By Rose Leveen
Among a crowd of bridal wear brands collectively designing beautiful dresses, it can be hard to truly stand out. And yet, Lé Lee Studio does just that. The young brand, based in Sydney, Australia, has distinguished itself with its underlying mission: to offer handcrafted gowns at an accessible price point. In a world where a bespoke wedding dress can feel financially unattainable, Lé Lee Studio fills the gap with one-of-a-kind designs and customization options that allow every bride to embrace her own unique journey.
At the heart of this brand is Lyndell Ye-Lee, the designer who brought Lé Lee to life.
Ye-Lee was interested in fashion from a young age, but she wasn’t content with simply looking at clothing: As a teenager, she would rip apart old clothes to reconstruct them into her own designs. When it came time for her to decide what to study in college, Ye-Lee naturally on a field close to home. “My dad comes from an architecture background. … I’ve always seen the drawings lying in our house,” she said. “So, it was an easy, easy transition for me to pick interior architecture.”
After graduating with honors from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Ye-Lee spent several years working as an interior architect. Over time, she had fewer opportunities to connect with clients on a personal level and express her creativity through design. Ye-Lee explained, “While I was really enjoying what I did in interior architecture, I found that the creative time is actually quite limited because I worked for a big organization.”
While Ye-Lee was reflecting on her career as an interior architect, she was also preparing for her wedding, which immersed her in the bridal world. Planning her own wedding rekindled her childhood love for fashion design, and she decided to take a leap. While financial uncertainty loomed worldwide in the late 2000s, Ye-Lee saw an opportunity to find a new creative outlet. She became the creative director of Eternal Bridal, Australia’s leading bridal boutique, in 2009.
As creative director, she became intimately involved with every aspect of the bridal wear industry. This included sourcing, branding and guiding individual clients through their search for the perfect gown. As Ye-Lee’s expertise in the bridal world grew, supporting and nurturing the brands stocked by Eternal Bridal wasn’t enough; she wanted to cultivate her own creativity and fill what she saw as gaps in the existing industry. In 2020, Lé Lee Studio was born.
Lé Lee Studio was an opportunity to fulfill the unmet needs of her brides. Her background as an architect laid the foundation for how she approached design and developed client relationships at Lé Lee Studio. “As an architect, I strongly believed the principle of ‘form follows function.’ So, this philosophy has really shaped me and how I approach my design,” said Ye-Lee. “One of the skills that I learned from my previous role [as an architect] was that I need to be able to hear what the bride, or what the client, is saying to me. I also need to hear what she didn’t say to me. What is the need behind what she’s saying?” Working with each client, Ye-Lee began to receive collective requests that weren’t always feasible. She would do her best to find the perfect dress for each bride, but there were cases where brands weren’t designing what the brides wanted, and if they were, it was unaffordable for many brides.
In situations where she couldn’t find the exact dress a bride wished for, Ye-Lee designed it herself. One market gap, particularly among her clients, was dresses featuring halter necks. Fashion trends come and go—and, with them, available bridal options—but giving brides the—but giving brides the ideal neckline for their body type is timeless. “For me, bridal fashion is not just creating something Instagram-worthy, because there are so many beautiful gowns out there,” Ye-Lee said. “It needs to reflect the bride’s personality and address her body concerns, and yet at the same time, be a beautifully crafted gown.”
It’s not enough to create something that is structurally sound yet basic, or beautiful yet functionally unrealistic. Ye-Lee’s designs strike a balance, truly marrying form and function. While she remains involved at Eternal Bridal, Ye-Lee has stepped back from daily operations to focus on the store’s big-picture growth and the development of Lé Lee Studio. She explained, “This transition has been both fulfilling and challenging, providing new opportunities for personal growth as I continue to evolve through my own brand.”
About Lé Lee Studio’s SS26 Collection
Lé Lee Studio’s SS26 collection comprises two ranges: Finery and Flair. The Finery line embodies timelessness, featuring classic silhouettes with an elegant, enduring appeal. It’s perfect for brides who want something refined and ageless. The Flair line is an exploration in dramatic elegance, blending clean, minimalistic lines with sculptural volume or unexpected detailing. It’s fashion-forward but still deeply wearable.
SS26 Finery and Flair is currently touring in Australia, followed by trunk shows across the United States
Standouts From Finery and Flair SS26
Everly (Flair SS26)
Everly is an A-line gown featuring asymmetrical draping across the bust and a structured bodice with visible boning, all flowing into a layered organza skirt with multiple hemlines, bringing playful movement to the dress.
Ines (Finery SS26)
Constructed with a custom 3D floral appliqué, Ines is luxurious yet whimsical. A full skirt billows out from the fitted, strapless bodice, creating a dreamy silhouette that’s fit for a fairy tale.
Harper (Finery SS26)
Harper exudes renaissance charm, with sparkle tulle that peeps through semi-sheer Chantilly lace. Delicate eyelash lace peeks out along the gown’s bodice and skirt, adding an additional touch of romance and femininity.
Kai (Flair SS26)
Kai is an ultramodern take on a classic A-line design, featuring peplum that stops mid-waist, elongating the bodice. Soft flowing tulle against the structured satin blends romance with a bold, avant-garde twist.
Abigail (Finery SS26)
Abigail is a form-fitting strapless gown, with lines of iridescent beading that elongate the figure and cascade into a unique, leaf-shaped train. The added bolero paired with exposed paneling along the sides of the bodice provides a flattering contrast between angular elements and soft fluidity.
Imogen (Flair SS26)
Featuring a carefully constructed, figure-enhancing bodice, Imogen embraces old Hollywood glamour. Button detailing descends to the end of the train, further enhancing the curve-hugging silhouette. Paired with sleeves resembling the organic form of a calla lily, Imogen balances precision and carefree ease.
