Out of Crisis Comes Innovation: The Birth of Melange de Blanc

What happens when two creative minds come together amidst a global pandemic and decide to rewrite the rules of the bridal industry? Hear the story of Christina + Kimberly, who birthed Melange de Blanc, a tailored bridal market that started as a mini-market show during COVID. This episode takes you on a journey through their creation, a community-driven marketplace that celebrates a medley of cultures, from Italy to Israel, with designers offering diverse price points. Discover the heart of this market, a place where collaboration thrives and boutique owners find their perfect match in designers and dresses.

Then, we shift gears to talk about the essence of community support. As we discuss the This Versus That Wedding Podcast, we highlight how every review, every shout-out, contributes to our growth and shapes our content. Just as every wedding is a celebration of people coming together, so is our podcast a space for collective sharing of experiences, questions, and insights about everything bridal. Whether you're planning your own wedding or just fascinated by the industry, this episode promises a peek behind the industry's curtain, an insight into the changing dynamics of the bridal market in the post-COVID era. 

Special series season in partnership with Coded Agency

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Melange De Blanc is a premier destination for bridal fashion, with two prime locations in NYC and Palm Beach. From its roots as a pop-up market, it has evolved into a permanent fixture, bringing exceptional brands from around the world to the United States through international collaborations. With a focus on luxury and immersion, our well-curated selection offers "something for everyone," allowing buyers to find everything they need across various categories.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melangedeblanc

Places to go - People to see:

Kelly's Site: http://www.kellymcwilliams.com
Kelly's Blog: https://www.kellymcwilliams.com/blog
Instagram: @kellyamcwilliams

About Kelly:
Kelly knows how incredible a well planned wedding can be. Every moment counts and every decision plays a part. Wedding planning should be fun and as easy to do as possible. Besides planning weddings, Kelly travels the globe as an industry speaker. Kelly is a Martha Stewart Top Wedding Planner & this podcast won Brides magazine and WeddingWire's best podcast.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:10

Hello and welcome to this Versus that making wedding decisions with Kelly McWilliams. This podcast is for you if you're making a wedding decision and want to know what to consider before saying I do to all the things that will make your wedding experience a great one. I'm your host, kelly McWilliams, and I'm so glad to be a part of your wedding planning journey. In each episode, you can count on me and my expert wedding co-hosts to give you everything it takes to make the best decisions for the wedding that you're dreaming of. Hey, so okay.

Speaker 1: 0:45

So this is an exciting episode because this is like behind the scenes. Behind the scenes so earlier you heard me talk about coded agency, who is like the public relations end of you know why we're getting to do this, and they also represent me, lache de blanc. So me, lache de blanc is gosh. It's so hard to explain really when you think about it. Okay, so I'm not going to, I'm just because it's coming up in this episode. But just let me say it is so exciting in here, like it's just the hustle and bustle of New York and there's wedding dresses going by and designers and all the people in the buyers and it's just like you would imagine on television and it's incredibly exciting. Also incredibly noisy. So it's actually not that noisy in here. It's just the microphones pick up every little sound, so bear with us as we get through this, but I love the insight you're gonna get into this and how it came to be. I just found it such a fun interview.

Speaker 1: 1:59

So here's Kimberly, from my Lounge to Blanc. I'm so excited you're here. Well, thanks for having us. I don't know. It's so exciting. Thanks for having me. I appreciate it. So I just found out as we were talking before that we have led a double life. We do For the same life. Yes, we've been in different periods of the late mid 90s, but in here we are now. We didn't know each other, guys, just so you know.

Speaker 2: 2:26

I feel like we did.

Speaker 1: 2:27

Yeah, but I feel like we did. You're absolutely right. So the people watching or listening to the show more than likely do not know what Melange de Blanc is. So can you give us the low down on what it is, how it came to be and what it means now?

Speaker 2: 2:44

Yes. So my business partner, christina, have a consulting company and we wrap a bunch of different bridal designers. So during COVID, the world shut down. So we had all these designers that had these brand new collections that they've obviously spent a lot of money on making, and then we had stores that were still open and then we had stores that weren't. So we kind of were like, well, maybe we can do a mini market show and the new collections give them their shot, because they deserve it.

