If you’re not really a dedicated follower of fashion, you may have missed the recent couture shows in which designers show off their fanciest of frocks and hope that they’ll be picked up by celebrities and stylists alike for red carpets, weddings, state dinners and a whole host of mind-boggling events that we mere mortals could never even imagine.
Whilst these dresses are definitely all POA, they do provide not only eye candy for all of us starry eyed things, but very often they’re a good signifier of upcoming trends for the bridal industry. You’d be surprised at how easily these designs transform from catwalk to church aisle!
Take Elie Saab for example. Generally the go-to guy for any girl looking for bridal wear porn, this collection did not let us down. In addition to the sparkly, sumptuous numbers above (some even treating us to full-length sleeves AND pockets!), we spotted a couple of options with the most fulsome, lovely feather skirts {pictured below}. We obviously leapt about shouting about the fact that Perfect Day brides already have this very option available as part of Charlie Brear’s additions and are now convinced that Mr Saab has taken inspiration from London’s hottest bridal designer.
Then we move on to Jean Paul Gaultier. Really, there are probably no words to justify this collection. Models sashayed down the catwalk to Billy Idol’s White Wedding and the parade ended with Naomi Campbell looking like a fruit basket. However, JPG didn’t disappoint with some androgynous tailoring, risqué and dramatic designs. If you’re a bride who dares to be different, you should check out this collection as it signifies the antithesis to the meringue myth.
Sometimes it’s the simple things that make our hearts sing the loudest. From stunning silhouettes to a simple pinched-in waist, broderie anglaise and a big fat tudor cape, Ralph & Russo managed to add high drama to very simple styling. We love that. We love the idea of building a look from the dress up. A belt, a sleeve, a cape…all can transform the look of a wedding gown, so this collection ticks the pretty fabulous box in our books.
Last but by no means least, we come to Zuhair Murad. There are a lot of sexy dresses in this collection that range from Kylie Minogue stage leotards to Russian Oligarchs’ girlfriends on a Tuesday night out. However, if you look beyond the bling there really are some lovely vintage-inspired options. How about a tailored two-piece that sings of 1930s/40s elegance? Or what about a liberal bit of appliqué with 1970s draping? Dare to be different and you too could look like a supermodel, perhaps…
Of course, these are the images that dance through our dreams, of dresses beyond the realm of the realistic (or wearable!) but how lovely to see what the wildest fantasies of leading fashion designers will influence what our brides wear to say ‘I do’ for the next couple of years.
All images courtesy of Vogue
