An Up-close Look at the Last Fittings of Huma Abedin's Gorgeous Givenchy and Erdem Wedding Dresses

New York City is experiencing a chilly, gloomy June afternoon, the kind of weather that makes you crave a cozy sweater and comforting memories. However, Hillary Clinton's longtime confidante and former political staffer turned author, Huma Abedin, is positively glowing. As her wedding day draws near, she arrives at a sun-drenched townhouse in downtown Manhattan for the moment every bride has been waiting for: the last fitting of not one, but two unique wedding gowns designed by Givenchy's Sarah Burton and Erdem Moralıoğlu, two of the most adored designers in the fashion industry.

Abedin exudes a sense of grounded grace while wearing a traditional dark pair of jeans and a comfortable gray-and-navy sweater. She is simply cheerful and not rushed or pressured. She smiles as though she is still getting acclimated to happiness and declares, "I am truly happy." "Most days, just floating."

And with good cause. She is getting ready to wed Open Society Foundations chairman, financier, and philanthropist Alex Soros. Their calm, very private relationship now culminates in a ceremony that is based on grace and purpose.

One Love Story, Two Designers, and Two Dresses

There is a faint buzzing in the townhouse. A little army of assistants and seamstresses is moving with military accuracy upstairs. Carl Timpone, the photographer, prepares his camera. Bill Bull, a tailor, fixes a hem with monastic concentration. And a work of art in motion, floating above it all.

Even in the gentle gray light, Abedin's Givenchy gown, which is dangling from a stair rail like a couture ghost, appears to sparkle. It has an off-the-shoulder neckline that whispers rather than shouts, and it is made of ivory silk crepe with a satin back. The dress is classic without seeming dated; it is romantic without being overly sweet.

Every fold and pleat is smoothed by a last steam, and the dress is swept back to the soon-to-be bride, who enters a fitting room with the same composed demeanor she brought with her.

She appears a few moments later, radiant, graceful, and effortless.

A Story of Two Beauty

Her second dress, created by Erdem, offers a delicate counterpoint to the Givenchy gown's regal and minimalistic style. It features lovely embroidery, soft florals, and a feeling of movement that pays homage to contemporary femininity. Imagine poetry sewn into silk.

It is uncommon for two dresses to be as different yet complementing as sunrise and twilight. Nevertheless, Abedin carries them both naturally, as though she has lived in them her entire life.

The Ambience: Coziness, Elegance, and a Touch of Magic

Bridezilla clichés, anxious energy, and mayhem are all absent from this scene. Rather, a gentler sound fills the room: 

It is also a day that unites family, fashion, and subdued feminist strength. Abedin, a woman who has spent a significant portion of her adult life under the scrutiny of public opinion, is taking back something very personal in a way that is wholly, irrevocably her own.

A Contemporary Bride Stress

There are no tabloids or extravagant celebrity broadcasts about Huma Abedin's wedding. However, in many respects, it is more captivating: intelligent, subtle, and painfully beautiful in its simplicity.

There is more to it than two clothes. It is the story of a lady who has endured heartache, fire, and the news, and who is now boldly and shamelessly beginning a new chapter in her life.