Speaker 2: 3:08

So we decided to do a little one in California. We were on top of this little boutique hotel and then, because of the industry I've done it for about 18 or 19 years, christina as well and we had people like I'm solid and other designers that we knew really well, like we want to be a part of it, and I was like, oh you know. So again we did these small little pop-up markets and we went to another city and another city and it really just became a very curated market and we just again, we're really into community and so we just like, what can we do to help the stores? What can you help our designers? And so it's definitely grown. We did not expect it to be like this and the one thing after talking to so many stores and designers is what is the biggest thing? And they want convenience. So we found the biggest building we could find in New York City. We now have three floors, I think it's about 50 or 60,000 square feet and we have 66 designers and we partner with Units Square, for Torsche is about 20 something, so there's like 80 something designers in here. Because again back in the day we had the peers and they were all just get there. They stayed there for days and it was convenient, kind of like Chicago does it. Everything is in one home. They have to go to cab ride, they're not rushing, they enjoy it more. So that's kind of how it's become what it has. But essentially it's just a.

Speaker 2: 4:10

It started out as a pop-up bridal trade show. That just has gotten bigger and we've been asked to go international so it's really kind of taken a toll, which again we do have our other companies, so it's kind of hard to be host and sale sometimes. So we do our very best and we just really appreciate the support in the industry and like we've made so many like really good friends and it's just like I cannot say enough. Partnership and community is huge for us and like I could literally get emotional because like we have had so much of it and it's just been really nice to see Like there are some really good people we're doing the same thing together, so let's do it together. There's no, I'm not good with competition. Clearly I want to be everyone's friend and I'm sure there's some positives and negatives to that as well. But it's just been like really nice to see grow and organically it's been, it's been fun Labor of love.

Speaker 1: 4:51

The fact that this just started in 2020 and is this huge is beyond me. That is amazing, and yesterday I have not seen all 80 at least designers.

Speaker 2: 5:05

There's a lot of us.

Speaker 1: 5:06

I've seen the ones that mess floor, but it was. I was so amazed and they were all so excited. I was watching people come through, all the virus come through and and they would just light up some every time someone walks into their booth. So you did. It's very family oriented.

Speaker 2: 5:26

That sounds a little crazy but it's so. Many people have known I couldn't have babies. They've gone like we've just grown up together in a way, and even the newbies. It's like those are the ones that we love. We always root for the little guy, just always. And we're just like we just want to help support, like okay, you have a new store, don't overbuy. How many designers we would, I say, stay small but buy heavy. Like really invest, because you never know and this is all doors back you never know how long a designer is going to be around, how long a store is going to be around. But we want to help support them to stay around and that's the whole point. So it's really been nice to like connect stores, like you actually get along with this store, like don't use this competition, use it as help and guidance and kind of having a mentor in the bridal industry and it's really worked well.

Speaker 1: 6:03

It was, I will say I was. I was so surprised as I walked through and I was talking to everyone and so many of them were like this is my first time, like you can tell I love them.

Speaker 2: 6:15

They were.

Speaker 1: 6:16

You can tell they were just so nervous but so excited and me as someone who's been in the industry for over 20 years to see these people who are very new at this with incredible dresses. Like I am beyond flabbergasted by what In the Appalachian one floor, I know we already said it, but we root for the little guys.

Speaker 2: 6:39

We really do, because they're you never know what gold mine like. Seriously, they come, they want to come to the States. We have kind of a different bride for sure. We have different we have. Again, we're usually bigger here, you know.

Speaker 2: 6:48

So it's fun to like kind of go through the production process too and they just ask a lot of questions and like, even if we work with them on our clotery side or we don't, like we just want to mentor and just help them I'm hitting my hand, sorry, help them, you know, grow here because there's a lot of room. I mean, I know some stores where, like Kim, please stop talking because, like they only have so much room and they only have such like it's such a big budget. Yeah, and that's the one thing that's here A lot of people usually come in with just wanting newness, but they're like no, we need to invest in what we have. Like we need to like there's just so many designers out there, but you also like there's some there's like just like a diamond in the rough kind of thing, like you know they're definitely in here.

Speaker 2: 7:22

They're definitely in here. I'm gonna say her name wrong, but like I'm gonna say her name wrong, so I'm gonna say it. Way, lou Fresno. Is that what her stuff is Cute? Oh my gosh, that whole weave dress.

