Nouvelle Vogue

Purchasing my dress at Nouvelle Vogue was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. Once my credit card was swiped, the lack of professionalism and customer service from the store owners was truly mind blowing.
In brief, I custom ordered a dress through the store and paid full price for the dress. Chantal and Saida (the store owners) encouraged me to buy the 2015 version of a dress that they had in their store (they had the 2014 in their store). They showed me the previous years dress and explained the differences between that dress and the other, and said that based on my taste, I would like the next years dress better. They said they could not get me a sample of the dress, but that they knew the dress well and described it to me in detail. They told me to trust them. As it turns out, they did NOT know what the dress looked like, they had never seen it before, and their description was completely different from what was delivered. I should have known something was wrong when months after I purchased the dress (when the dress was supposedly being made) the store owners called me and told me that they were missing (had lost?) my measurements and that I would need to come back to the store during business hours (which required me to take time off of work).
Several months after placing the order, the dress arrived. The fabric and style of the dress were COMPLETELY different than what was described. The worst part was that the custom ordered dress was not even CLOSE to my specifications. One of the store owners accused me of gaining weight, even though I confirmed with a measuring tape and a scale after leaving the store that I had in fact lost 4 pounds. One of the cups on the dress was a D cup, and the other was an A cup. The straps were so long that the dress would not stay on my body, and just to see what the dress «should» look like, I had to stand there for about 40 minutes while the seamstress pinned and snipped the dress into many pieces. The sample size had fit me perfectly, so it is very hard to understand how this was supposedly a «custom» dress. The store owners admitted during my first few fittings that the dress needed a lot of work, and suggested that they would get me a «good deal» on alterations. They suggested that I go to a fabric store in San Francisco to purchase the fabric in the material that we all thought the dress would come in, then they would have their seamstress add that fabric to the dress to try to make it look like the dress originally promised. I later learned that not only had they not gotten me a «good deal» on the alterations, but they had taken a HUGE commission on the alteration expense, which ended up costing me more than $ 1,000! Weeks before my wedding, I was vulnerable and desperate, and they saw that as an opportunity to profit off of the alterations for a custom-​ordered dress, which did not fit me.
From the first to the final fitting, the store owners encouraged me to try to «remake» the dress. The final product was a dress with exposed seams, which literally would not stay upright on my body. When I put the dress on, the strapless top would flop down to my waist leaving the top of my body exposed. The store owners were unapologetic and rude telling me that it was not their problem at that point, which was two weeks before my wedding. Needless to say, I needed to make the dress work. I called the store to make another appointment for a fitting, and the store owner was unsympathetic, short, terse and rude, she said she was busy with another client, then HUNG UP on me. At that point, I did not even know if I was going to be able to pick up my dress, even in the state it was in!
In the end, I ended up having to work independently with a seamstress who picked the dress up from the store and completely re-​made it into something that would work on very short notice. Chantal and Saida have never returned my calls or emails since the time that they hung up on me. I have never in my entire life experienced such a lack of professionalism. Once I paid for the dress (which is done up front), the customer service ended and the store owners were unmerciful, rude, and mean.
I truly hope no other bride has to experience that type of stress, frustration and disappointment buying her wedding dress.

