We were so excited to sit down and chat with Judd Waddell while he was here at Hitched for his recent trunk show. Judd is one of our favorite designers (and is just an all-around terrific guy), so we were thrilled to get the inside scoop about his life as a designer, as well as sneak peek at his new ad campaign-- exclusively for from Hello to Hitched readers!
Hitched: Where are you from, and how did you get your start as a wedding gown designer?
Judd Waddell: I was born in a small town in rural Illinios and ended up going to Washington University in St. Louis for college to study architecture. I wound up being really stimulated by it, which opened my mind to other types of design. I became interested in fashion design, but had no idea that I would be a wedding gown designer. I was more interested in doing sportswear. But then, about a year and a half into my job at Carolina Herrera, I was approached to design her first bridal collection. I though it might be fun, because I really liked the Herrera aesthetic. There was a formality but it was very clean, which I thought would make an interesting take on wedding dresses-- a very different take on what else was happening with gowns in the late '80s.
Hitched: What was your first job ever?
JW: I was a senate page for the Illinois state senate-- so it was totally unrelated to bridal. Unfortunately there was no scandal attached to me... though it wasn't for lack of trying!
Hitched: What do you use for inspiration when designing your gowns? Is it mostly architecture, based on your background?
JW: Architecture is how I clear my head. To prime myself for designing, I download apartment floor plans, white everything out, and reconfigure them. I love those kinds of projects, but it's not my direct inspiration. Really, I like historical costume-- all the way back to the 15th and 20th centuries. That kind of clothing inspires me, and I love history. I'll design something that's like a riff on a Victorian dress, but a bit lightened up to make it stand as it's own design.
Hitched: What's your favorite part of the design process?
JW: When designing, I like both the two and three-dimensional parts. I like to sketch, but I really like building patterns, where the architecture comes in and makes it go from flat to 3D.
Hitched: Who are some of your favorite non-bridal designers?
JW: Dead? Balenciaga and Madeleine Vionnet. Living and not designing? Claude Montana. Living and designing? J. Mendel.
Check out these gorgeous new gowns that will soon be gracing the glossy pages of some of our fave wedding magazines and will be available at Hitched soon!
Many thanks to Judd for taking the time to answer our questions, and for giving us this ad campaign preview! We always love having you here at the store as do all our Hitched brides.
[Photo credits: 1 Hitched, 2&3 courtesy of Judd Waddell]