Speaker 1: 7:32

I'm like I love a person. On her. Do you notice if I'm saying this is me are we the same person?

Speaker 2: 7:35

We?

Speaker 1: 7:35

are. I love her stuff. I stopped in there yesterday and I was like what is going on? And there are no scenes in that dress. It's beautiful. I was dumbfounded and I was talking to her, said I need to come to the podcast and the look of fear in her face was like listen, just like you've been talking for the last 10 minutes.

Speaker 2: 7:54

It's the same thing, so it happens to be a microphone sitting at the table.

Speaker 1: 7:57

Yeah, she came over and then I went back over there and I took video I put on an Instagram.

Speaker 2: 8:02

Like I was cute, it is so good. Different. Yes, because I always say, like what can you really do with that much white or ivory or fabrics? But it's. I mean, designers are there for a reason. They're amazing what they do and there's definitely been more and more. There were kind of going back to that classic basket waste, like I don't know architectural, like ruching in. It's just really been nice again because it goes back. Same thing. I did this years ago and I feel like I'm back there selling it again. What did you do years ago? So I started up for Silabosson so that was a long time ago. And then again names to say or not. At the time, myself and Haley Page launched Haley Page together and I just adore her and her family are like my favorite.

Speaker 1: 8:40

I think I was at her first show. Well, I was there.

Speaker 2: 8:44

She's there.

Speaker 1: 8:45

And she's got the best fans they have. Was that the one that had the strike?

Speaker 2: 8:48

dress, which one I know she wanted to do leather. For a while there was one named Kiki that was for me. It was a cute little dress. She's the best.

Speaker 1: 8:57

She's got her new life.

Speaker 2: 8:58

I know she does, I'm proud of her, her shoes.

Speaker 1: 9:00

Yep, her fancy shoes yes, I'm very proud of her.

Speaker 2: 9:03

But no, and then after that was a Monique Leigh and I've just kind of done a bunch of different designers from there. That's where Christina's husband's in the military and she travels every three years. I was sick of living in New York and LA it was. I was gone every weekend and I was like this is just not, like we're tired and we go to Nortrum Trunktoes I'm like, oh, I've sold Monique Leigh, oh, I've sold Haley, oh, I've sold this.

Speaker 2: 9:19

And it's like there's something here Like we can't help more than one person. Yeah, there's like that much to give. And so we kind of did it but like, well, we've no one in like us, I don't know so. And it was kind of fun and anachirism designers that we like wanted so bad. And it's been really like fun to see designers come and like we do whatever we can for them. And then with the launch to, it's just really become a huge community, like I literally I get so took to. It's like I'm just so like I didn't expect this and it's like we're so honored. But we also just like we just want to give back so much more. And that's our biggest problem is we don't say no, we don't know how we just really actually care them.

Speaker 2: 9:52

And it's like I want to help you. I love your stuff.

Speaker 1: 9:54

And here's the thing. This is why I hate podcasts and love podcasts, because if everyone could see your face like right now.

Speaker 2: 10:00

I'm an emotional mess.

Speaker 1: 10:02

I mean you don't have tears rolling down your face that I can see the actual joy and passion. Like you have so much heart in this. The question I want to ask the most, I think, is how does Melange Blanc in the end help Greg's?

Speaker 2: 10:18

So it's kind of a two-fold question because Melange really like we do a lot of smaller markets, more curated, so we do one in Palm Springs at the Colony or Palm Beach sorry, in the Colony and people love it.

Speaker 2: 10:29

And it is because people come. They relax. You'll look over and like seven designers sitting chatting that they would never do that and the stores talk and same thing as it will bring, the little guys will introduce them. It's more of like an intimate kind of it's not a Brattle Market. They come there for almost like a mini retreat vacation and so I know they usually buy more because they're just having so much fun and they can literally sit with a designer and talk it through. They're not rushing and looking at the clock. I got to go here. I got to go here. They just need to order their own.

Speaker 1: 10:56

There's a lot of owners yes so that's different than New York.

