When it comes to bridal fashion, trends can be tricky. What might seem de rigueur today can look like a poufy-sleeved meringue-monster with a hat-veil in photos later on. Trends come and go (thankfully!), so we tapped the experts at Kleinfeld in Manhattan, national wedding brand BHLDN, Chicago design house Mira Couture and Doris Bridal Boutique in Highwood for the inside scoop on which summer bridal trends have staying power.
Blushing Bride
Soft, romantic colors are quickly replacing the requisite white. At Mira Couture, pale orchids, blush pinks and fresh floral patterns have captured brides’ hearts. The gals at Doris Bridal say their brides are toasting the big day in champagne-colored stunners, and BHLDN tells us metallics and colorful embellishments rule. So make room for the rainbow—the possibilities are too gorgeous to give up.
Beautiful Backs
The back of a dress remains the perfect place for a dose of daring. Brides at BHLDN are looking to make an exit with stunning back-bodice detailing, while the ladies at Mira Couture are clamoring for gowns with plunging backs. Like the bridal equivalent of the mullet, back-baring dresses are virginal in the front and vixen in the back—managing the improbable feat of being sexy yet tasteful.
Customization
“Every bride wants to look unique on her wedding day,” says Terry Hall, fashion director for Kleinfeld. Whether it’s going couture or mixing separates to create a one-of-kind look, brides have fallen in love with customization. Mira Couture specializes in creating unique gowns to suit a bride’s individuality, and the folks there tell us two-piece styles remain in vogue. Separates are also huge at BHLDN, where brides mix and match corsets and skirts or personalize simple dresses with layered pieces, like sashes and accessories.
Millennium Modern
A simple, sophisticated silhouette allows the bride to shine, and keeps the dress from stealing the show. Many of the brides at Mira Couture have developed a taste for edgier, more architectural shapes. Clean, modern lines will live on, say the folks at Doris Bridal, who anticipate a long parade of sleek skirts sauntering down the aisle. And BHLDN brides are loving simple, tailored dresses that act like blank canvases for beautiful accessories.
Vintage Detail
Lovely lace and pretty beading add a dose of vintage glamour and can make the simplest dress an heirloom. At Mira Couture, brides continue to request Hollywood-glam and vintage-chic styling, and the trend extends to accessories as well, with art-deco statement earrings or pearl-embellished headpieces. The folks at Kleinfeld tell us designers are moving away from dark, silver beading and embracing a subtler look. Hall says she thinks the boho-chic look, “with intricate lace details [and] romantic beading,” will continue to be a hot trend. At Doris Bridal, they say we can expect to see more vintage-inspired beading that incorporates pearls, champagne-colored stones or sequins.
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