There’s a mild lull at the intersection of 17th and Broadway in Manhattan. Beyond the inconspicuous building on the northwest corner of Union Square, the streets will soon fill with activity at the end of another week in September 2022. Parsons and New York University students amble through the park in loose-fitting cargo pants and fitted tops, a post-pandemic attire trend harkening back to ’90s grunge. It’s the busiest year of weddings ever and I’m about to interrupt someone who’s experiencing the boom in full.
On the sunny fifth floor of the building, I’m greeted by a woman in thick-rimmed glasses: Alzira Michelon, owner of Alzira Hermes Studio, the go-to alterations business for Oscar de la Renta and VIPs. Her studio instantly calms me. Like the gowns she alters, the walls are brushed in an eggshell white, and there’s plush seating in the main room. She hands me a glass of water and explains her efforts to counter what brides typically carry into the space: the chaos of the city and the stress that comes with planning a wedding. In here, visitors find themselves at ease.
“I always want to give the feeling of a good environment,” says Michelon. “They can hear the stress of clients,” she motions to her staffers in the sewing room. “I try to make a very
