Since the 2016 inception of designer Meredith Stoecklein’s New York-based label Lein, her bridal collections have always leaned between wedding and ready-to-wear, with each of her 11 collections offering a variety of highly crafted and alternative romantic fashions for brides to be.
Now the designer is expanding her cult emerging label with her first official foray into ready-to-wear for the fall 2025 season ahead of her New York Bridal Fashion Week bridal collection debut in early April.
A look from Lein fall 2025.
Courtesy of Lein/Photographer Katherine Goguen
“Fall has been in the works, and I had been thinking about it for awhile, because we do so much bespoke and custom for clients,” Stoecklein told WWD during a preview in her SoHo studio. Speaking about how she envisioned her designs beyond the aisle, she added, “For me, they’ve always been pieces you can pull out of your closet to feel a little more elevated.”
Within fall, this meant offering a handful of her well-known silhouettes and whipping them up with new prints, textures, sculptural volumes and hand-embroideries. For instance, her fall 2025 Dorothy gown now comes with hand-painted and hand-embroidered silver goose feathers and paillettes; scarf dresses and tops come in shiny champagne-hued Lurex, and her signature lace Evie dress was designed in chenille with mohair and wool, as seen on a beautiful draped dress.
A look from Lein Fall 2025.
Courtesy of Lein/Photographer Katherine Goguen
Stoecklein explained that while she’s always designed with a romantic spirit, her fall rtw was also inspired by masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s depiction of “Leda and the Swan” or the myriad highly decorated plasterwork palazzo ceilings. The mythical tale’s bird could be seen on a handmade Parisian lacquered cameo button adorning a tailored jacket and feathered corsage (styled with a strong sculptural black strapless gown) while sheer, pale pastel organza flowy shirt dresses were covered in the ceiling motifs.
From a hand-embroidered trapeze top and matching pencil skirt to a new velvet jacket (said to be inspired by an 18th century jump vest), Stoecklein’s 40-piece lineup (her largest collection to date) was a strong step in expanding her label’s world. Following the debut, she noted the collection will be shown via trunk shows in her New York studio and will be available to purchase on the brand’s e-commerce, with prices ranging from $758 to $6,598 (one dress goes up to $13,998).
A look from Lein fall 2025.
Courtesy of Lein/Photographer Katherine Goguen
