MovieChat Forums > Say Yes to the Dress (2007) Discussion > Why the obsession with Pnina Tornai?

Why the obsession with Pnina Tornai?

posted 11 years ago by ph75006
18 replies | jump to latest

Is Pnina Tornai really as big of a deal in the wedding dress world as the show makes her out to be? To be honest, I had never heard of her until I saw the show. I don't follow bridal fashion that much but the designers that I always hear about (and that I read about celebrities wearing) are Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Lazaro, and Jenny Peckham. Also designers/design houses like Carolina Herrera, Zac Posen, Dior, Valentino, Marchesa and Badgley Mischka have esteemed bridal collections as well. How come these big names are rarely mentioned on this show, especially since Kleinfeld claims to be the pinnacle venue for bridal dress shopping? Is it some legal issue? They seem to worship Pnina Tornai and I'm just wondering why the obsession with her?

[–] rekd 11 years ago

I think she is only a big deal for Kleinfeld's. I think she only designs for that store so they have an exclusive.

[–] jabell 11 years ago

I remember when Priscilla of Boston was the big wedding dress designer. My daughter wore Priscilla of Boston at her wedding four years ago. The Nixon daughters and I believe the Johnson daughters wore PofB.

Boo Hoo! Let me wipe away the tears with my PLASTIC hand!--Lindsey McDonald (Angel)

[–] m.p. 11 years ago

She is their house designer and so of course they feature her and her dresses. However, the truth is, her designs *are* very popular with modern brides who for some reason want to be sexy on their wedding day for everyone to see. I thought that was for the new husband but...that's the way it is. I don't care for most of her designs - they look like a corset with a little tulle sewn on the bottom. I have seen plenty of dresses on the show by the other designers you mention. Tornai's gowns are very pricy and usually beyond the budget of those women who come with $2000 to $3000 to spend, so they definitely are selling more than just Tornai's dresses.

[–] faithish 11 years ago

I'll admit that a few of Pnina Tornai's designs are pretty, but they START at $5k, which to me is just ridiculous. In the times that Pnina herself has appeared on the show, she hasn't impressed me in the least. She strikes me as being very full of herself. I even remember an episode where a bride was in love with one of her gowns, but couldn't afford the hefty price and the sales managers were trying to work with her, and Pnina stepped in and very haughtily said, "I'm Pnina Tornai! My gowns are worth $10,000!" (or something to that effect). I don't care for her at all, and even if I could afford it, I wouldn't purchase one of her gowns based on that fact alone.

[–] oewnaynailf 11 years ago

I remember that episode; Pnina came off as very arrogant when the family was unsure about the price: "But I'm Pnina Tornai! I'm worth it!" And I remember seeing another episode where she threw a little hissy fit because she thought another designer had imitated her dress design.

But even though she comes off as haughty, I must admit that I find many of her dresses absolutely stunning.

[–] victoriaharris001 10 years ago

It's called plagiarism. They copied her design so of course she was gonna be pissed. I would be too. And she's a lot nicer in other episodes. Here's another forum where someone listed things she's done on the show.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1166709/board/thread/229051562

[–] kellydofc 11 years ago

I was watching an episode today with one of those see through corset top gowns and the wedding planner said that the bride looked like a princess and I honestly thought that the bride looked like a cheap lady of the night. I don't understand, why would you want to look like that on your wedding day?

"Freedom of religion means ALL religions not just your own."

[–] student_points 8 years ago

i find most of her dresses hideous. The ones that make you look like a barbie doll or a person from the 1860's are not even her worst gowns.
It's the ones with the see-through corsets, they make you look just.... slutty and cheap. Honestly, it looks like you are wearing expensive underwear and then you ran out of money to actually buy a dress to go over it.

What sort of a gestapo officer are you, saying somebody is innocent?

[–] DanaShelbyChancey 8 years ago

A couple of her dresses are beyond gorgeous but the majority are awful and boudoir-ish and embarrassing.

I especially hate the short one, strapless looking like an underwear bustier on top, and feathers on bottom. They show it in one of the season's opening credits.

Gee Woodle, Space Kadoodle!

[–] ollie911 10 years ago

AMEN. I don't like her dresses either. Most of them look like something that should be worn in a brothel, not in a church for a wedding. Yuck.

[–] Mangofish 10 years ago

I loved the episode where the girl came from Canada with friends- she specifically wanted a Pnina dress. She comes out in the see thru hooker corset & her friends (I think especially the guy friend) called her out on the sluttiness of it. The Klieinfeld sales person & the girl looked shocked.

[–] joystar5879 9 years ago

P'nina's dresses make me BLUSH. I'm serious. It's sad, but Kleinfeld's probably have nothing I'd feel decent wearing. Sad, but true. (I'd love to work with Randy and Vera, though) Hopefully, they'd have a section for Orthodox Brides, where the Brides have to be covered.

I do hope he won't upset Henry...

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] lynxx55 9 years ago

The Pnina Tornai line is the priciest, therefore it has to be the nicest.

Besides, it's fun to say "Pnina Tornai".

[–] jkm2010 9 years ago

I agree with all of these posts. I think Pnina gowns look very tacky and are WAY overpriced, but to each her own, and if you have that kind of money to spend, more power to you.

-Carry on.-

[–] mojo2004 8 years ago

Just watched the end of an old episode from 2014 and the bride (a lawyer) had on a dress that looked like her va-jay-jay (as some refer to it) and butt would be seen if not for the placement of the design pattern on the dress since it was way too sheer in places. I'm assuming it was a Pnina Tornai but I could be mistaken. Why would anyone wear a dress that people will be talking about for years but not in a good way?? (original airdate 5/16/2014 "Sister Act")

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[–] trixie30 8 years ago

I don't like Pnina's dresses nor her attitude. I loathe the corset dresses, especially the see through ones. There are a couple that have had drop waist and the see-through corseting goes all the way down. Just...hideous and trashy.

A few have been pretty, but most look like costumes.

[–] I_Love_Reality_TV 8 years ago

Obviously a lot of people would disagree with you. I just saw a show that featured Pnina's designs and three brides purchases totaled over $300,000. Obviously a lot of brides want to look like hookers when they walk up the isles and don't mind paying for it.