Last year very few brides walked down the aisle as planned. According to wedding planning app, Bridebook.com, an estimated 15 million weddings around the world were postponed because of the pandemic. In the United Kingdom, where weddings have been banned or restricted since last spring, many brides simply decided to embrace smaller, more intimate ceremonies and with it, a sense of freedom. And many women looked to the runway for bridal fashion inspiration.
“Versatile pieces such as the draped high-neck Midi-dress from Emilia Wickstead, tailoring from Christopher Kane, full length dresses from Vivienne Westwood and Stephen Jones headpieces have all performed well,” said Natalie Kingham, the global fashion officer at Matchesfashion, the London-based luxury retailer. The retailer launched its own ‘wedding edit’ at the beginning of 2020. “We predict a shift toward feminine, romantic wedding dresses and statement pieces that will make an impact on the big day,” Ms. Kingham said.
While not everyone has the budget for high fashion, the shift away from traditional bridalwear has certainly been noticeable. In a 2020 report conducted by Bridebook.com, 67 percent of brides no longer want a traditional wedding dress.
