Wedding dress styles

MayIDestroyYou · 09/10/2023 13:05

Oh, oh, oh! I saw the most breathtakingly pretty bridal outfit over the weekend. You’re probably too young, @Anothernamechangeee, to remember Droopy and Browns - an outstandingly romantic and innovative British brand that was around in the final thirty years of the last century. (I can’t be the only person who assumed they might one day wear a D&B wedding dress.) People who loved it may never get over its loss, but I’ve gradually come to the conclusion that Cawley Studio has taken on their mantle. Was scrolling through their Insta on Saturday morning and saw these photos of someone’s wedding. The jacket is from Cawley’s new wedding collection, the skirt just from the made to order stock. I can’t stop thinking about it …

Bamboobars · 09/10/2023 13:16

A friend is getting married in this next year, from Pronovias. I can't wait to see her in it.

I think the Cawley outfit could have benefitted from some fitting

Original poster

Anothernamechangeee · 09/10/2023 13:22

Wow that’s beautiful @Bamboobars

i love the 80s outfit too!

I see that drop waists are coming back next year which is definitely 80s…. Having come from the 20s…

OP posts:

Possimpible · 09/10/2023 13:46

Oh I love bridal fashion. I got married earlier in summer and loved my dress. I went for something classic that I think will always look nice - square neckline, fit and flare, mikado, no embellishment. I added a bit of a nod to trends with my accessories and flowers, e.g. I had 3D flowers sewn onto my veil which was a bit of a 2023 trend.

If you go for something that is fashionable now, it will probably date. Which is fine, if you want to be more trend-led/fashion-forward. Best thing to do is find some boutiques on Instagram that are in line with the styles you like who post a lot on socials. I like clean lines and not much lace, so like Miss Bush Bridal was very informative for me, she has a wedding dress Q&A on her highlights that might help. I also liked & Wolf Bridal's stuff. TikTok can also be good to see the trends.

Uncooperativefingers · 09/10/2023 13:52

Honestly, everything will date. Even if you buy something "timeless". Whether it will date by 2025 is probably fluke, however, I've just gotten married and my supplier and seamstress both said sleeves were coming back in a big way, often with shoulder detailing or architectural shapes.

Lots of suppliers told me that what I'd fashionable in Australia for weddings now will come over here for the next wedding season. Their wedding industry is huge and so what brides are doing in their main wedding season (our winter), often drives our summer wedding fashions.

GoodlifeGlow · 09/10/2023 13:55

Whatever you do will date, get a dress you love now.

Original poster

Anothernamechangeee · 09/10/2023 13:58

GoodlifeGlow · 09/10/2023 13:55

Whatever you do will date, get a dress you love now.

That’s literally the last line of my OP 😆

OP posts:

LadyBird1973 · 09/10/2023 22:17

I think simple and elegant is the best way to avoid premature dating. Something like the dress Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wore is as close to timeless as you can get imo

NatashaDancing · 09/10/2023 22:36

MayIDestroyYou · 09/10/2023 13:05

Oh, oh, oh! I saw the most breathtakingly pretty bridal outfit over the weekend. You’re probably too young, @Anothernamechangeee, to remember Droopy and Browns - an outstandingly romantic and innovative British brand that was around in the final thirty years of the last century. (I can’t be the only person who assumed they might one day wear a D&B wedding dress.) People who loved it may never get over its loss, but I’ve gradually come to the conclusion that Cawley Studio has taken on their mantle. Was scrolling through their Insta on Saturday morning and saw these photos of someone’s wedding. The jacket is from Cawley’s new wedding collection, the skirt just from the made to order stock. I can’t stop thinking about it …

Oh my goodness ! These are beautiful. I didn't have a white dress and I don't think I've ever before seen a "wedding dress" I've ever wanted

Cawley dress 1
Cawley dress 2
Cawley dress 3
Cawley blazer
Cawley dress 4

SMOCKED SLEEVE DRESS SMOOTH DUPION - IVORY - CAWLEY

SMOCKED SLEEVE DRESS IVORY SMOOTH DUPION 100% SILK SMOOTH DUPION SIDE SEAM POCKETS PULL OVER HEAD STYLE HAND GATHERED AND SMOCKED CUFFS MADE IN LONDON

https://cawleystudio.com/bridal/smocked-sleeve-dress-smooth-dupion-ivory

MayIDestroyYou · 10/10/2023 07:50

Don’t know if you’re seeing the D&P lineage, @NatashaDancing?

