A Model Family Part 2 – Victorian to Edwardian wedding style.

Dear Reader,
In our last post, we started a thread of fabulous and historic wedding photographs from the family of Patience (who you can see modelling my own Heavenly Collection of vintage–inspired wedding dresses). 

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Fanny & The Wedding Party, 1888

This elegant 1888 Victorian wedding of Fanny, Patience's own Great–Great–Grandmother (above) is where we began. Now let's roll the clock forward to the next generation of society brides in wonderful Victorian and Edwardian wedding dresses...

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great-Great-Grandmother Gladys' wedding, June 1903

You may notice some of the captions are in red (for Patience's maternal lineage) and some in blue (for her paternal line). It's fun to trace the likeness down the generations…

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Gladys in beautiful honeymoon outfit, 1903

Gladys' wedding to Walter, from The Times 1903
“Each bridesmaid was attired in a Romney costume of white muslin, with belts 
of pale blue silk, a fichu of white muslin being draped round the shoulders 
and caught in front with a single La France rose...”

Gladys’ "wedding dress and travelling costume and bridesmaids’ toilette" 
from The Times 1903

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia Elizabeth's engagement photo, 1904

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

The wedding of Great–Great–Great Aunt Irene to Francis, 
from The Times 1910

Great–Great–Great Aunt Irene’s "wedding gown and bridesmaids’ toilettes" 
from The Times, 1910

Don't forget to check back soon for the next instalment in this fascinating history of a remarkable family. I have some wonderful images from the 1930s to today to show you!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Edwardian vintage wedding dresses - a guide.

Dear Reader

The Edwardian period was just ten years from 1901 to 1910. But it is still popular today: just look at the international success of Downton Abbey. (The period after the death of Edward until the First World War is often included, too.)

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1250

Fashionable Edwardian brides aspired to the 'S' shape, which was created by whalebone corsetry. The corset design (called The Health Corset) although restrictive, was at least not as damaging to their health as corsets of the Victorian era. The waist circumference was gradually reduced by tighter lacing, until they reached their smallest size which - shockingly - could be as small as 16 inches.

I look for dresses with a reasonable waist size (not 16ins!) then I have a few clever techniques for increasing the size further. For example, adding lace from the same era. This can bring the waist to about 26 or 27ins - which of course is still very small fitting and not for everyone, but hopefully doesn’t require a corset!

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1250

And there are other features which may need modification: first, the front of the bodice is often loose-fitting, or 'pigeon chested’. Secondly, Edwardian wedding dresses often have high necks usually supported by tiny ‘bones'. These can be removed or adapted to give a softer neck shape.

I am not at all against changing vintage dress to make them work in a modern context,  as long as it's done sympathetically and the dress looks better for it! 

I am also a fan of Edwardian style headdresses. The fashion was for delicate circlets made from wax flowers, see my post here. I've definitely seen a trend amongst my clients for fresh flowers instead of diamante - which I think is a lovely change. I will always love a well made side-tiara but it’s nice that girls are rediscovering real flowers. And circlets are definitely a trend right now.

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1350

I'd also like to show you a Heavenly Vintage Bride from a few years ago. Her name is Millie, and she wore a beautiful late-Edwardian dress for her Beatrix Potter themed wedding. 

Millie’s dress is wonderful fine lace called ‘Tambour’ lace, which is embroidered cotton net. This was usually worked by hand using a frame and hook.

There's lots more lovely images from Millie's wedding on the LoveMyDress wedding blog (a great blog, if you haven't seen it before.) Check out Millie's feature, here.

I'm a huge fan of this style of lace - or any cotton lace, actually! And it’s so good for vintage collectors and wearers as it stays strong for many years. 

Many veils were also made of Tambour lace such as those shown here. I am in the process of having some lovely veils made to complement my dresses, using a special sewing machine which replicates this style of lace.

As soon as my new veils are perfect, I'll let you know: you'll see them here first! I've included some pictures of two wonderful original Edwardian dresses which are both available now. If, like me, you love the dresses from this period, then do check out these vintage Edwardian dresses here. 

Hope you've enjoyed this post - and see you soon!

Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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