Hannah Ruth Zander's Toast of the Town

Fashion

Lace. Pink bows. Sparkling chandeliers. Tiered cakes. Did you magically waltz into an Eloise at Christmastime storybook? No, but close. It’s simply a Hannah Ruth Zander fashion show, of course. A local stylist turned fashion designer, Hannah Ruth Zander is quickly becoming the Kate Spade of Salt Lake City and her most recent bridal runway presentation, “Toast of the Town,” solidifies it.

Hannah Ruth Zander wears a dress from her own bridal collection. Photo: Jillian Meyer

Set at the Commercial Club in downtown Salt Lake City, Zander’s bridal collection had the perfect backdrop. Marble staircases, lavished decor and soft jazz music humming through the room, giving the impression that the guests simply time travelled through a portal and landed in a ‘60s soirée. Wooden chairs with bow adornments lined the runway with the sweet scent of cake lingering in the air. The guests were a swarm of tulle, pink and sparkles. Laughter danced with the music as if it was some reenactment of the Barbie movie, and the only thing that broke through it was a jovial voice that echoed through the room announcing the start of the show.

The first appearance was, of course, the flower girls. What wedding starts without them? Three precious girls walked down the runway with baskets in hand, and joyfully threw rose petals on the ground to a tune filled with hushes. The girls were adorned in bows, lace and mirth. As soon as they returned backstage, the music transformed into an upbeat tempo and out came the brides.

The ethereal models wore an array of pink, crème, polka dots and glitter as they floated down the runway. Bejeweled veils, tulle gloves and embroidered flower petals formed a dazzling sea that tempted you to pluck any piece and twirl through any bridal event or party yourself. The pieces encapsulated the collection’s theme with each model looking as if they were the toast of the town, the guests sitting in their warm glow.

From heart-shaped cutouts to waterfalls of tulle, Zander’s bridal collection called forth another time with a touch of whimsy. Inspired by vintage weddings and her favorite brands, Miu Miu and Kate Spade, Zander went into designing this collection with the goal of inspiring others to dress up and feel special — just like the pieces themselves. Created from vintage dresses, Zander transformed them by hand stitching gems, adding glitter and topping it off with a few other finishing touches. She calls it “giving vintage some extra love,” and the love was well-received. The proof was in the joyous applause and wide grins that her vintage-upcycled fashion pieces — made with charm and nostalgia — were a glittering success.

As the show came to a close and gratitude was given, Zander made the announcement that her collection would be available to rent (yes, so even you could wear it!). With each piece being one-of-a-kind, she offers the unique opportunity to rent her pieces for special events, before placing them on the market. Simply contact hannahruthzander@outlook.com with your event date and chosen look to be the toast of your town. Want more from Hannah? Follow her on Instagram at @hannahruthzander for fashion updates and ongoings.