After what seems like years of stagnation, bridal designers have shaken things up with their 2016 collections by creating dresses which are fresh and exciting. They are catering not only to brides who want a strapless A-line dress, but also to those who want to express their fashion flair on the biggest day of their lives. Here are the key trends to watch out for.
Embellishment
Lace is still around but applique and embroidery is growing in popularity, and has featured heavily in collections like designers such as Jenny Packham, Mira Zwillinger and Angel Sanchez, who decorated dresses with 3D appliqued flowers, metallic thread, and hand beading.
Plunging Backs and Necklines
Contemporary brides who seek to inject a a-va-voom to the proceedings will adore the trend for deep backs or necklines. Justin Alexander is a master of designing dresses which are sexy without being over the top or tacky.
Super sheer overlays of the softest organza provide a sense of security for brides by keeping the dress in place while still showing off a bride’s back or dellocatage. Some designers, like Hayley Paige, have gone even further by using an illusion bodice with strategically placed embroidery to make them suitable for a wedding.
Sleeves
Sleeves are a fantastic way to change the look of a dress. Short sleeves draw a horizontal line across the bust and are good for pear shapes, or for giving balance to a full skirt. Three quarter sleeves have the reverse effect, flattering brides who are top heavy.
Organza, lace, and chiffon are ideal for summer sleeves as they provide coverage without adding weight. Sleeves made a welcome return in the 2015 autumn winter collections, and their popularity has only increased in 2016.
Colour
The choice of coloured wedding dresses has steadily been increasing with 2016 bringing brides not only pink and ice blue to dilute traditional shades of white and off white, but nudes, blushes, deep creams, and even pastel watercolour patterns. Vera Wang included a fantastic black featured skirt in her most recent bridal collection, which brings us on to…
…Feathers
Wang wasn’t the only big name designer to feature feathers. No mere adornment or accessory, full feather skirts can be seen at Jenny Packham and Lela Rose, as well as Marchesa, who all used them to great effect in their collections.
Silhouette
Wedding watchers were really excited to see the emergence of a new wedding dress silhouette in 2016. Termed “overlay”, it is a column shape with a top layer of embellished tulle or organza. The effect is more forgiving than a column dress, but less formal and frou-frou than a ball gown. It has proved hugely popular with brides of all shapes and sizes who want to feel like a princess without the discomfort dragging around layers of heavy skirts.
Always try on several styles when shopping for your wedding dress – including those which are normally not something you would wear. Consider the time of year and where you are getting married. Knee or ballerina length dresses are fantastic for a destination beach wedding, while a longer dress looks wonderful at a church ceremony.
Recent Comments