Merokean Designs Dresses for Real Housewives Star

Merrick resident Kimberly Towers recently garnered headlines as a designer of choice for one of the stars of the reality show The Real Housewives of New York City.

Towers has been designing couture evening wear for women locally, the Hamptons, and the Big Apple since 1997. Most recently her designs started making a splash around the world when Ramona Singer, one of the stars of Bravo's hit show, became of fan.

"I chose pieces that are phenomenal looking and not seen anywhere else," Towers said. 

In fact, Singer wore several of Towers' designs on the Real Housewives. Most notably, she chose Towers' white Duchess satin and silk gown for her wedding vows renewal ceremony featured on the show.

Singer's daughter Avery also wore a Towers original dress for the ceremony. Towers herself, also made an appearance on the show. Singer selected another Towers gown to wear to castmate Bethenny Frankel's wedding, which was featured on the spin-off show Bethenny Getting Married?

Towers said her specialty is creating opulent and elegant designs that utilize structure, color and fabric, to enhance any figure. The imported laces, embroideries and beaded treatments, many of which are designed by Towers herself, are often personally placed on each garment.  Towers uses unexpected mediums such as metals, crystals, feathers, leather and snakeskin, blended with traditional fabrics.

She said her inspiration is derived from her clients and that "each gown takes on the client's individual personality."

Towers recently opened her own shop with design partner Blanca Fuentes, called Runway Couture in Bellmore. With a celebrity boost, Towers and Fuentes said their business has exploded.

"We've had calls from London," Fuentes said. "A woman from California came across the country for a dress and we've even had an Arabian princess fly in on a private plane."

Even with the recent notoriety, the designing duo explains that the majority of their customers are Long Islanders. They set up shop locally to be close to their loyal clientele.

"I've worked in the area for 14 years," Towers said. "We have many clients here. It's full of life." 

She and her husband decided to make Merrick their home a few years ago.

"I really wanted to live and work where I felt comfortable," Towers said, "and I love this area and the people."