Speaker 2: 10:59

That's why I say it so like New York. It's great because again we found one pretty large building and for them, they're not in a cab every day. I mean, there's always going to be, like the Moniques and the designers that do have their own, of course, and there's no dessert. We love that, you know so. But at the other day some people come here and they can knock at so much more out in such a little time and they can walk by and they can see things that they didn't even know of.

Speaker 2: 11:20

And a lot of people come here and they're like I didn't even have appointments, but I got how many stores. Like thank you, and we love to walk stores, like okay, come with us and we'll walk them literally to another designer that we didn't work with, because I'm like you would do really well with this guy, like I think you guys would pair well, and it's like it's just I can know I keep saying it, but it really is a community and people you get to talk. Everyone is so open to talking. There's a lot of cultures here. We have people from Italy, from Israel, from, I mean, all in Israel.

Speaker 1: 11:46

I spoke with Tal. She's the best I'm talking to you.

Speaker 2: 11:50

She's so sweet. There's a couple up there.

Speaker 1: 11:54

From Lavagne.

Speaker 2: 11:55

Yes, from.

Speaker 1: 11:56

Lavagne, yep.

Speaker 2: 12:04

They have an amazing. I mean they're countless. Like they are who to beat when it comes to plus size. Their stuff is, it fits well. I mean I saw it, it was beautiful and they're just. I mean everyone's like. They're just good people, like it's fun to work with good people and we and it's it's fun to see here, because they just talked to each other like no one is too snooty, no one is too above the other one, it's just.

Speaker 2: 12:26

And there are so many different price points here so you can really come and opening price but we have it counts up to $30,000 retail. I mean it's such a gauge and we really try, like with the flooring is to do this floor so that kind of store will stay here. And then the next door was like we do the open price point mid trendy, and then we kind of do couture and we try to do it that. But then some designers like I want to be up there and so we just want to make sure everyone's happy as well. Yeah, but we do try to make it make sense for the stores. That makes sense.

Speaker 1: 12:52

And the designers. So in essence, what happens here is, the designers come to you or you go to. Maybe you guys find some.

Speaker 2: 13:02

We have some like we are already almost sold out for our next market because they already want to be there, it's, it's again. There's no complice. I cannot.

Speaker 1: 13:08

Everyone lives there. It's been really great. They come to you and they're like we really want to be in my lounge. And then the bridal slant owners from all over the world they come here, or mostly American slant owners.

Speaker 2: 13:21

It started with COVID, but we've had a. We have a huge international presence this season. It's just because I think, covid, we have people from all over, like they usually send a sales rep or like they'll even hire, like we'll find somebody that, like we call them an old hand, that's done bridal forever and decided to have a baby and is home and they want to get back. So we've been able to hire a lot of those old school sales reps that are able to help them, because they can't come and they do a lot of virtual training just to get comfortable with the line and then they're their person around, but they're really. We have a huge international presence this year, okay, both stores and centers.

Speaker 1: 13:51

So in the end, the all of the dresses that end up in the shops that our listeners are going to. There's a good possibility that, for these newer designers, the slant owner came here and found, of course, that designer or that dress. And do you have any idea? Typically, when a slant owner comes in to find dresses and they go to one of these boutiques, do they usually like? Is it that they buy into the line or they're like I want this dress in my shop? Oh no, they have to. Most designers have minimums.

Speaker 2: 14:26

Okay, and that's when. Again, going back to COVID, that was one of the big things and I think why this took off as much as I did. I've said it before, but we're into partnerships. So a lot of designers I mean again, it's expensive to have a collection, they do numerous like fittings I mean it's not cheap. So for them to make any kind of money on this first season, like they asked for at least five or six, I think it's pretty standard for an opening buy, I'm gonna use it for seasons.

Speaker 2: 14:46

Some designers have like a 10 year minimum or like they all have their own minimums so they don't hand pick like that, but they, I think they want to. And a lot of designers are really good about letting to loan them samples, like really bulk them up, get them, come through the line and then say, fine, buy a couple now, get the territory and then come back and we'll fill you in with what we know that you will invest it and you'll actually make money on it. So, cause a lot of people that are new, I mean this is probably the one bad thing is they come in and they're just so overwhelmed Like they buy personally, like I would wear that, I love that. And then that's not their bride and they're like, oh my gosh in the end. But then the next market. Let me tell you, they've lined it up and they know, and a lot of designers come in with exactly what they need. They're looking for this price point, this style we need like plus, I mean plus size. This season. It's just getting bigger and bigger. That is a that makes me so happy.

