Rhiannon Hendricks
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. Her wedding gowns have appeared on TLC's reality television show Say Yes to the Dress, and her dresses have been top sellers at Kleinfeld Bridal. Her designs are known for their signature fit and couture craftsmanship, as well as their innovative and cutting-edge styles. Her most popular designs include figure-sculpting silhouettes, sparkling embellishments, and internationally sourced laces. Pnina Tornai's gowns are handmade from fine fabrics imported from Europe and are known for their ultra-feminine and vixenish style.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Pnina Tornai |
| Style | Ultra-feminine, body-hugging, ancient corset-inspired, fit-and-flare, mermaid silhouette |
| Fabrics | Silk, satin, lace, pearls, Swarovski crystals, precious stones |
| Clientele | Royalty, celebrities, pop icons, TV personalities |
| Retailers | Kleinfeld Bridal, bridal salons across the United States |
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What You'll Learn
Pnina Tornai's background and inspiration
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. She was born in 1962 in Ramat HaSharon, Israel, to Mizrahi Jewish parents, Shaul and Ruth Assis. Her father was an Israeli diplomat from Alexandria, Egypt, and her mother was from Tangier, Morocco. Tornai is the eldest of four girls and was named after her grandmother, Pearl, which translates to Pnina in Hebrew.
From a young age, Tornai dreamed of becoming an actress. After completing high school, she enlisted in Israel's mandatory military service. Once she finished her service, she moved to Paris to pursue acting. She lived in Paris for ten years, during which she developed a passion for vintage couture fashion. She then returned to Israel with her son and opened a small store in Tel Aviv, where she began creating day and evening gowns.
In 1992, a woman asked Tornai to create a wedding dress inspired by one of her evening gowns, marking the beginning of her career in bridal wear. The resulting dress was so stunning that it made the front page of an Israeli newspaper, and soon-to-be brides began flocking to her, requesting similar designs. This led to the opening of her bridal boutique, which became the top vendor at Kleinfeld within two years—a feat unmatched by any other designer.
Much of Tornai's design inspiration comes from her travels to exotic places, where she immerses herself in new cultures and beautiful surroundings. Her passion for design was also influenced by her parents, who exposed her to elaborate cultural ceremonies and celebrations from a young age. Today, she is known for her ultra-feminine gowns, signature body-hugging corsets, and elaborate embellishments of Swarovski crystals and precious stones. Her creations empower women, helping them feel their best on their special days.
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The Pnina Tornai product line
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. Her product line includes her signature wedding gowns, which are known for their ultra-feminine designs, body-hugging corsets, and use of Swarovski crystals and precious stones. In addition to her wedding gowns, Tornai also offers a range of other products, including footwear, accessories, headpieces, jewellery, and fragrance, all of which reflect the brand's couture aesthetic.
Tornai's designs are inspired by her Moroccan mother and Egyptian father, who exposed her to elaborate cultural ceremonies and celebrations from a young age. This influence can be seen in her use of luxurious fabrics, such as silk, satin, and lace, as well as her incorporation of cultural details and traditions.
In addition to her own boutique within Kleinfeld in New York, Tornai's designs are also featured on TLC's reality television show "Say Yes to the Dress". Her gowns have been top sellers at Kleinfeld Bridal and have been worn by celebrities such as Kim Cattrall in "Sex and the City 2". With her unique style and dedication to her craft, Pnina Tornai has become a leading international bridal and evening wear designer, bringing her vision of beauty and intricate details to brides all over the world.
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Pnina Tornai's signature design elements
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. Her signature design elements include:
Corsets
Inspired by the construction of ancient corsets, Tornai adds a modern twist to create the perfect fit. Her signature body-hugging corsets are embellished with Swarovski crystals and precious stones.
Silhouettes
Tornai's gowns are known for their figure-sculpting silhouettes, such as the mermaid and fit-and-flare styles.
Embellishments
Her designs often feature sparkling embellishments, with her gowns described as "vixenish" by The New York Times.