This review is long overdue. I was referred to Nouvelle Vogue by a coworker who also purchased her dress with them. I made my first appointment to look for dresses in late 2014 with my sister in law and mother in law. I was very impressed by the store; the dresses were beautiful and perfectly displayed, there was no one else there during my appointment, and the owners, Chantelle and Saida, were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and FRENCH! SO chic. They got my personality right away and helped guide me to the right dress for me. They are PROS.
When I first went looking for a dress, I was looking for a fitted trumpet or mermaid with lace top and possibly open back. However, as soon as I walked in the store, my sister in law saw the Cymbeline, a very unique dress with a lace high neck with floral appliqué on the upper body, and silk organza ruffles on the bottle. The back was completely bare. It was a statement dress to say the least. I absolutely fell in love with it but it was a little more revealing than I wanted since I was getting married in a church. I told them I had to think about it and get back to them. Chantelle and Saida did not rush me, pressure me, etc. Also, they gave me great advice while trying on the dress and suggested that I do not take any pictures in the dress because the pictures do not do the dress justice and leave you questioning your decision (I recommend this to every bride — do not take pictures, instead remember the feeling you had when you were in the dress). After a few weeks of turmoil and questioning the dress, I finally did just that — I remembered how it made me feel and decided to call back and purchase it. I am SO glad I did. It was the best decision I made since picking my hubby.
I also went back in April of this year with my sisters to try on veils. I ended up purchasing a 120 cm veil that was very long and slightly over my budget (oh well). As my wedding in August started approaching, I called the store to see about scheduling my fittings. I had a pretty tight travel schedule and we were able to schedule my first fitting in early July. Right before my first fitting, the ladies called to say that the dress was mailed from their storage warehouse regular ground when it was supposed to expedited, so they would not have it in time for my appointment. I tried to remain calm and they assured me they would get me in for my fittings in time. I had to go twice for fittings the week before the wedding, which was a little stressful. However, I still give these ladies 5 stars because they made things right! The seamstress, Padi, is a goddess. She had to make a lot of changes to the dress (add an ivory skirt underneath, add more appliqué, lower the neck, take in the sides, etc.). The alterations were much more than I anticipated and the ladies at Nouvelle Vogue helped make the cost affordable due to shipping issue and stress before the wedding.
During my final fitting, my veil still hadn’t arrived and I hadn’t seen it, even though it was only a few days before the wedding. The ladies told me that it got stuck at customs and were doing everything in their power to be sure they arrived on time. THEY DID JUST THAT! They made SURE that it came before the wedding, they pressed it, and they even HAND delivered it to the hotel that I was staying at. I can not assure you this is a regular thing, but given the shipping stress of the veil and dress, Chantelle and Saida made things right and went above and beyond by dropping off the dress to my hotel. For that reason, they deserve 5 stars. They are customer service embodied and they care about what they do.
I must say, of all the decisions I made leading up to my wedding, walking into Nouvelle Vogue was the best one I made. The guests at the wedding are still talking about the dress, and not one person didn’t say something positive about it. I felt like an angel and it was exactly the show stopper I was looking for. I can honestly say, it was because of these beautiful woman that I got the right dress for me! They washed away any apprehension, doubt, or fear and replaced it with self-​assurance, praise, and confidence. Because of them, I had the wedding of my dreams. I am forever grateful that Chantelle and Saida came into my life and I will refer everyone I know to this beautiful store.

My experience at Nouvelle Vogue was unparalleled compared to the other bridal salons I visited. I left another salon where they had I dress I had fallen in love with to go back to Nouvelle Vogue because I was so much more comfortable there!
Chantal & Saida are just lovely. It’s a small & intimate space where you feel you are amongst friends.
The selection is also the best in the area. I will be recommending Nouvelle Vogue to any and all of my friends shopping for wedding dresses in the Bay Area!

I don’t typically write Unilocal reviews but the incredibly rude service (or lack there of) I received at Nouvelle Vogue motivated me to write one. I already have my wedding dress but my mom was in town visiting and we were looking for a veil to go with my dress. I had found Nouvelle Vogue on Unilocal and saw they had good reviews. Upon entering the store the front door did not mention an appointment was necessary and I was not intending on trying on gowns, as I already have one. We walked up the stairs and neither of the sales ladies bothered to greet us or even glance in our direction. I attempted to get one of the ladies attention to ask where their bridal accessories would be and could not get any service. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. We might as well have been invisible to these women. I understood they had other clients in the store but they could have at least acknowledged our presence. I will say that they had beautiful gowns but the terrible service would make me advise brides to go elsewhere to shop for their dress.

I came here with one of my best girlfriends to try on their gorgeous gowns.
She got hers here and it was beautiful.
Chantal and Saida, owners of Nouvelle Vogue are so helpful!
Sorry if I misspelled your names!
I must have tried on at least 10 gowns…
Everything was just so beautiful and elegant. It didn’t take long though to find THE ONE. I knew right away that was MY gown!
I special ordered it in my size and it’s being handmade in Paris!
It is slightly on the pricey side but trust me, worth every penny! You don’t want to skimp for your special day.
I can’t wait!
Thank you to my BFF and these two ladies for all the help. It was a very special day!
I can’t wait to go back in June to try on my gorgeous gown.
5 stars on service and Elegance!

I ended up buying my reception dress here and it turned out to be a sample sale dress that I happened to see on their facebook page. This is not a large-​scale store where you will get a huge selection of every type of dress. They only carry certain designers and if you like those designers you will have plenty of selection within those styles. This is not the place where you will find every type of gown in existence. The price points are as expected for designer gowns. Again, just know what to expect! Take advantage of sample sales and trunk shows.
For me, customer service was wonderful and they were always helpful in answering my questions over the phone and through email. They also have one of the most talented and amazing seamstresses doing alterations for them! Seriously, she worked her magic and made my dress exactly as I envisioned it.

