6 ways vintage fashion can elevate your bridal look
For many brides, a wedding gown is carefully chosen to reflect and celebrate their individual style. A garment that historically has been designed to be worn only once can also hold great emotional value. For some, a wedding dress is a fashion statement; for others, a symbol of love and commitment and a tangible reminder of the special day. So, why shop vintage? Here are a few ways in which vintage bridal fashion can elevate your wedding look, and reasons to consider vintage on your wedding day.
1. Individuality:
It’s no secret that the bridal industry is widely influenced by fashion trends. A large part of the industry trends are pre-determined and followed by retail giants for the next season, causing trends to appear again and again across collections. Alternative brides looking for something unusual may find it difficult in a sea of contemporary bridal dresses. Vintage bridal gowns offer a stylish and refreshing spin for trailblazer brides looking for something different amongst a saturated market. For those looking to purchase a new gown, research into vintage weddings can provide wedding inspiration for a custom design, influencing trends and even entire wedding themes. For wedding colour schemes, venue inspiration and aesthetic mood boards, see our Pinterest here.
2. Sustainability:
If you’re a bride looking for a sustainable wedding gown, there are a growing number of options that actively challenge the wear-once notion of the bridal industry as we know it. As climate change and sustainability become increasingly influential in many aspects of our lives, our shopping habits are drastically changing, and the fashion and bridal markets are no exception. Shopping for vintage can be a sure way of giving forgotten pieces a new lease of life. The snag? It can be tricky to find a gown that is *exactly* as you’d like it, or, if you’re lucky enough to find ‘the one’, damage and wear can be a real problem.
3. Customisability:
Adding another layer to the individuality is the option to customise vintage bridal attire. Whether it’s re-working a vintage silhouette, incorporating vintage lace into a custom look, or even a full re-design of a wedding gown into a jumpsuit, the possibilities are endless, cost effective and appeal to trailblazer brides seeking an artisan process. Vintage fashion pieces nod towards the importance of craft and creative flair, and the redesign of these pieces pave way for more exciting bridal options that are truly one of a kind. The Heirloom collection pays homage to Eden’s love for vintage fashion, and features some beautiful vintage gowns circa 1970s that have been restored and are ready to be redesigned for individual brides at their appointment. More info on how to book can be found here.
4. Sentimentalism:
In a world where fast fashion dominates, there's something truly special about preserving a piece of personal history and sentimentality. A wedding gown may only be worn once, but its emotional value can last a lifetime. For brides interested in the story behind the dress, this can be a real USP for vintage gowns, especially if they have their own Heirloom gown that holds a piece of personal family history. Love the idea, but not quite your style? Our creative team offers a bespoke Heirloom service which redesigns your family heirloom gown into a bespoke piece. Read more about the unique process here.
5. Accessories:
Already have your wedding gown, but looking to elevate your look with accessories? Vintage veils, accessories and jewellery are the perfect addition to add a creative edge to any bridal look. Perhaps you have a relative’s mantilla veil that has great potential, or have sourced some 1960’s fashion jewellery that can be used to create a beaded bridal purse. In the past, our atelier has created bridal purses and beaded monogram details from vintage beads and lace on a vintage gown, and transformed 1980s taffeta bustles into removable sleeves. Aside from the dress, a fabulous pair of vintage boots or shoes can be a fashion forward way to bring an edge or pop of colour to any wedding outfit. Whatever the angle, the option to breathe new life into forgotten bridal pieces offers an exciting layer to your bridal outfit, and accessories in particular can be easily worn again after the wedding day.
6. Good Fortune:
Something old, something new, borrowed and blue. Of course, bridal traditions and superstitions vary across cultures, but there is something undeniably beautiful about having a piece of history woven into your bridal look. Subtle vintage beads stitched into embellishments, or a tiny hand-dyed piece of lace added to a bridal headpiece for something old - and blue - in one. The small homage to bridal tradition often appeals to brides who have opted for non-traditional options across the rest of their wedding; a nod to wedding traditions gone by for modern weddings paving the way for new traditions.
