Where It Began
A self-described “true romantic”, Claire Pettibone is the only child of artist parents, Richard and Shirley Pettibone. Her father was a pioneer in the Appropriation Movement and her mother was a photo-realist painter. Claire’s childhood home in upstate New York was filled with antiques and surrounded by nature. These influences remain a source of inspiration and are prominent in her designs. She went on to graduate from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Claire and her husband, Guy Patrick Toley, launched her collection in 1994. After a successful decade creating luxurious lingerie, Pettibone introduced couture bridal gowns in 2005. The collection has evolved to include heirloom lingerie, couture bridal gowns, and bridal accessories.
Celebrity Sightings
Claire combines feminine sensibility with beautifully embellished fabric, an unmatched standard of quality and couture craftsmanship to create stunning and unique wedding gowns. Her creations have caught the eye of a variety of celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Courteney Cox Arquette, Leona Lewis, Elisabeth Moss, Katie Melua, Jennie Garth, Nikki Reed and Missi Pyle. The most notable among these wedding and red carpet gowns is the designer's "Sky Between the Branches" gown, worn by Priscilla Chan when she exchanged vows with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.Flagship Salon
Claire Pettibone’s flagship salon originally opened in 2001 on Robertson in Beverly Hills. It is currently housed in the Los Angeles historic landmark known as "The Castle," or historically called the Heinsbergen Building on Beverly Boulevard. This castle-like structure, built in 1928 for noted muralist Anthony Heinsbergen in a Late Gothic Revival and Romanesque style is the perfect home for Claire’s vintage-inspired collection.Current Collections
A new bridal season brings with it a new Claire Pettibone collection. The most recent is Vagabond, part of her Couture Collection which also includes the Continuing Collection featuring timeless wedding gowns from past seasons that continue to delight brides. There is also the Romantique Gowns Collection which includes the Vineyard, California Dreamin’ and it’s own Continuing Collection.Claire Pettibone - In Her Own Words
In a past interview with WedLuxe, Claire was asked “Who would you say is the bride who is a part of your vision? Who is the Claire Pettibone girl?” Her response was, “There is no “one type”, there are so many kinds of women! I think they have the common theme that they want something that is unique and individual and that speaks to their own sense of style. They definitely tend to be more fashion-forward and confident, they don’t want a cookie-cutter traditional dress. They want something that expresses their style and they range across the board in ages, styles, and vibes for their wedding. It keeps it exciting, working with many different kinds of brides.”
It a previous email interview with Seattle Met Claire touched on the misconception that her gowns are designed for thin brides. “We sell all sizes, from petite to full busted, to curvy all over. It’s just a matter of choosing a gown that highlights your best features, and glides over the rest.”