I accompanied my friend to try on some gowns here. I gave her my appointment since I had already ruled out Rosa Clara and Jenny Packham gowns for my own wedding dress. I sent them an e-​mail to inform them that my friend would be taking my spot but they never responded. Just in case, I came with my friend. She tried on a few gowns, but she didn’t find anything she was in love with. It was her first time trying on gowns, and I think it was a little disappointing compared to my own experiences.
First of all, they didn’t have that many dresses and styles to choose from. I also didn’t like how they only had 1 couch near the dressing rooms. It was a little hard to get comfortable because I had to stand the entire time I was waiting for my friend to change. I also felt like I was kind of invading the other party trying on dresses. They were sitting on the couch closest to the dressing room. I had no where else to stand or wait bear the dressing room. Such a poor set up.
I started to walk around the store, and I was a little annoyed that one of the other ladies tried to sell me accessories. I wasn’t there for me, but for my friend. I’m not sure if she worked there or was there for the trunk show?
They asked what my friend’s budget was, and to accommodate her budget they said they would sell her the sample that was extremely too big for her. I’m sure the alterations on that wouldn’t be cheap either. I just thought that option didn’t make sense?
I expected more from this place, especially because I read so many wonderful things about this place. However, I can’t help but compare it to the other places I’ve been to for my own bridal fittings. The appointment was only 25 minutes! That’s the shortest I’ve ever experienced before. I’m a little disappointed but I’ve definitely had much better experiences elsewhere (variety of selection, customer service, better spaces for bridal fittings and friends, etc.). I’m glad I didn’t wait until this trunk show to buy my dress. I would have been super disappointed. They didn’t even offer us water or anything… I am a bit sad that my friend’s first time probably wasn’t amazing…

Nouvelle Vogue is by far the best bridal salon I visited while I was on the hunt for my wedding dress. I wanted something special and different. They have a highly curated selection of truly unique wedding gowns, you won’t find these dresses anywhere else! I went with a flirty, vintage-​inspired knee length dress by Francesca Miranda. It’s so unique and fun, but still elegant and bridal. I got so many compliments on it, even the wedding venue contacted me after the wedding to find out the designer!
Saideh was super patient with us and so helpful. We altered the dress a couple times to give it the perfect fit, and in the end it was just that — perfect.
I highly recommend Nouvelle Vogue for the bride who’s looking for something a little different. You will find the dress that was meant for you here.

Chantal and Saida are very special women, they are warm and nice and caring!
The price was expensive but the dress was amazing!
I needed the dress fast to get married outside of USA and they helped me!
They have very special dresses that is hard to fined!

Chantal and Saida are genuinely warm and wonderful women. They made me feel comfortable in what could be a very vulnerable situation. I am a 28 year old bride whose entire family and bridal party presides outside of California.
My first appointment was very personalized as I was the only one in attendance. They helped to select dresses which fit with my elopement to Paris as well as my reception in Napa. I tried Jenny Packham, Sarah Houston, and Cymbeline. I wasn’t quite ready to purchase a dress yet, as it was difficult without my mother and maid of honor present. They were nothing but the classiest sales women. They did not pressure me to purchase.
I eventually purchased a designer runway gown which was not a wedding dress per se and not sold in their store. I needed the best in alterations and knew that they would provide it. They have been so kind to me and helped me through many issues such as packing and flying with my gown to Paris.
I also attended the Maria Elena trunk show at their store and selected a few beautiful pieces for my ceremony and reception. I could not have planned my wedding without them. Their expertise and kindness has been invaluable to me.

This shop is definitely vogue with a gorgeous selection of amazing dresses. Many were really pricey beyond my budget, but the quality and uniqueness of the dresses spoke for the prices. Chantal and Saida were sweet, helpful, and very fun to work with. They made the experience really special! I found a gorgeous dress here that is definitely a top contender.
Brides… Definitely go here for an amazing boutiquey once in a lifetime experience. Just be aware of the price tags!

