Kelly Faetanini Flagship Atelier — Local services in New York

Unfortunately I have to provide an update to my initial review! While I had an excellent initial experience picking out my dress, it was all downhill once it came in. I had been told I was in between sizes, so we’d order up and alter it down to me. At my try-on appointment the dress was so small it wouldn’t even zip up in the back, the legs were so tight I couldn’t walk, and the front of the chest was huge and gaping. It was constructed very oddly. The consultant re-measured my waist over the top of the dress and told me it was 2 inches larger so I must’ve gained weight (just what every bride wants to hear!). It had only been a few months and I hadn’t gained any- I had actually lost a few pounds! Even after re-measuring without the dress on, it was starkly inconsistent with my original measurements, which must have been taken incorrectly. The consultant was not able to provide me with any sort of solution and the store left me hanging for weeks while they focused on bridal fashion week. When they did finally respond, it was an email saying there’s nothing they could do and good luck in alterations. Only after an assertive email back from me, a manager became involved and I was able to schedule another appointment where she walked me through the seam allowance and told me that their third party seamstress would fix it in alterations, rather than agreeing to fix their clear error in production.

Thankfully the seamstress was able to pretty much reconstruct the entire bodice of the dress and bring it back to life, but she confirmed that the proportions and the structure of the dress were constructed very poorly and that this was so common for KF dresses that she is no longer accepting their gowns. Some of the issues I highlighted during my second appointment at KF that I was assured could be taken care of in alterations were not possible- they were clearly just passing off the problem.

I don’t know if this terrible craftsmanship was a result of customizing the neckline of the dress or what, but my advice to brides is do not go with a KF dress unless it already fits you very well before alterations- and even then, triple check your measurements. The designs in the store appear beautiful but this ended up being a really stressful experience and was severely mismanaged by the staff.

Response to KF reply: STILL blaming the issue on me gaining weight when I said I did not…that says it all. Again, a manager only helped after I hounded them. The only way to make amends would be to offer a retroactive discount since my wedding has already happened.

Original review:

I would give this review a 10 if I could! I had the best experience customizing a gown at KF flagship with Izzy. From the beginning, communication was excellent and I was able to heart favorites on the portal. The store itself is beautiful and both appointments I had my group had the store to ourselves- completely the opposite of my other NYC bridal shop experiences. The gowns, which we were able to browse, were so beautiful and well-made, and had a much more modern (but still romantic) look than other designers and at a reasonable price point. Izzy truly listened to my feedback and ultimately ended up pulling a dress that was not on my original favorites list but ended up being the one! I loved the bodice of the dress but worked with Izzy to customize both the neckline and the straps to make it my own. I even customized the veil that I got with it. I didn't feel rushed or pressured and was able to come back for another appointment to finalize the customization details and purchase. The fact that these dresses are customizable at a reasonable price is incredible and made me feel like I didn't have to compromise on any details. They were even able to do a digital mock-up of the customized dress so that I could better envision it, and sent me production pictures of the veil a month later to ensure it was looking exactly how I wanted it. Highly recommend to anyone looking- KF is a breath of fresh air! Thank you for helping this indecisive...

My recent visit to Kelly Faetanini, guided by Helena, was absolutely exceptional. Compared to the dozen other locations I've shopped at around the NYC/NJ area, KF sets the standard high. Even though I did not purchase from this boutique, the KF team has provided top-notch service before, during, and after the visit.

Helena's approach was refreshingly unpushy. She was patient, knowledgeable, and attentive to every question I had, making the entire process stress-free and enjoyable.

The showroom itself is stunning and inviting, setting the perfect tone for a memorable bridal experience. Helena had dresses from my wish list ready for me upon arrival and had reviewed notes from my intro call with them a few weeks ago, a level of attention that's highly appreciated.

Within an hour after my visit, I received a detailed email containing all the dresses and details discussed during the appointment. Nichole, the store manager, has also been in touch pre and post-appointment to help answer any questions I had.

The customization options at Kelly Faetanini are unparalleled. If you are a bride who wants the skirt of one dress but the bodice of another, KF is your designer! They offer digital mockups of your custom gown so you can visually see what the dress would look like before ordering.

In my extensive search across NYC and NJ, Kelly Faetanini stands out for making bridal shopping truly stress-free and enjoyable. If you're seeking a personalized experience with breathtaking designs, look no further than Kelly Faetanini. Helena, Nichole, and the team are dedicated to making your journey to finding the perfect dress unforgettable. Highly...

I don't leave many reviews but I had to write how amazing my experience was at Kelly Faetanin's Dress store. First off, I had the absolute honor of having Kelly herself help me in finding my dream dress!!!! I did not even know it was her at first until I asked her her name because from the start she was so sweet and helpful. Once she told me she was the designer/owner I felt like the luckiest bride. How cool is that to say you said YES infront of the designer herself. Second, even just booking the appointment I was able to email them and check if the dresses I favorited online would be available for try-on and someone responded super quick saying they will try their best to have it within the week because my appointment was later the week and they did get it for me to try on!!!! The store is very intimate, there is only one other room for another bride and their guests. I had another appointment after but asked Kelly if I don't find a dress there can I come back to re-try the one I loved and she fit me in that day, I was able to come back right after my other appointment ended and she took my measurements and I bought the dress!!! For every bride that can, you HAVE to go to Kelly Faetanin's store. Her dresses are all a dream and even if you don't get the honor of having Kelly herself assist you everyone in the store was so sweet. I really can't say how blessed I am to have such an amazing experience finding my dream dress....