The History of the Wedding Dress

Custom made wedding dresses are the traditional wedding attire for much of Western society. But across the globe, there are as many different styles of wedding dress as there are styles of ceremony. Here are a few of the alternatives seen across the world, many of them are derivatives of the formal wear seen in the countries and cultures listed.

Well, when I say white, I mean more like ivory really. Because most of the dresses were made of silk, and silk couldn’t survive the harsh chemicals and techniques they used. The shape was all about the confining corset. With high waists and high necks, the wedding dress was the height of propriety and virgin chic. Long sleeves were also expected – bare arms were not allowed in church. (Today, the same rules apply in Westminster Abbey, which is why every royal bride has kept them covered – including most recently Kate.)

The native American alternatives to custom made wedding dresses are more culturally specific and vary between the different groups. Wedding clothing tends to be hand-woven and decorated in ribbon-work and beads.In England, custom made wedding dresses are the order of the day for women, while morning suits are the standard formal dress for men – often finished off with a top Designer Evening Dresseshat. For Scottish grooms, the kilt has become fashionable in some circles, although there is a move amongst many young couples to avoid the tackiness associated with the ‘national dress’.

Paris and Hollywood shaped the wedding dresses of the thirties. The Paris designer Vionnet pioneered willowy simplicity by inventing the bias cut. Elegant and geometric panelled dresses followed – Designer Evening Dresseslong, slim columns of draped silk, satin and chiffon. And for the first time the backless dress was flirted with. The great Depression wasn’t so great. People need escapism. And Hollywood provided it by the cinema loads. Scarlet O’Hara reignited the Victorian love of the floor-skimming, princess style, satin skirt with tight bodice. (And it’s never really gone away since.)

Moreover, many brides are unaware that some wedding dresses come with options. For instance, you can request that some embellishments, like beading and bows, be removed. Particularly if you use the same designer, you may even be able to use the bodice from one dress and the skirt of another. No matter what you prefer, just stay calm and enjoy browsing all those gorgeous wedding dresses.

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