Diane Monique Lhuillier (born 1971, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines) is a fashion designer most prominently known for bridal wear. She owns a couture fashion house based in Los Angeles, California.
Lhuillier has become a celebrity favorite for both wedding and red carpet gowns. Her list of clientele includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kim Yoo-Jin, Catherine Zeta-Jones & recently Shannen Doherty.
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Lhuillier was born to Michel J. Lhuillier, a businessman of French descent, and Amparito Llamas, a Filipino society figure and former model of Spanish descent.
As a teenager, she was an outstanding student in Lausanne, Switzerland and dreamed of becoming a successful fashion designer. She moved to Los Angeles to study design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). It was during this time that she met her future husband Tom Bugbee.
Monique and Tom currently reside in Los Angeles with their two children.
While searching for a gown for her wedding in 1995, Monique was surprised by the lack of fashion-infused bridal options. Having had an affinity for evening gowns and bridal while at FIDM, Monique launched her first bridal collection in 1996. The collection received great acclaim from both editors and buyers alike. Tom joined the company as CEO, to turn Monique’s vision to establish a couture design house into reality.
Monique Lhuillier has become a celebrity favorite for both wedding and red carpet gowns. Her list of clientele has included Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Shannen Doherty and Lea Salonga.
At present, the Monique Lhuillier collections encompass ready-to-wear, evening gowns, bridal, bridesmaids, linens, tableware, fine paper and home fragrances.
In 2003, Monique Lhuillier was invited to be a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
In 2006, Monique Lhuillier received the Medal of Honor from the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.