Speaker 2: 15:31

Yes, and it's funny to like not funny to me, like that, but like a lot of our designers and ones that we talked to that we don't even work with, are like what do we design? And they're telling me like, honestly, kim, the girl that is plus size, that is a 26, 28, 30, she knows she's plus size, give her what she wants, what everyone else has. She's not different and she's not. And the girl that's like that 14, 16, like still kind of think that they're not plus size, but they're in bridle, they're plus size. So it's like that little gauge and they're harder to sell.

Speaker 2: 15:53

But it's like, how do we design into it? Like you design, like you would any dress and just make it a bigger size. Yeah, that's all you know. So, and those are the ones that are doing well. But plus size is definitely, and we have a lot of bridle stores that are just plus size only, and it's like when a girl can fit in a dress and she's finally comfortable and she's not hiding the back. She's so uncomfortable to go out in the room because these size twos are flaunting themselves Like she's gonna have that same one when they get naked. And she, they deserve it. So and you?

Speaker 1: 16:17

know you hear so often pretty pair of bride. I follow on Instagram but don't know for years that you hear like the horse, and to me it's a horse story that these girls all they can do is hold dress up in front of them.

Speaker 2: 16:31

Yeah, imagine this.

Speaker 1: 16:32

They can't put it on. You know they sell it in larger size, but it's not there in the shop. And to take that experience away from a bride, yeah, it breaks my heart. Yeah, so it makes me so happy when I walk around here and I see that they're actually here and they're being happy and they're genuinely happy. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:49

Like those are when I see again. I've done this for a long time but I used to see genuine tears in like the moment, like oh, the husband's gonna see it later. Then it became husbands are there, husbands are helping pick. Then it was like the mom was picking and it's just. It's changed so much the actual moment. But like any plus size of women I've ever been in or heard of, that is literally that fairy tale moment for her and it's like the sweetest thing. It's so genuine.

Speaker 2: 17:10

I'm taking tears right now, yeah, I do my best friend. So again, sorry, Leslie, but my best friend is plus size and so just now I know him well and he had a couple of gowns sent in for her to make sure they fit and I mean she put it on. I was crying, she was like I, literally, but it's like that was the first time she didn't have to hide in the back Like she didn't want to come out of the room, like the clips didn't fit her. It's just, it's not the same experience and it's not fair. But a lot of stores, I can't only have a big enough budget, they can't do it.

Speaker 1: 17:34

So it's nice that there is now like go here.

Speaker 2: 17:37

Go here, you can have the same experience, you know. So yeah, it's changed a lot, I think, for the better for sure.

Speaker 1: 17:43

Well, I just I have to applaud you. I mean, I know that this is not necessarily what you planned, but thank God that you did. This is amazing and I wish you all of the best. That this is here year after year, and I hope I get to come back next year, please always.

Speaker 2: 17:58

Or come to and me. Chris, you're the best. She's my only. I'm right across the state.

Speaker 1: 18:02

Yes, yeah, but this is just. It's been such an experience and I'm so glad it's here, because I really do think it changes all the slants that all of our brides are going into, yes, and so thank you for that, thank you.

Speaker 2: 18:19

And thank you to all the customers, obviously, and designers Seriously. It's been a great ride, for sure.

Speaker 1: 18:24

Thanks so much. I'm so glad to be able to share my wedding experiences and expertise with you, and that my co-hosts are so giving it theirs. We truly do want you to have the best time at your wedding, and our hope is that this podcast is helping you to make your engagement time while planning your wedding that much easier. May I ask a favor of you? If this is the case, would you just take a moment to leave a review of this podcast on your listening platform? It helps people just like you to find the podcast and to also find out their answer so they can make decisions. I would also absolutely love for you to give this versus that podcast a shout out on your social media. You can find us at this versus that wedding podcast on Instagram, and if you would like me to help you with a specific question, a wedding decision please by all means ask. Send me a DM. I would love to hear from you and maybe, just maybe even have you as a wedding cast on a future episode. How fun. Here's to another great wedding.