The Wedding Called for Old Black Hollywood Glamour
The wedding invitation was clear: “Old Black Hollywood” elegance was the theme; a transportation back to the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. The wedding was set to take place at The Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle, NY, a venue known for its breathtaking views of the Long Island Sound, marble staircases, and fountains so grand they looked like Roman sculptures. Everything about it screamed timeless elegance and refinement, with just the right splash of drama.
I had to find the perfect dress to accompany the evening. I searched for weeks for a dress that could truly do this theme justice, but nothing quite fit. Then a lightbulb went off…why not check Geraldina’s Couture?
Tucked in Westchester, NY, Geraldina’s Couture is a boutique that specializes in couture evening gowns and wedding dresses. It’s owner, Geraldina, is an Albanian designer whose heritage quietly echoes throughout the space. When you step inside, the first thing you hear isn’t pop or classical music, but traditional Albanian melodies playing softly from a motion triggered speaker, like a doorbell with a personal touch. It feels both unexpected and intimate.
The space itself is lined wall-to-wall with gowns of all types of silhouettes, glittering and shimmering. When I visited the store on a quiet weekday evening, I sought out Geraldina herself. She listened as I described the “Old Black Hollywood” wedding theme, and before I could even finish, she walked straight to the front of the store and pointed at a gown.
Regal in black and gold, bold in its silhouette, rich in texture, it was beautiful and had the perfect amount of expression. It said everything I wanted to say about the upcoming moment and about myself. In that moment, I realized Geraldina wasn’t just a designer. She is a fashion historian, a visionary, and someone who understands how to make fashion personal.
This is what the right dress can do. It can reflect your individuality, your confidence, your aspirations. It speaks to the woman you are, and maybe even the woman you’re becoming.
I was drawn to the color story immediately. Black and gold is a combination that has always felt royal to me. The gown had a sweetheart neckline, hand-beaded black lace that overlay shimmering gold fabric, and a dramatic slit on the left leg that brought boldness to an otherwise classic silhouette. It was elegant, but with undeniable flare.
The neckpiece was my absolute favorite element. Sculptural and dramatic, it elevated the dress to new heights. That one feature gave the look a level of artistry and custom detail that made it feel entirely my own.
“The Black and Gold dress worn by Amarissa was born from a vision of contrast: strength and softness, mystery and light. Black represents elegance, depth, and quiet power, while gold symbolizes celebration, triumph, and the inner glow of a confident woman.”
- Geraldina
We talked about the story behind the dress. Geraldina mentioned that there was a personal memory behind its design. Her grandmother used to wear a black silk shawl embroidered with golden thread, and it left an imprint on her heart. That blend of tradition and richness stayed with her and manifested into a grand creation.
When it came to accessorizing the dress, not too much needed to be done. The black lace gloves, gold metallic clutch, and gold drop earrings added vintage notes without veering into costume.
I wore my hair in a half-up, half-down style—a nod to the voluminous, flirtatious curls that defined glamour in the 1940s and 50s. While updos were the standard then, I wanted something that was structured yet soft, just like the gown itself.
To dress in “Old Hollywood” style is to step into a specific kind of storytelling. It draws from the golden era of cinema, roughly the 1930s through the 1950s, when women wore figure-hugging gowns in luxurious fabrics like satin, silk, and velvet. There were always embellishments like sequins, feathers, and beads. Necklines were daring but elegant. Accessories were loud but intentional. And above all, there was presence. “Old Hollywood” fashion was never quiet.
This dress embodied that ethos entirely. The black and gold color palette was classic and dramatic. The hand-beaded lace, high slit, and sculptural neckpiece echoed the kind of stylized glamour we associate with stars like Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, and Eartha Kitt. The puffy, detached sleeves added a Victorian richness that gave the dress even more depth and royalty.
The more I wore this dress, the more it came alive. Even the way the fabric moved when I walked made me feel like I belonged in a frame of classic cinema.
When I asked Geraldina what she wants her clients to feel in her creations, not just in the moment but years later, she told me, “When a woman wears one of my designs, I want her to feel radiant, powerful, and completely herself. But more than that, I want the dress to become part of her story, a symbol of a moment so meaningful that it lives in her heart forever. Whether it’s worn on your wedding day, during a celebration, or at a personal milestone, my goal is for the dress you wear to be a symbol of a magical moment. And years from now, when she opens her closet and slips into that same dress again, I want her to still feel that same beauty, confidence, and joy.”
And that’s exactly how this black & gold dress felt the night of the wedding. Like something I could wear again and instantly recapture the bliss of wedding season.
Geraldina’s connection to her craft is deeply personal. When I asked her about the balance she strikes between tradition and innovation, she shared that “Couture is a sacred dance between heritage and innovation. I deeply respect traditional techniques like hand embroidery, fine tailoring, and fabric draping, but I always infuse each piece with the personality of the woman wearing it. Couture should honor the past while celebrating the uniqueness of the present. That balance is where the magic happens.”
Every woman has her own rhythm, her own light. I see it as my responsibility to create something that doesn’t just fit her body, but reflects her story and essence.
- Geraldina
When she spoke about the signature intimacy her pieces carry, Geraldina described that her own journey has shaped her philosophy. “Coming to America as an immigrant, I had to start over completely on my own. I didn’t have connections or shortcuts. I had my hands, my passion, and a quiet but unshakable belief in my craft. I began by working in some of the most renowned fashion houses, competing in selective, high-standard environments where talent had to speak louder than words. That experience taught me not only discipline and excellence, but the power of authenticity. Today, when I design, I bring with me tradition and reinvention. That’s the balance I strive for in every piece…something that’s rooted in history, but alive with personal meaning.”
Coming to America was Geraldina’s second emigration (her first time was to Greece), but it was a turning point in her life. She believed it would reveal her true potential. Her journey taught her resilience and deep empathy. Being from Albania, culturally, she comes from a world rich in tradition, symbolism, and feminine strength.
There is a sacred kind of energy that lives in couture when the designer’s story is sewn into it. Geraldina’s gowns speak of her heritage, resilience, and rebirth she felt coming here.
My journey as a woman, an artist, and a dreamer is woven into all my work. Growing up between different cultures taught me that beauty has many forms, and each carries its own story. Emotionally, I’ve lived moments of strength, vulnerability, and rebirth, and those feelings guide me when I create. I design for women who are complex, radiant, and unapologetically themselves.
- Geraldina
Wearing this gown was about more than fitting the wedding’s dress code. I wanted to honor the moment and a version of myself that deserved to be seen. “Every design is a blend of strength and softness, past and future, structure and soul. Designing is my way of honoring women’s inner worlds.” Geraldina said beautifully.
That night in New Rochelle, at a wedding steeped in love and Black excellence, I felt mine shining through.
Weddings are, at their heart, about love, but not just romantic love. They’re about community, about presence, about people showing up for one another. And the way we show up—how we dress and how we carry ourselves—adds to the emotional architecture of the day.
Wedding guest dressing is often overlooked, but it’s part of the storytelling of the day. It communicates reverence. It says, “This wedding matters to me, and so do you.” Wearing something intentional, expressive, and true to the theme isn’t just about turning heads, but honoring the couple’s vision. It’s a visual way of saying, “I’m here for you,” fully, joyfully, beautifully.
This gown did exactly that. It honored the couple. It elevated the celebration. And it allowed me to bring my full self into the space.
Credits
Gown: Geraldina’s Couture
Styling, Writing & Editorial Direction: Amarissa Imoukhuede for Fashion Talk
Venue: The Surf Club on the Sound
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