Wedding Dress Trends 2016: The Gospel According to Vogue.

Dear Reader,

This week Vogue Magazine published their guide to bridal trends for 2016 – based on the latest couture collections. 

Wedding dresses by Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa

I'm not sure my clients would agree with all of them – and I'm not giving away my own predictions yet! As always, I'll make mine at the end of this year, based on what my brides are loving and asking for. But it's fun to see these from Vogue, and to give you my take on them…

Wedding Dress Trend 1 – Sweet Nothings
The first trend Vogue noted is for barely there dresses, almost lingerie. This is a very couture look – much easier to carry off on a catwalk than in an English church or a garden reception. Super pretty, though. And very reminiscent of all those slinky 1930s and sultry 1940s dresses…

1930s inspired Butterfly wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Original 1940s lace wedding dress from my West London vintage studio.

Wedding Dress Trend 2 – Sparkles
Always in fashion, and rightly so. A generous sprinkling of sparkle appeared on the catwalks for next year, particularly from Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera and Marchesa. A little sparkle has always been one of the delights of vintage wedding dresses, of course. With many of the dresses in my Heavenly Collection, you can choose to add just a little bling… or a lot!

My 1940s style wedding dress, Bette, with its sparkly trim.

Pretty bling: Florence, 1940s style dress from my Heavenly Collection.

Wedding Dress Trend 3 – Knee Length
Shorter dresses made a welcome appearance on the bridal catwalks. But to see this trend at its best, simply look to the 1950s for the most fabulous tea–length wedding dresses…

'Blanche', 1950s style wedding dress, from my Heavenly Collection

Original 1950s 'cupcake' wedding dress from my West London vintage studio.

Wedding Dress Trend 4 – Bare Shoulders
Always popular with so many brides. Yet vintage dresses often take a subtler approach. Think of pretty keyhole openings, lace shoulders or tiny petal sleeves. Every bit as sexy, but a lot more subtle.

Angel, 1930s inspired lace wedding dress: vintage is more subtly sexy.

Original 1950s wedding dress from my West London vintage studio.

1970s off–the–shoulder wedding dress, from my West London vintage studio.

Wedding Dress Trend 5 – Separate Overskirts
A full-length transparent overskirt, cut to reveal a shorter one underneath...? Oh so fashiony! Very modern, a little bit mad, and quite fun – but not exactly a classic look. What do you think?

Wedding Dress with Overskirt, by the usually classic designer Vera Wang!

Wedding Dress Trend 6 – Cream
Ahhhh, beautiful. Now here's one I really can enthuse about – drawing as it does from the softness and romance of vintage wedding fashion. White is lovely too, of course. But cream, blush and ivory are so much more flattering to all skin tones. Often my clients come to me expecting to choose a white wedding dress, but once tried they fall in love with these lovely muted tones. That's why I offer my Heavenly Collection dresses in a range of pretty and flattering shades.

Full length lace wedding dress in cream by Oscar de la Renta

Butterfly, from my Heavenly Collection in a soft ivory.

Florence: a lace wedding dress with toning underslip (Heavenly Collection)

Well done, Vogue – fun predictions and a good showing for vintage styles. What did you think of them? Later this year, you can see how my own predictions match up!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

My vintage inspired wedding dresses are now available in Ireland! Meet lovely Pam of Vintage Bride!

Dear Reader,
Today I'm thrilled to introduce my charming new stockist, Pam of Vintage Bride.

Pam has her own private showroom in Dublin, Ireland. Here she stocks beautiful original vintage dresses and a small range of carefully selected vintage-inspired wedding dresses and accessories... 

My Butterfly 1930s style wedding dress at Vintage Bride's 'Bridal Showcase'

From the moment we met, I knew Pam was the right person to bring my own Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired wedding dresses to Ireland. I'm delighted to announce that Vintage Bride is already stocking my Butterfly and Angel 1930s-style wedding dresses and my Bette 1940s-style dress. 

Butterfly 1930s style wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Angel 1930s inspired wedding dress from the Heavenly Collection

Butterfly 1930s style wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Butterfly 1930s style wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Bette 1940s inspired wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Bette 1940s inspired wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

In addition, Vintage Brides will soon be stocking my 1940s-inspired Florence and 1960s-style Stella wedding dress...

1940s inspired vintage wedding dress, Florence, with keyhole back

1940s style wedding dress Florence

1940s style Florence wedding dress, elegant lace shoulders

Florence, 1940s style wedding dress with lace flutter sleeves

1940s-style Florence from front, showing lace flutter sleeve version

Stella 1960s inspired wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Stella 1960s style lace wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection

Pam has just organised the first fashion show featuring my dresses. Her 'Bridal Showcase' looks like a wonderfully fun and elegant affair!

