One on One with Victor Harper designer Kenneth Pool

We are so excited to share a glimpse into the glamorous Victor Harper fashion show at Stardust Celebrations! We had such an incredible time taking in all of the lovely designs and even had the opportunity  to chat with the collection’s oh-so-talented designer Kenneth Pool. We were thrilled to get the inside scoop from this fashion icon! Take a peek at some of the gorgeous gowns featured at the show above and check out our one on one interview with Kenneth Pool himself below! Cheers!

Photos courtesy of F8 Studio

What inspired your latest Victor Harper collection?
I get this question a lot and I don’t have a whimsical answer, I don’t go on sabbatical or study old books. It’s very simple actually. My client inspires me. I know her like the back of my hand. I don’t do lace dresses or dresses you would wear to the beach. My bride is very specific, she loves glamour, she likes beading and thinks of her wedding day as her red carpet moment. That’s my girl and that is who I design for.

What do you feel sets the Victor Harper Collection apart from the previous collections you’ve worked on? I feel the back of the dress is just as important as the front of the dress and not all designers feel that way. I also hand draw my beadwork which is what we are known for. Beadwork is second nature to me now and I love it.

I know that Victor Harper was your grandfather’s name, how did he inspire you in your life?
I didn’t actually know him personally, but I always loved his name. We tossed around all the typical ideas. And then I thought, gosh I’ve always loved my grandfather’s name. So we talked about it and everyone thought it was just perfect. It means something; I’m very happy with it.

When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer? I actually wanted to go into interior design because I love decorating. When I was in fifth grade I started drawing living rooms, houses and furniture, reading Better Homes and Gardens and couldn’t get enough of it. Then when I was in seventh grade I had a really good friend named Inga who wanted to be a fashion designer. We had this little competition about drawing girls in dresses and I thought I could do better than her. Then, I started reading Vogue and Bazaar, fashion reviews in the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. I couldn’t wait for Paris to release the runway photos each season. It fascinated me and it became my passion. So, I put the other away but I still love the other!

You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the industry from Vera Wang to Reem Acra and most recently Priscilla of Boston, how have your experiences shaped you as a designer?
I think everyday life experience shapes you as a person. For me it’s about the path you are on, I’m a spiritual person and believe that we all have a path. Sometimes if you stray from your path it doesn’t work. I’ve been doing this for a long time and I love it. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It’s just natural for me and for some reason I am supposed to do this. I try to learn something new everyday from and encourage you to do the same. I feel if we aren’t learning we aren’t living.

What advice do you have for our brides in selecting a gown?
My number one piece of advice is not to bring a crowd of people with you to try on a gown. It’s very unproductive, there’s no focus and there are too many opinions. I’ve seen the bride in tears too many times. It would be so helpful to all of us in this business. It doesn’t have to be torturous; you don’t need to go to three or four stores. If you love a dress and you look fabulous that’s all that matters!