Fabrics
Tornai's gowns are handmade from the finest fabrics imported from Europe. Her 2012 collection featured gowns made of silk, satin, and lace, adorned with pearls and jewels.
Innovation
While Tornai's signature fit and couture craftsmanship are the foundation of her designs, she is known for seeking innovative ways to reinvent popular styles and pioneer cutting-edge bridal trends.
Pnina Tornai's designs are inspired by her unique heritage, with a passion for intricate details and beauty. Her product line has expanded beyond wedding dresses to include footwear, accessories, headpieces, jewellery, and fragrance, all befitting the brand's couture aesthetic.
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The Pnina Tornai Mariages Collection
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. Her wedding gowns have appeared on TLC's reality television show Say Yes to the Dress, and her dresses have been top sellers at Kleinfeld Bridal.
Pnina's signature elements include figure-sculpting mermaid and fit-and-flare silhouettes, sparkling embellishments, internationally-sourced laces, pointed long trains, and over-the-top, architecturally-inspired ball gowns. Her passion for design was inspired by her Moroccan mother and Egyptian father, who exposed her to elaborate cultural ceremonies and celebrations from a young age.
Pnina's 2012 collection featured gowns made of silk, satin, and lace, topped with pearls and jewels. She used pearls as they held a special significance for her, reminding her of her late mother and grandmother, who always wore pearls when they left the house. The collection was based on the concept of tears of joy, translating to pearls of joy for a bride on her wedding day.
Pnina's other collections include the Love by Pnina Tornai 2024 and 2025 Collections, which feature gowns crafted from timeless beaded lace, classic satins, lasercut mikado and organza, and fabrics covered with pearl and crystal embellishments.
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Celebrities in Pnina Tornai dresses
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. Her designs are known for their ultra-feminine and sexy aesthetic, with body-hugging corsets embellished with Swarovski crystals and precious stones. Her unique heritage, with parents of Moroccan and Egyptian descent, has influenced her design sensibility.
Tornai's celebrity clients include:
- Eva Bryan, NASCAR driver Kurt Busch's wife, who wore a Pnina Tornai wedding gown at their wedding.
- Ginger Zee, Good Morning America's meteorologist, who married her fiancé Ben Aaron in a Tornai dress.
- NeNe Leakes, The Real Housewife and actress, who remarried her husband in a Tornai gown covered in Swarovski crystals.
- Danielle Deleasa Jonas, who celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary with Kevin Jonas in a Pnina Tornai evening dress.
- Singer Ashanti, who wore a Tornai dress on MTV's TRL.
- Kim Cattrall, who wore a Tornai wedding dress in the movie Sex and the City 2.
Pnina Tornai's designs have also been featured in various publications, including People Magazine, The New York Times Fashion & Style Magazine, Fashion Wire Daily, and Glamour Magazine. Her dresses have been described as "vixenish" by The New York Times, and her attention to craftsmanship and couture has attracted a global clientele to her boutique in Kleinfeld, New York.
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Frequently asked questions
Pnina Tornai is an Israeli fashion and wedding dress designer, reality and daytime TV personality. She was born in Ramat HaSharon, Israel, to Mizrahi Jewish parents.
Pnina Tornai wedding dresses are known for their signature fit, couture craftsmanship, and innovative styles. They feature figure-sculpting silhouettes, sparkling embellishments, internationally-sourced lace, pointed long trains, and over-the-top ball gowns. Her designs are inspired by her Moroccan and Egyptian heritage, featuring ultra-feminine gowns hand-sewn with fabrics imported from Europe.
Pnina Tornai's Love Collection promotes accessible luxury, making her designs more affordable for brides while maintaining her signature style and quality.
Pnina Tornai wedding dresses are available at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City, where she has her own boutique. She also showcases her collections through trunk shows and has expanded to bridal salons across the United States.
Notable celebrities who have worn Pnina Tornai wedding dresses include Good Morning America's meteorologist Ginger Zee, Real Housewife and actress NeNe Leakes, and Eva Bryan, the wife of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch. Pnina Tornai's gowns have also been featured in movies and television shows, such as Sex and the City 2.