My Butterfly dress (right) at the Bridal Showcase

Butterfly (left) at Vintage Bride's Bridal Showcase

If you'd like to contact Pam, you can find her website and Facebook pages here. 
Good luck Pam and Hello Ireland!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

Dress photos with thanks to Robert Lawler Photography
Bridal Showcase photos with thanks to Paul Kelly Studio 3 Photography

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 6

Dear Reader
Back to my vintage wedding style forecasts today - with fabulous trend no 6...

6. ALL-OVER BEADED LACE

Beaded lace is suddenly trending again - just take a look at the best Oscar dresses from this weekend. And it's perfect with vintage-inspired gowns. 

Lupita Nyongo's vintage-inspired dress with all-over beading by Calvin Klein

On a fashion history note, contrary to popular belief, 1920s and 1930s vintage wedding dresses were very rarely beaded. Beading was more of an evening fashion among wealthy society girls. 

Emma Stone in chartreuse beaded lace dress by Elie Saab, Oscars 2015

To incorporate this lovely luxe trend, I've recreated my Butterfly dress in a sumptuous and glamorous all-over beaded lace. I'm looking forward to showing it to lots of lovely brides-to-be. 

Whatever I do with my vintage-inspired dresses, my number one aim is to keep their vintage old-fashioned charm and not make any statements which are too obvious, and I think this lovely lace has a subtle sparkle which just works.

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try…
Vintage Wedding Trends 2015, number 4

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - No 3...

Dear Reader,
My next prediction for 2015 vintage wedding style is so romantic and feminine...

1930s style lace wedding dress BUTTERFLY, from the Heavenly Collection

3. LAYERED TRIMS

A key trend I see coming through this season is layered and multiple trims. Layering two - or even three - lace and floral trims at a neckline can create a truly romantic effect, more luxurious and textured than choosing a single trim. 

Layered floral lace on 1930s style BUTTERFLY lace wedding dress, from the Heavenly Collection

Of course, the secret is in choosing the perfect combination to create a soft and romantic vintage feel. Coming through right now are subtly-layered floral lace trims - as shown here on my Heavenly Collection of vintage inspired wedding dresses. 

1940s style lace wedding dress DOROTHY features luxurious lace on lace trims at neckline

Another designer who works this trend supremely well is LA-based Claire Pettibone, whose couture dresses are worn by many Hollywood stars. Her vintage-feel wedding dresses often use layered floral trims to great effect. I do admire her style and while I would never copy another designer, I love to be influenced by good design when I see it! 

1930s style lace wedding dress with fluttering layers of delicate floral lace

I've been subtly introducing this trend to some of my Heavenly Collection dresses, as you can see on 1930s style lace wedding dress Butterfly, and 1940s-styled Dorothy here. 

Lace on lace. Gorgeous trims add romance to 1930s style wedding dress BUTTERFLY

I'm very pleased with the pretty results, which are getting a great response from my clients.  Do contact me if you'd like to see more. And check back for more 2015 trends coming up this week...

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post please try…
Vintage Wedding Trends 2015 - Part 1

Vintage Wedding Trends 2015 - Part 2...

Thanks to Robert Lawler for the beautiful photography!

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 1!

Dear Reader, 
The year is flying by, isn't it? … high time I made my predictions for the upcoming seasons! So today and all next week, I'll be sharing my Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015. Here's my No 1…

1. SUBTLY SEXY BACKS

Brides often ask how they can be a little bit sexy on their wedding day, and still keep the vintage look. I love an open or low back dress as a way of revealing a little skin while keeping the charm and modesty of a classic vintage wedding dress.

1930s inspired lace wedding dress, ANGEL, from my Heavenly Collection

Butterfly (below) and Angel (above) from my Heavenly Collection both have glamorous - and quietly sexy - low backs.

1930s style lace wedding dress BUTTERFLY, from my Heavenly Collection

Keyholes are also showing strongly in this trend, as in mainstream fashion. I've just updated my lovely Florence 1940s-style satin dress with a keyhole detail.

1940s style wedding dress in satin and lace, FLORENCE, from my Heavenly Collection

As you can see, I kept it very subtle…

1940s style wedding dress in satin and lace, FLORENCE, from my Heavenly Collection

This subtly sexy look translates to most vintage wedding dresses with great success. You probably know by now - I'm all for subtly restyling vintage wedding dresses to make them perfect for a new bride. Just so long as it maintains the beauty and character of the original dress.

Pop back tomorrow to find out my Trend No 2…!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

Thanks to Robert Lawler for the gorgeous photography.
And thanks to Abby at Cherished Vintage for the beautiful headwear.