Lady LUX

Dalia MacPhee’s bold, socially conscious dresses grew out of a perceived gap in the marketplace.

“I’ve always loved dresses, and I saw a need,” the designer said. “I had a lot of friends who were always looking for great fashion, great styles, and there just seemed to be a lack in the market.”

Drafting a few styles, she hit Atlanta Fashion Week with some gowns and never looked back. Dalia MacPhee launched a few years ago, with a range of evening gowns that manage to be classy yet vibrant.

“I had a couple of gowns that were really special and different that no one was doing and that’s when I had the defining moment,” she explained.

MacPhee likes to stick to dresses that are “old Hollywood with a modern twist.”

“I do everything to do with dresses,” she said. “Evening dresses, cocktail dresses, basically any reason to wear a dress, you would come to me.”

Declaring herself bored with black, the designer finds inspiration in bright hues, choosing a palette that includes royal blue, lavender and vibrant red. The line is geared toward confident women who like to express themselves in a bold way.

“All the styles I come out with, they are usually available in two to three fashion colors and then also black and white. When I am showing the collection, I don’t like to show a lot of black because that is usually pretty easy to imagine. I show color because I think it is appealing to the eye … Color is just a bold, bright, cheerful addition to fashion,” MacPhee said.

Growing up in the fashion world, MacPhee got her feet wet in the industry through her parents’ retail stores, frequently accompanying them on their business trips. Responding to the lack of accessibly priced gowns available on the market, MacPhee formed a line of elegant, creative designs, all priced under $500, with many options retailing less than $300.

“I thought there was a real niche in the market for great gowns that were reasonably priced. One of the unique things about the line is that it is really the only line that is worn by major celebrities that retails at (an accessible) price point ... You are wearing something that was worn by an A-lister at the Oscars. That’s pretty much unheard of (at those prices),” she said.

And the line is also accessible in another way. Each gown is offered up to size 24, allowing women of all shapes and sizes to enjoy Macphee’s silhouettes.

via Dalia MacPhee

MacPhee is attracted to designing gowns because of their “specialness.”

“The gown is the most feminine article of clothing that exists,” the designer said. “It’s special. Usually it marks a very momentous occasion in someone’s life. They’re either getting married or graduating or going to a big red carpet event. It means something.”

The dresses are not just beautiful; they also make a difference. With a motto of “changing the world one gown at a time,” her company supports important charity work. Customers can take satisfaction in knowing that every time a gown is purchased, a tree is planted in Tahoe National Forest and a portion of proceeds benefit Women for Women International, a nonprofit that helps women in war-torn countries rebuild their lives.

“There’s so much happening in the planet right now, and I think we are all trying to do our part, in some way,” the designer said.

The socially conscious theme is also reflected in the dress materials: Many of her gowns are vegan-friendly, made without fur, leather or silk.

“I have all these friends who spend a lot on dresses who are saying how hard it is to find dresses that are a 100 percent silk-free,” MacPhee said. “So I found a way to create gorgeous, mysterious, affordable fabrics that are silk-free.”

“No animal testing. Just celebrity testing,” she joked.

MacPhee communicates her message and involvement on the handtags that accompany each gown.

“That’s a way to reach people because you’ve got information that is on every article of clothing,” the designer said. “It’s attached to the meaning of the gowns. Every time a woman is buying one of my dresses, a woman somewhere else in the world is being helped.”

The designer finds inspiration in an odd place: her customers. Learning the importance of listening has allowed her designs to reach the next level.

“I am always trying to think what they want. It’s important as a designer and business owner to really listen,” she explained. “So I constantly get inspiration from everywhere – art galleries, light, nature – and then I pull that in and try to turn it into a collection that’s going to make people feel beautiful. Fabrics that feel great and wear really nicely.”

Customers have flocked, attracted by the message of the clothes and the difference they make, as well as the fun fashion and great fits. The designer takes prides in the diversity of the line, which has attracted the likes of Amber Riley from “Glee,” Serena Williams, and Nina Dobrev from “Vampire Diaries.”

Her bright colors have found favor with these and other A-listers looking for something bold to wear down the red carpet. “For the red carpet everybody comes out with darker colors, but if you really want to get photographed, usually it’s those bright, bold colors,” MacPhee said.

She also stresses the versatility of the line. “If you take a look at it, it is not really cookie-cutter … There are so many different designs and silhouettes … There are a lot of celebrities that aren’t that cookie-cutter size so it makes you feel good as a designer that you’ve done something right if you can make a woman feel beautiful who is more a regular size,” she explained.

Her favorite gown is a long black silhouette trimmed with ruffles. As the piece that put her on the map, it has been sported by more than 20 celebrities and appeared in magazines from Vogue to Cosmo.

“It is elegant. It looks couture, but it’s not over top. It’s slimming,” MacPhee said. “And it’s sexy and a little bit different.”

Next to tackle is eveningwear separates such as jackets and pants that are perfect for a cocktail party. “Sky’s the limit,” she said. “I would love to have perfume, accessories. Maybe we’ll come out with a vegan accessory line.”

Experience her stunning gowns at www.daliaonline.com.

Tagged in: lux exclusives, dresses, gowns, eveningwear, dalia macphee,

Fashion / Features