When looking at Shoval Ben Naim’s bridal gown collection, her signature is immediately visible – a clean, delicate style with surprising twists and trendy additions that give the dresses a twist that appears classic and refined at first glance. What is not apparent at first sight is that Ben Naim is one of the youngest bridal gown designers in Israel. Shoval, just 24 years old, began designing dresses during her studies but decided at a certain point not to listen to the advice of her surroundings, which encouraged her to take small steps, focus on evening dresses, and "come back down to earth." Instead, she opened a bridal gown studio in Netanya and began realizing her dream.
"I took the plunge," she says, "I started making dresses while studying, but I opened the business a year ago. I was scared of what people would say and think, but in the end, what matters is that I’m doing what I love, and there are women who connect with and love it." This is her first collection, and she describes it as "exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time," and it seems that despite being her initial foray, the young designer manages to create a blend that combines her personal style with eclectic elements that allow every bride to find something she connects with.
Shoval's general line is clean – lots of smooth and flowing fabrics, sheer and opaque, corset designs that connect to voluminous or fitted skirts, and a variety of "second" dresses that are short, sexy, and glamorous. However, despite the classic appearance – each dress has its twist. Thus, you can find interesting cuts around the chest, sexy corsets, tight sleeves combined with strapless dresses, and also unique, voluminous sleeves that steal the show. Ben Naim also integrates interesting materials like feathers or 3D flowers and is not afraid to play with lace – both in a romantic look and combined with stones or pearls, especially in short dresses that immediately become sexy and glamorous.
The collection also features glamorous, fitted, Hollywood-style dresses that sparkle from afar, some made of fabrics incorporating stones and others with a shimmering mesh look. "I tried to touch on several worlds," Ben Naim says about the variety. "This is my first collection, so I wanted it to fit as many girls as possible, but I decided to stick to a line I love and not scatter. There are many cuts that fit different girls, but the overall style is very clean. I wanted whoever wears it to love it now and also in a year or two – for it to be timeless." This is her first collection, and with a clientele mainly coming from social networks and word of mouth – it seems there is definitely something to look forward to from the young designer.
