I’m helping her create a fashion vision for each event and to curate the pieces that will achieve it — everything from the clothing to the shoes, the jewelry, the handbag, and even the hair and makeup. I want to help my clients tell the story of their wedding, and of course, their personal style, through fashion. There should be a throughline through all the looks that lend a sense of cohesiveness to the wardrobe, but each look should still be a stand-alone moment.

What bridal looks have you recently worked on that you feel super proud of?

Photo Credit Left to Right: Norman & Blake, Norman & Blake, Sarah Falugo, Henry & Mac

What are some common misconceptions about working with a bridal stylist?

I think there’s a misconception that a bridal stylist is a personal shopper. While that’s definitely an element of it, it’s much more than personal shopping. I’m not just tracking down a dress you saw online and loved. I’m trying to push you out of your comfort zone to try new things (while still staying true to yourself, of course), introducing you to new brands and ideas you might not have found on your own, and building the perfect head-to-toe look for every event.

Who are your favorite designers, past and present? Who are your style icons?

My personal style definitely skews more feminine and classic, so some of my favorite designers are Oscar de la Renta (vintage and current), Erdem, One/Of, Markarian, Emilia Wickstead, and Carolina Herrera (vintage and current). I also think Wiederhoeft is doing really cool things right now. I’m a sucker for vintage Chanel (apparently, my great-grandmother had a Chanel suit collection that has since gone missing, and I’m very bitter about it) and John Galliano for Dior. 

As far as style icons, I really do love anything, Amanda Jones Vaughan. I also love Blair Eadie (I’ve been following her since college) and Allie Provost. I love when people dress with joy, so I love anyone who isn’t afraid to play with prints, colors, and silhouettes.

What bridal look do you feel has been played out a bit? What do you think is a fresh take on it for a bride who maybe still loves the trend but doesn’t want to look like everybody else? 

I think accessories like gloves and neck scarves feel a little played out right now. They can be super chic with the right look, but not every dress needs a glove or a scarf — it often looks forced. If you really want to do it, I think it’s important to do it in a way that feels really intentional, which will ultimately depend on the look itself. 

What are we doing for fun these days? 

I started taking tennis lessons this summer! I’m still very much a beginner, but I’m really loving it, and it’s been a fun excuse to buy new workout clothes.

What are we drinking?

I love a Porn Star Martini (or any other passion fruit cocktail) or a glass of Lambrusco.

What are we wearing?

Vintage! I’ve truly been on such a vintage kick lately that it’s becoming a problem. I can talk myself into almost anything by saying, “Well, there’s only one, and if I walk away and come back and someone else had purchased it, I’d be devastated.” Being a regular at Happy Isles is definitely enabling this habit.

Gabrielle in a sundry of looks from HINY

What’s a splurge that you also consider self-care?

A nice hotel. I’m in my 30s. I want a bed made with high-thread count sheets, room service, luxury beauty products in the bathroom, turndown service, and great hospitality. I’m old enough and work hard enough that I’ve become a little snobby with my hotel stays. Plus, my older sister is a travel advisor and has set me up in some great spots, so I’m now spoiled.

Tell us about your bucket list for the upcoming year…

Personally, I’m heading to Australia for two weeks in January. (Any travel tips welcome!) I’ve always wanted to go and am finally taking the plunge. I’d also love to get back to Paris and London. I got spoiled and was in Paris at least once a year for a few years, and I definitely miss it. I’m also hoping to freeze my eggs in 2025. Professionally, I’d love to bring my assistant on full-time and get to a place where she’s working with her own clients. I’d also love to work with a bride on a couture gown at a major fashion house.

How about your favorite wedding destination you’ve been to and why? 

I’m very lucky that my clients have gotten married in some truly incredible places. Some favorites include Mallorca, Taormina, Santa Barbara, the Loire Valley, and Thailand.

"I think it’s tempting to be very precious about your dress on the wedding day... Live in the moment and get it professionally cleaned after."

What’s the biggest professional fashion emergency you’ve ever experienced? And what’s something you’ve seen clients unnecessarily freak out about the most?

Oh god. Let me preface this by saying that I was not on site for this one, but I had a client years ago whose A-line wedding dress got caught in the wheel of a golf cart and shredded down the middle. Unfortunately, they hadn’t done a first look, so the couple didn’t have any formal portraits together before her dress was ripped. Thankfully, they were able to cheat the angles so you couldn’t tell in photos, but it was devastating. 

I think it’s tempting to be very precious about your dress on the wedding day, but at the same time, you want to be able to move, dance, and walk around. Your dress is inevitably going to get dirty. Live in the moment and get it professionally cleaned after.

As a Happy Isles insider, what are some of your favorite pieces you’ve seen at the salon?

There are truly too many to name. The Jean-Louis Scherrer rainbow dress that I’m still trying to find the right client for. This Escada number and the Givenchy on the same rack, for that matter (I still think about her). This Christian Dior gown. This bag. This crochet dress.

What are your favorite personal Happy Isles acquisitions?!

Without a doubt, the double-breasted white Chanel pantsuit I bought on a whim and the beaded yellow shift dress I recently picked up. I’m still debating whether or not I save the Chanel suit for a wedding one day (currently single so it may be a while) or just start enjoying it now. The jacket is so good. Oh wait, also my Chanel bow. I love throwing it on with a little black dress or a t-shirt and instantly feeling more chic.

Gabrielle in a Chanel suit at HINY

Andddd a final Q……. 🤫🤠😎Tell us a secret 🤗😇😛

I don’t actually want a wedding of my own! Controversial, I know. But I’ve always envisioned myself doing a super chic courthouse moment (in my vintage Chanel suit) and then eloping somewhere fabulous, just my fiancé and I. I still want the dress and the photographer, but a wedding doesn’t feel quite right for me (I hate being the center of attention, and the wedding I would want would cost a large fortune). Once I’m a married woman, I’ll come home, rent out a dive bar, invite all of my friends and family to come to celebrate and dance the night away.

We love you, Gabrielle!

For anyone interested in inquiring about Gabrielle’s services, you can find her at gabriellehurwitz.com