London Bridal Week is continuously becoming more fascinating and luxurious with each passing year. Although it is the most recent addition to the global Bridal Fashion Week, it strives to generate maximum excitement. After merging with the White Gallery, a historic event, it has now become the primary wedding fair in the UK. The event is increasingly attracting international brands along with a significant number of British ones to showcase their latest wedding collections.
Bridal Week London is known for showcasing top-notch fashion labels from around the world. The 2023 event provided attendees with a sneak peek of the latest collections from their favorite brands, featuring the most innovative designs of the season. The show hosted world-renowned designers and manufacturers on the runway, including La Perle, Madi Lane Bridal, The Perfect Bridal Collection by Kay Heeley, Calla Blanche, Colby John, Dando London, Ellis Bridals, and more. Various vendors like MG Hair & Makeup, Jupon Limited, Poirier, and Propress Steamers provided their products and services for the event.
The current fashion trend emphasizes the waist for a modern minimalist look. Dando London showcased a sheer mock neck gown with a beaded and sequined bodice and a skirt that was highlighted with a thick corseted waist to create an hourglass silhouette. The Perfect Bridal Collection by Kay Heeley offered a silky smooth ballgown dress that is likely to be popular among brides in the upcoming season.
This year’s catwalk featured romantic ruffles as one of the popular trends. Ruffles are a popular choice for daring brides who want a dramatic and playful look. Colby John’s runway show presented the Libra dress, a sleek mermaid-style gown with layers of tulle ruffles on the sleeves and skirt. The Jeune Bridal line by Madi Lane and Evie Young, showcased at Bridal Week London, featured a dress with fishnet side panels adorned with pearl details and a beaded lace pattern, as well as subtle ruffled cascading sleeves for a whimsical touch. The Evie Young dress, incorporating a touch of lilac, also featured romantic ruffles in its tiered skirt for an ultra-dreamy appearance, complementing the fully beaded corset-style bodice.
Wedding dress trends have seen a shift from sleeves to shoulders this season. The padded shoulder, which has a historical association with the women’s movement, has been evolving for the past few seasons and is now considered a permanent trend. Madi Lane’s bridal surprised us with tulle puff sleeves, high shoulders, buttoned cuffs, and lace detailing. Jeune Bridal’s runway showcased a mermaid gown with ruffled sleeves worty of applause.
This season, wedding dresses with detachable pieces are becoming increasingly popular. These dresses provide brides with the flexibility to create their desired wedding day look. The detachable pieces offer a range of options, such as tops, skirts, pants, sleeves, and capes, which brides can mix and match to fit their budget, taste, and style.
Designers are now creating detachable pieces that can quickly transform a bridal outfit from the ceremony to the afterparty. Bohemian-style dresses, inspired by the fashion of the 70s, are still trending in bridal fashion. For example, Calla Blanche’s floral lace and flowing skirt come with detachable sleeves and tasseled lace, adding a contemporary touch to the boho vibe.
Vintage-inspired wedding dresses are very contemporary , drawing inspiration from past fashion eras. These dresses combine traditional elements of opulent detailing and refined silhouettes to create modern and stylish designs. Bridal collections of the 21st century have incorporated iconic styles from past decades that are timeless and translate seamlessly to today’s fashion.
Designers such as 29 Atelier, Michèle Weiten, and Louise Bentley have renewed classic dress features from the past with vintage inspiration.
The upcoming bridal fashion trends for spring 2023 are different from the previous fall season. Instead of focusing on lace and bohemian styles, designers are using innovative fabrics and incorporating pleating techniques to create a modern aesthetic. Many brands are featuring pleating prominently in their gowns, adding a luxurious touch to the collection. For instance Maria Pia’s rosy gown has both vertical and horizontal pleating on the bodice, creating a petal-like effect that highlights the waistline. Additionally, Josephine Scott’s gown has a semi-transparent, pleated bodice that accentuates the dramatic neckline.