I found a beautiful dress here!
I’m not an especially decisive person, so I was having trouble at some of the large shops in the city — I had almost settled on a very simple, A-​line dress with sleeves at another shop, but I decided to keep my appointment here just in case.
They have a gorgeous selection of very interesting dresses here, and I ended up ordering one from Francesca Miranda that I would never have picked off the rack myself. Beaded and lace all over, it turned out to be perfect for my ceremony in a cathedral — the slight sparkle kept me from disappearing in such a large, dark space. The skirt had beautiful, dignified movement to it because of about a million layers of tulle and silk underneath, and the bustle was done really well so that the pictures of us walking through town to where we held our reception look great :-)
I do get what other people have mentioned about it being pricey — the alterations were pretty costly, too, about 18% of the cost of the dress. I feel like they were upfront with me about the timelines for the dress, which I ordered 7 months before my wedding, and they were able to rush ship a veil from England that I waited to order until about a month out. When the dress arrived, the seamstress accidentally pinned the dress too long and had to re-​hem it again, but she did a great job on the bustle and restructuring some of the bodice to fit me, so it all worked out.
The other thing I want to mention is that the two lovely ladies who own the shop have a certain style of their own. Their taste borders on the baroque, though, which isn’t really me, so I did my own thing for jewelry and shoes (they thought gold Jimmy Choo pumps, I ended up with ivory flats; they showed me loads of really dramatic hair pieces, earrings, etc etc, I ended up wearing just a pearl bracelet). They also had good referrals for makeup consultation, photographers, etc., if you are interested.
I think they would be a good match for a bride who is having the kind of wedding where absolutely everything must be Vogue cover-​picture perfect, because they definitely thing whole picture in terms of styling… or someone like me, who didn’t want a dress that looked like a stupid melting taffeta cake prom dress thing :)
I got married in June and they helped me pack my dress and veil for the flight, which was very very handy :-) :-)

I give Nouvelle Vogue 1 and nothing more. They are both great cheaters and manipulators. I bought my second dress from them, which was a big mistake. i should have just ordered it from Sarah Houston myself.
I went to their store 8 months before my wedding and saw that gorgeous dress, but the dress was the sample and looked worn and the details were not very clean & it had a gray undertone. So I asked them to order me a new from Sarah Houston, which they charged me a full price, And we all know how $$$$ this place is.
I came back 3 days before my wedding, to pick up my dress, which I had taken a picture from the sample cause I wanted to show my mom how gorgeous it was.
So Chantel brings the same sample dress to me, and even with one look I knew this is not the brand new dress that I paid full for it. I asked her can she show me their sample dress, and she paniced and she said she just sold it. I called Sarah Houston that same day right when I sadly left and they had no orders from Nouvelle Vogue. I confronted her, but she kept saying that this is a new dress, I should put picture from even inside of this dress to show how old and not clean it looks.
even she knew I wasn’t happy, she did not offer to wave the altering fee.
I love the dress but they are cunning, immoral people. i told my best friend to just go and check their dresses and order it from manufacture herself. By the way, the dress was over the actual price $ 500.
I do NOT recommend this place to anyone. I got my first dress from a reliable, very well known place in the city. unfortunately, against my will of helping small businesses grow, I think in this matter, I recommend bigger companies cause they will get you a new dress, cause even if you don’t want they can sell.

omg what rudies. I walked in and it was like they were racist… i felt like julia roberts in pretty women.
Dumb business women. The color on my skin, my race, nationality shouldnt affect your customer service towards me.

Total Life Savers! Another store sold me a veil that did not match my dress. So I went to Nouvelle and we went through many of their gorgeous veils and found one. I wish I would gave gone here first for my dress and accessories. I highly recommend this place!

There is not much more I can really contribute that has not already been well stated in the other 5-​star reviews. This salon is exceptional. Chantal and Saida were warm, welcoming, personable, interesting, stylish, and took the time to listen carefully to my daughter. We were the only ones scheduled in the salon and were not rushed or made to feel like part of an assembly line.
The selection of dresses is exquisite! They do not carry a multitude of dresses, but they are focused on offering a lovely variety of styles and fabrics that are flattering and beautiful.
My daughter knew the dress she wanted to try on from lots of research, and they brought it into the gorgeous fitting room along with a few others that they felt would complement her style. They were quick to bring in accessories that fit the look she was going for and completely doted on her. They made her look and feel absolutely stunning. In the meantime, Saida brought out cups of espresso with small dark chocolate squares for my daughter and me as we watched.
My daughter found and purchased her dress here. We look forward to returning in March to choose some jewelry and accessories.
These ladies know EXACTLY how to run a bridal salon and to show the care and service one would hope to experience during the very important and emotional bridal gown decision-​making process. My daughter feels in very good hands, which is exceptionally important to the MOB (mother of the bride)!

