Bridal Bouquet: A Lill Something
Turn gift giving into a party.
Not finding the right Big Day purse for you and your bridesmaids? Make your own. 1154 Lill Studio on Newbury Street combines a few of a girl’s favorite things: vibrant customized handbags, and a chance to gather with your best gal pals.
You can create the perfect bridal bag by choosing from 25 different styles (clutch, handbag and wristlet, to name a few) and matching it with more than 200 different fabrics, ranging from Tangerine Stripe silk to Vanilla sateen. Staff members are on hand to help you visualize the final product: “Choosing the right fabric and style can be overwhelming, so we’re really hands-on and interactive here,” says store manager Laurie Strong.
During the day, a room is available for you and your friends to mix-and-match bags and fabrics to your hearts’ content, while private evening after-hour parties allow you to bring in wine, cheese and other snacks to help keep the creative juices flowing. “Brides love it here because it’s something different to do. A lot of brides and bridesmaids also make a night of it by heading out to dinner on Newbury Street after,” says Strong. A Lill rep also can travel to your home with sample bags and fabrics for a private party.
Once the style and fabric is chosen, the actual stitching is handled by Lill and takes about three weeks. For non-crafty types, ready-made bags can be purchased in the store. There’s no fee to rent the studio, and bags range in price from $25 to $150. 1154 Lill Studio, 220 Newbury St., 617-247-1154, www.1154lill.co