Editorial features published in Modern Wedding Magazine Volume 73
FASHION FORECAST
Bridal fashion is fierce this season with designers offering a variety of original wedding dress ideas for brides to play with. We look at what's new and next in wedding fashion.
From slight updates to classic designs to complete departures from tradition, wedding gowns have never been more fashion forward. Dresses are peppered with ingenious and unexpected details, and designs encompass an array of silhouettes and styles to appeal to every kind of bride. Stay #fresh with these trends and be the vanguard of bridal style.
[BREAKOUT] “Unique design pairings will become a bridal staple this year, creating a fresh, new inspiration for the modern and sophisticated bride.”
– Marine Harris, Essense of Australia
TREND: BOLD SHOULDER
The popular cape trend casts the spotlight on the new destination for detail – the shoulder. A focus on the shoulders draws attention to the face, and adds a hint of detail to close up photos. Designs that incorporate fabric flowing from the shoulders are perfect for brides that love the spectacle of a bridal cape, but want to show off a bare or detailed back. A more modest approach to the trend is a feminine cap sleeve armoured with decadent beading for an interesting masculine touch.
TREND: THE GRAND OVERLAY
The overlay skirt was designed for brides that dreamed of a ball gown for the ceremony with an option to remove some volume at the reception. The versatility of an overlay skirt has made it a firm favourite of brides and designers alike in seasons past. This year, the distinction between overlay and sleek silhouette is stark, with different fabric pairings and big overlays pumping up proportions. Karen Willis Holmes sees “detachable trains, different overlay layers, as well as different combinations of fabrics, such as laces with tulle” as a popular choice for brides in 2017. The new overlay is imbued with a sense of decadence and is made for brides that dream of a grandiose walk down the aisle, and a little bit of freedom on the dance floor!
TREND: HIGH-LOW HEM
The high-low hem is shorter at the front and dips down to floor length or a train at the back. It’s the fun and playful cousin of the ball gown with the bonus perk of allowing the bride to show off lust-worthy heels. #winning!
TREND: MINIMALIST ARCHITECTURE
Flaunt your sartorial flair in a sleek gown that features striking architecture. These designs are the next progression of the norm-core trend and are crafted of clean minimalist fabric such as Mikado, silk and satin. “This season, the Essense collection has an emphasis on clean lines and chic simplicity.” Says Martine Harris of Essense of Australia. Design elements such as wide pleats, pockets and folds will make these gowns memorable. It’s your chance to wear a piece of sculptural art and make a standout style statement.
TREND: GLOVE LOVE
Gloves are the ultimate throwback to the ladylike looks of the 40s and 50s. Their rarity in this day and age makes them an even more unique addition to your bridal look. Keep them short and sweet if they are made of thick lace or wear sheer gloves that extend past the elbow for a more reserved look.
TREND: FINE LINES
Glamorous new dress designs are imbued with a dash of contemporary chic with linear detailing. Perhaps inspired by the popular geometric trend in wedding styling, more dresses now incorporate delicate beading or lace patterns arranged to flatter. “This season we have focused on inventive combinations of elements such as lattice detailing, sheer cut-outs, linear laces, and scrollwork. Layered together in unexpected ways, the motifs come together to create modern styles that shape and enhance the body,” says Martine. Petite brides take note - subtle vertical stripes create the illusion of height! #magic
TREND: SIDE SKIN
Brides that dare to bare in 2017 will be revealing a whisper of waist from the side. This sultry new look is created with low backs that are extended sideward and peek-a-boo cut outs that are left bare or covered with gossamer lace. This trend lures the eye to the waist that accentuates curvy, hourglass shapes.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: PANTS!
Bridal fashion provocateurs rejoice! Bridal pants are now a bona fide trend with more and more ateliers creating wonderfully feminine styles for brides. Bridal pants bring the same sense of grandeur that a traditional gown carries through wide-leg cuts, lace fabric or coupling with an overlay.