I guess the way one approaches wedding dress shopping is rooted in the narrative you hold in your head as to what constitutes romance …

Something impromptu, (or giving that impression) like Lily Allen’s Dior dress ($4k, apparently bought at the last minute) is closer to my ideal. Or the haphazard, precariously, imperfectly perfect suit I mentioned above. Or some of these:

Mercurial123 · 10/10/2023 07:59

That first photo is breathtakingly awful.

mondaytosunday · 10/10/2023 08:30

But I love the fact that wedding styles reflect the decade the wedding took place! I'm in my 60s so many friends got married in the 80/90s, and it's great to look back and see the hair, the poofy styles (Princess Diana's dress was very influential) and the bridesmaids! Matching peach satin and other ugly styles!
My dress was designed by a dressmaker - totally unique, a thick satin strapless sheath in cream with a heavily embroidered tulle 'coat' in green. It had wired edging so the collar stood up, but as it was tulle it was very light. It cost no more than a mid range dress. You could go that route.

NatashaDancing · 10/10/2023 08:34

I guess the way one approaches wedding dress shopping is rooted in the narrative you hold in your head as to what constitutes romance …

No- it's "I'm spending a lot of money on something fabulous I can wear again"

All of the Cawley outfits, including the suit, can be worn just as dressed up outfits.

I see the D&B influences. I never owned a D&B dress (I don't understand why notI think I was far more conservative back then.) although had a ridiculously mutton sleeved blouse.

Possimpible · 10/10/2023 09:15

OP 'I like boho lace style dresses'. Most posters - post hideous, non-traditional dresses for no apparent reason? I can't believe that first dress is new, I assumed those were old photos from the 80s. Why do people need to ruin S&B threads by pushing an agenda? Go and find the non-traditional wedding dress thread, it's obvious that OP wanted a discussion about bridal fashion and trends, not the most unique outfits you can find. Look at this ffs 😂that's from the Cawley bridal collection, a bargain at 2.5k. Or this if you love court jester vibes. I'll pass.

Nishky32 · 10/10/2023 09:18

mondaytosunday · 10/10/2023 08:30

But I love the fact that wedding styles reflect the decade the wedding took place! I'm in my 60s so many friends got married in the 80/90s, and it's great to look back and see the hair, the poofy styles (Princess Diana's dress was very influential) and the bridesmaids! Matching peach satin and other ugly styles!
My dress was designed by a dressmaker - totally unique, a thick satin strapless sheath in cream with a heavily embroidered tulle 'coat' in green. It had wired edging so the collar stood up, but as it was tulle it was very light. It cost no more than a mid range dress. You could go that route.

My friend had that exact outfit- in 2000. It wasn’t a Shrewsbury based designer you went to is it?

Original poster

Anothernamechangeee · 10/10/2023 09:35

Possimpible · 10/10/2023 09:15

OP 'I like boho lace style dresses'. Most posters - post hideous, non-traditional dresses for no apparent reason? I can't believe that first dress is new, I assumed those were old photos from the 80s. Why do people need to ruin S&B threads by pushing an agenda? Go and find the non-traditional wedding dress thread, it's obvious that OP wanted a discussion about bridal fashion and trends, not the most unique outfits you can find. Look at this ffs 😂that's from the Cawley bridal collection, a bargain at 2.5k. Or this if you love court jester vibes. I'll pass.

