ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’ve watched the Miss America or Miss USA pageants on TV, you’ve undoubtedly seen gowns designed in the 32801 ZIP code of Orlando.
The store is owned by Carry O’Neal and David Lang. News 6′s Julie Broughton stopped by the boutique’s Thornton Park location to chat with the couple about their success, which includes dressing six Miss America winners, and nearly half of the contestants at the Miss America pageant earlier this year.
Broughton asked Lang whether he thinks people would be surprised to learn a pageant powerhouse is right here in Orlando.
“Ninety-eight percent of people within a two-mile radius have no clue we’re here. And I know that because I see their looks in the face when they look in the door or they look in the window and they see what they see,” said Lang. “What we do is we’re unique in the fact that we are a pageant gowns store. Lots of stores sell bridal, prom, and pageant or mother the bride and things like that. We have several stores here in Central Florida that do that. We only do pageants, and that is it. And the thing that is different from pageants is really the way they’re made, and the fact that we carry one of any dress in the store. You can’t come here and browse a dress and buy multiple sizes. It’s only one, usually many of them are custom for the store. So they are one of a kind.”
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O’Neal opened Regalia in 1989. At that time, he was the director of the Miss Winter Park pageant and had to travel out of state to buy gowns for his winners.
“When they were running Miss Winter Park, they found a need. They’re like, where do you buy a gown? Where do you buy great gowns? So they thought there was a need for a store like that and a unique store. And that’s where Regalia was born,” he said.
Many of those custom dresses in Regalia are designed by O’Neal. He works in the store full-time. Lang is a flight attendant, which O’Neal says helps with design inspiration.
“I’m fortunate enough. Because of what David does, we travel a lot. So for years, architecture would influence me a lot, or old-world designs or Baroque patterns and stuff like that. But I do love old movies, and I like old design work. So I can take some of those concepts and bring them into the future. So we just change the pattern enough to make it more relevant today,” he said.
Lang and O’Neal say trust and building relationships are the backbone of their success.
“What people I think really like about us, they’ve told us is, if you look bad in a gown, I don’t want to see it on you,” said Lang. “Girls will come in, and they’re like, ‘These are my colors.’ We’re like, ‘OK, that’s great. But let’s try everything.’ Let’s let you fall in love with something because I can like a gown all day. But if you don’t like it, you’re not going to win. You’re not going to feel great.”
Broughton asked O’Neal what’s next for Regalia.
“I would love someday to pass on the baton. Find somebody who has the same passion that we have for it who has maybe a little bit of design ability, but maybe just a passion for the program who would willing to continue what we do. That would be my dream. Just sit back and watch it continue.”
To learn more about Regalia Magnificent Apparel, visit them online by clicking here.
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