Wedding Dress Styles: How Have They Changed Over The Years…
Many people dream of their wedding day their whole lives…
the flowers, the venue but most importantly, the dress.
Although the whole planning process is exciting, it can also
be overwhelming. Especially when it comes down to the dress… because let’s face
it, it’s what everyone’s looking at.
One way to kick off your wedding dress shopping is to get a
good idea of all the wedding dress
styles out there.
There is plenty of information out there about the different
styles that suit certain body shapes. You can, therefore, narrow your search
down a lot by knowing which styles and features are likely to compliment your
shape and make you feel a million dollars.
When you’re doing some fun research of wedding dress styles,
it is a good idea to look at how styles have changed over the years. You may be
someone that loves the vintage look, so may fall in love with a style from the
1980s. On the other hand, you may be a lover of all things modern and benefit
from looking at more recent wedding dress styles.
To give you a helping hand with figuring out what style of dress you like and send you on your way to hitting the wedding dress shops, let’s take a look at wedding dress styles over the years.
Let’s go way back…
1900s
The 1900s wedding dresses were extravagant, however in more reserved ways. They mostly featured high necks and frills… lots of them. The high necks were complimented by large puffy sleeves known as Gigot sleeves. Showing some skin on your big day in the 1900s just simply wasn’t done. They still look beautiful though! It’s practically impossible for a bride not to look perfect, no matter what dress she chooses. So don’t fret too much.
Although the high neck-look and puffy sleeves together might not be something that a bride would choose to wear today. You could incorporate some of the incredible lace detailing and embellishment to add a dainty touch to an otherwise modern dress.
1920s
The 1920s, otherwise known as the Jazz Age, showed a shift to less fitted dresses. They often had no shape whatsoever, known as ‘swing’ style. The focus of wedding dresses in the 20s seemed to be on the embellishment and headpieces.
In contrast to the 1900s dresses, the necklines and waistlines were a lot lower. They were covered all over with beautifully patterned beads and embroidery. If you have a dress already but love the look of the detailed embellishment, you can always use an alteration service like Alterations Boutique Manchester to add it on.
1940s
Wartime wedding dress styles were understandably pretty understated. The dresses and veils were largely made from simple and cheap fabrics. Some brides even had to get creative with fabrics they already owned, such as lace curtains, to add to their look. Fun fact: it was around this time that male wedding rings became popular, to connect loved ones when they were apart during wartime.
During the 40s, the emphasis seemed to be more on the wedding experience rather than the dress, and rightly so. It was not often people were all together and able to let loose, so weddings presented people with the perfect excuse to do just that!
If
you don’t take any wedding dress inspiration from the 1940s period, take their mindset. Having a beautiful dress is important yet, but making sure your day is enjoyable should be the priority.
1950s
Wedding dress styles to keep in mind for this period involved sweetheart necklines, ballerina skirts and gloves. Gloves tend not to be popular for brides today, but if your dress is simple, they are a great way to add some drama!
Shorter hemlines rose in popularity in this period and as a result, wedding shoes became more of a focus. If you’re one of the many gals out there with a passion for shoes, a 50s-esque dress may be the answer!
One aspect of 1950s wedding dress styles that is still often seen on aisles today is the sweetheart neckline. This was popularised by Grace Kelly at the time and became the really only seen neckline in that period! It is a super flattering neckline without revealing too much. You could incorporate this neckline into your dress with a more modern twist by making it strapless.
1980s
Fast forward to the 80s and there is almost a complete reversal in terms of wedding dress styles. 1980s dresses were very traditional looking, long, frilly, lacy and downright extravagant. Princess Diana’s famous dress showcases the trends of this era perfectly. The huge sleeves, long train and veil… such a statement!
If you are one of those people who certainly isn’t shy of the limelight, why not transform your dress into something similar? You could add a long train or veil to an otherwise simple dress to emanate some Princess Diana vibes on your big day.
As you can hopefully see by now, the opportunities to incorporate prominent features from wedding dress styles from over the years are endless!