Best Wedding dress place ever! I had so much fun coming here! Saida & Chantal were amazing! Forget that baby weight hanging on, I got down to my before baby weight just as the wedding arrived. Every time I came in to be fitted they made me feel so good about myself! I even ended up buying my hairpiece from here, customized with a pink stone in the center! :) Thank you so much gals! You made this part of wedding shopping so easy & fun!

I purchased my Cymbeline gown and bolero jacket from Saida and Chantal, and could not have been happier. The gown was actually the first one that I picked out, but of course I had to drag myself (and my mom, as well as a girlfriend or two) to various stores on the Peninsula and in the city before realizing that I was comparing everything else to that one dress!
Our wedding was on a ranch but had the theme of ‘rustic elegance’. I think they had a hard time visualizing what I wanted at first with the gown, but when I brought in the accessories (vintage gold and crystal jewelry that I found at the Hillsborough Antique Show and beaded khussa flats) they understood. It was stunning. The bolero arrived in their studio after I had ordered my dress, and we added it on… I wore it for the ceremony then went strapless for the reception.
I did have a wardrobe malfunction with the corseting, but my amazing girlfriends managed to McGyver it so that there were no issues. After our wedding, I took the dress back to Nouvelle Vogue. Granted, it took ages to get it back, but that was the fault of Cymbeline and not Novelle Vogue. In the end, they had their seamstress take a piece of the silk from another gown’s hemming, and created a new corset ribbon for me.
Saida and Chantal are gracious, warm, and truly define ‘ladies’. I went into one large shop in the city during my ‘adventures’ and had to deal with an obnoxious 20-​something who couldn’t even bother to get her shoes on while she ‘helped’ me try on $ 3,000++ dresses. This is not the case at Nouvelle Vogue. They take a genuine interest in your event and your look, they are gracious, and they never hard-​sold me.
I would love a reason to wear my gown again, I absolutely loved it. It fit better than any of the heavy American gowns that I tried on. The silk was amazing, the dress was gorgeous… I can’t praise Nouvelle Vogue or the gown enough!

If you want a stylish, beautiful gown then this is the place to come. Saida and Chantal do the most amazing thing, they find the most elegant gowns to carry in their adorable boutique.
They carry everything from classic style gowns to avant garde, one of a kind pieces directly from Paris. Their knowledge of how to make a woman even more beautifual than they already are by finding the perfect gown for their needs astounds me. They are truly fantastic women with style, grace and heartfelt kindness.
They have styled the most interesting weddings and have a wide array of clientele. This is one bridal boutique that you need not be afraid to enter. You are in good hands with both Saida and Chantal!

Out of all my wedding vendors, Nouvelle Vogue is one I would highly recommend to brides out there who are on their quest to find the perfect dress for their most special day.
Sure, this bridal salon is situated in a comfortable /​relaxed yet very fabulous /​elegant and classy /​chic space… sure, they have some of the most gorgeous wedding gowns /​dresses and accessories in the market… but one of my top reasons for recommending this salon is the impeccable service that Saida and Chantal deliver to their customers.
Bridal salons sell almost the same designer gowns, and I knew that I would only give my hard-​earned cash to a place that goes above and beyond just selling the dress. I’ve visited almost all of the première bridal salons in the Bay Area and, in my opinion, none could offer the same level of service, style and professionalism as Nouvelle Vogue.
With Saida and Chantal, you know you’re in good hands. They’re very fashion savvy. They can help you pull out all the stops for the look you want to achieve by not only helping you select the right dress, but also by completing your look with the right accessories from head to toe. They give you their honest opinion or advice if you seek it out in a very professional and tactful way. It really shows too that they care about how you feel and want to feel on your big day, so they make sure that they give you the right information/​advice even if it means that they do not make the sale. Unlike other bridal consultants out there, they make sure that as a bride you wouldn’t feel any more pressured/​stressed out as you already are.
Saida and Chantal care that you make the decision that you’ll be most happy with, and that was very important to me in my wedding gown search. It was a joy to work with them both. It made my wedding gown selection experience very enjoyable and stress-​free. I ended up getting both my Jenny Packham ceremony and reception gowns plus almost all my accessories from Nouvelle Vogue. (Jenny Packham creations are gorgeous! Very chic and vintage. You’ll feel like a celebrity from Holywood’s golden era.)
Another important consideration is that they work with a great seamstress. In my opinion, a knowledgeable and crafty seamstress can make or break that wedding gown. This is another level of confidence /​reassurance that Nouvelle Vogue provides a bride, because you know you’ll be in very good, capable hands.