If you’ve ever watched Say Yes to the Dress, or have been on a hunt for a bridal gown for your special day, chances are the name Pnina Tornai is in your vocab. She’s chic, she’s classy, she’s drop dead gorgeous, and she has managed to make her name synonymous with bridal fashion.
This lady has it all, not only in business but in love, too. The jetsetter admitted – when we had an intimate chat at none other than the lone Kleinfeld store in Canada – that her husband not only runs her business, but travels with her at all times. In fact, he even came out of the back room at Kleinfeld during our interview just to check in on her and introduce himself to us. Insert your love-lorn sighs here.
Since we had the opp to sit with the renowned bridal designer over tea, while brides and their bridal parties passed by to take pics of our interview and her phenomenal gowns that acted as our backdrop, we questioned her on all the important things in life: beauty regimens, fashion trends, and men.
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Three things you can’t live without are…
My 19-year-old Maltese, Lychee, the people I love, and creating. Creating is the source of life for me and keeps the fire in there.
Fill in the blank. I love Toronto because ________.
It’s so calm and peaceful. The streets are big, the sidewalks are big, and everything is clean and tidy. Compared to New York City, it’s another planet entirely.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Morimoto, in New York City.
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What products are always in your beauty bag?
I always have water bottles and make sure to drink a lot of water. I have a full refrigerator of creams, so as not to spoil them. I love the Neo Strata line. The foaming cleanser really prepares your skin and brightens it. They have a wonderful moisturizer and I use it morning and night.
I use pure argan oil. It’s a Morrocan oil that I think is the most precious oil that exists. My makeup is pretty fine and I don’t use heavy makeup. I use Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation with SPF to start. I keep my lips light with a Clinique pencil lipstick in a soft colour. I treat my eyelashes with a product called Super Lash, that makes them healthy and long. I use bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volume Mascara.
What style trends are you obsessed with right now?
It’s so difficult for me to shop. I wish I had someone to be my shopping fairy! I’m petite and people tend to make fashion for women who are extremely tall and skinny. I’m obsessed with anything with a really high heel and a really high platform. My favourite shoes are made by Giuseppe Zanotti. They have to make me custom shoes, true to my size (size 34/35) because my feet are so small. I love wearing pantsuits that are high-waisted, with wide bells at the bottom (to hide my platforms!). And I love small dresses, not higher than knee length.
What style trends have made their way into your most recent collection?
I like open backs, sheer bodices, laces that are heavier and bigger, and showing legs. The bride today is conscious of her femininity and her body. A lot more celebs have been going around in sexy, exposing pieces that affects the brides’ style. I’m also launching a new bridal shoe collection in October at New York Bridal Week.
What can people expect from you at New York Bridal Week?
This collection will be short and transparent – and it will all have detachable pieces. A bow, something that moves. It will be more dramatic for the ceremony and the first impression, then brides can take that piece off and have a totally new look in the same gown, ready for the party.
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What’s your best relationship advice?
Choose a partner for life. Someone you know is your ally in life; that you’ll protect them and they’ll protect you. Marry someone who appreciates the gift that you’ll be his wife, that your heart knows he won’t hurt you in life. My husband manages my whole business and always flies with me wherever I go. If I wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, he is there trying to make me feel better. Don’t marry for vanity (money and status) or artificial and material factors. Free your mind of social statuses.