🤣 every style and beauty thread isn’t it:
”I’d like a glamourous sequin mini dress”
S&B: here’s an oversized sack that looks like you should be doing time in a Victorian prison

OP posts:

NatashaDancing · 10/10/2023 10:15

Possimpible · 10/10/2023 09:15

OP 'I like boho lace style dresses'. Most posters - post hideous, non-traditional dresses for no apparent reason? I can't believe that first dress is new, I assumed those were old photos from the 80s. Why do people need to ruin S&B threads by pushing an agenda? Go and find the non-traditional wedding dress thread, it's obvious that OP wanted a discussion about bridal fashion and trends, not the most unique outfits you can find. Look at this ffs 😂that's from the Cawley bridal collection, a bargain at 2.5k. Or this if you love court jester vibes. I'll pass.

It's personal taste.

I think the one posted by Bamboobars is awful. And if you're going to go for virginal white it looks a bit odd (to me anyway) to combine it with a deep cleavage.

The Cawley outfits are far more "boho" than the dress in Bamboobars' photo.

Possimpible · 10/10/2023 10:27

@NatashaDancing personal taste is one thing but OP asked 'what is likely to stay in fashion for the next few years?'. I think it's fair to say the majority of dresses posted are not mainstream fashion/trend-led, which is clearly what she wanted. If you don't like the Pronovias dress fine (I do), but the deep V, padded shoulders, and bow on the front are all current (or just passing) trends in bridal so the post ticked that box.

Incidentally, I mentioned Miss Bush Bridal in an earlier post. She often wears dresses similar to the ones you post, but the wedding dresses she sells are more tailored (e.g. Jesus Peiro, Anna Kara, Suzanne Neville), so it doesn't need to be either or.

Original poster

Anothernamechangeee · 10/10/2023 10:27

NatashaDancing · 10/10/2023 10:15

It's personal taste.

I think the one posted by Bamboobars is awful. And if you're going to go for virginal white it looks a bit odd (to me anyway) to combine it with a deep cleavage.

The Cawley outfits are far more "boho" than the dress in Bamboobars' photo.

Edited

Show quote history

This wasn’t really what I was thinking of though….

OP posts:

Luckingfovely · 10/10/2023 10:47

@Anothernamechangeee this thread has been an utter stream of madness

Apart from the Pronovius dress and the CBK classic there's not an item on here that anyone would actually wear in real life.

It might help if you shared a couple pics of things you do like at the moment and ask for feedback on whether and what elements will date?

I think going more specific might cut down on some of the more acid-tripping-in-1986 devotees.

RachelGreensHair · 10/10/2023 11:41

To be fair, it's the same two posters who appear on every thread with these OTT bizarre links. The ones today are something else entirely!!

Name99 · 10/10/2023 12:13

@NatashaDancing
Hand on heart honestly, where would you wear the 2nd dress, the blue thing with the bow.
What occasion would that be ideal for?

Echobelly · 10/10/2023 12:16

Just wear what you like regardless of fashion? Tbh, wedding dress fashion changes are so slow and subtle you're not going to look back and think 'Oh god, that looks so 2023!'

SurprisedWithAHorse · 10/10/2023 12:24

@NatashaDancing, I've seen you around for a while now, but I think with that blue harlequin...thing, you've finally shown too much of your... hand.

I think we all know that cleavage with a white dress really has nothing on that one.

colderandeatsmincepiesalot · 10/10/2023 12:25

Being in the industy, having seen many photographs and meeting hundreds of Brides, the only advice I would give is to wear what you feel amazing in and that you actually like - so many strive to please everyone else and as this thread shows, we are all different! Nothing too outlandish, simple and well cut lines always look timeless and classic, and to be honest, why wouldnt you want to look 'of the time'? Its a record of a happy event at the time - I personally love the war era wedding pics, the 50's styling and even the 80's OTT looks. It defines a time in history, of our own history. I always think beautiful fabric and feminine detailing and shape define the best brides