Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 5

Dear Reader,
Another lovely style that's swinging right back into fashion this year…

1950s wedding dress worn by the fabulous Audrey Hepburn, in Funny Face (1957)

5. 1950s-style! Full frothy skirts, net and lace. 

These cute and frothy prom-style dresses have always been popular. But over the last few years they've slipped a little, as fashion took a more sleek and pared-down direction.  

1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE from my Heavenly Collection

Original 1950s vintage wedding dress with frothy full length skirt

1950s style BLANCHE wedding dress worn by real bride Kathryn

BLANCHE 1950s style wedding dress in lace

Original 1950s wedding dress in lace and tulle net

This year, I'm delighted to say 1950s dresses are feeling fresh and pretty again, and are seriously in demand... 

BLANCHE 1950s style wedding dress in lace, from my Heavenly Collection

1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE on real vintage bride Chloe

Original 1950s lace wedding dress

Original 1950s wedding dress, full skirt in ballerina length in floral lace

1950s style wedding dresses from my Heavenly Collection: CHANTILLY

1950s style wedding dresses from the Heavenly Collection: BLANCHE

1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE in ballerina length lace

1950s wedding dress in lace and net, on real vintage bride Jane

Original 1950s vintage wedding dress in lace and tulle net

Original 1950s vintage wedding dress in lace and tulle net

1950s style BLANCHE wedding dress, with three quarter sleeves

The pictures here are a mix of fabulous original 1950s wedding dresses in lace and tulle, and my beautiful reproduction 1950s dresses Blanche and Chantilly, from my Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired wedding dresses. 

1950s style CHANTILLY wedding dress in lace and tulle

1950s style CHANTILLY wedding dress worn by real bride Sophie 

1950s style wedding dress CHANTILLY from my Heavenly Collection

The original vintage 1950s dresses pictured here are sold, but I always have more vintage in stock - in addition to the reproduction dresses in my Heavenly Collection. 

1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE from my Heavenly Collection

1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE with pretty v-back in lace

A welcome return for full-on 1950s femininity! Do contact me or like me on facebook if you're a fan of this pretty style and would like to see more.
Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post please try…

Real vintage bride Kathryn

Real vintage bride Jane

Real vintage bride Chloe

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Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - Number 4...

Dear Reader,
My next tip for 2015 is a trend I really love. I'm so pleased to see it right back in style...

1940s style silk satin wedding dress, Florence - soft, womanly and flowing.

4. SOFT SATIN SLEEVES, 1940s STYLE

Long fitted lace sleeves have been very popular for the last few years (perhaps influenced by McQueen's fabulous dress for Kate Middleton). But now my clients are beginning to ask for a more flowing, 1940s style of sleeve in a soft satin.

1940s inspired Florence wedding dress, with soft silk sleeves

You may already know how much I love this look - with its sexy, womanly glamour and its roots in the golden age of Hollywood.

1940s style icon Lauren Bacall, in sophisticated white.

Plus this trend has another fabulous feature: it's SO flattering and easy to wear! 

1940s style icon Lauren Bacall in soft silk evening dress.

Here's Florence again (from my Heavenly Collection of vintage inspired wedding dresses), showing long soft sleeves in silk. Florence is inspired by an original 1940s dress and has that same soft-fitting glamour. 

Florence, 1940s style wedding dress in silk with long sleeves, beading and lace trim.

For 2015, I am making this sleeve style in a transparent silk chiffon - very in keeping with the 1940s origins of the dress. Watch this space!
Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, try…
Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 1…

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 2…

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 3…

Thanks to Robert Lawler for the beautiful photography
and to Abby at Cherished for the lovely headwear.

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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!

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Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - Number 2.

Dear Reader,
The second trend I'd like to draw your attention to is…

Vintage wedding dress complemented by original Victorian lace cape

2. VINTAGE LACE CAPES AND COATS

In my London studio, brides are definitely moving away from shrugs and boleros this year, and asking for a softer style of lace cover-up - particularly vintage lace capes.

Original Victorian lace cape and vintage wedding dress

This elegant style may have originated in the Victorian era, but the height of its popularity was the 30s, when a fashion for short lace capes really took off - like the beautiful example I found for lovely bride Leah (below) to pair with an original 1930s wedding dress. 

1930s lace wedding dress and original lace cape, on gorgeous bride Leah.

Leah in beautiful 1930s lace wedding dress and lace cape

Like many 1930s fashions, it was reinvented in the 1960s and early 1970s when long lace capes - sometimes with hoods - came right back into style. I was recently asked to source a dress to complement a full-length hooded lace cape from 1972, which originally belonged to my client's mother. Fabulous!

Original 1940s lace wedding coat, over vintage 1940s wedding dress.

Long lace coats are also very in-demand right now. This is a more 1940s look - as you can see on the example above and below, with its sensational long lace train. 

1940s lace wedding coat, over vintage 1940s wedding dress.

Lace cover-up coat over 1940s vintage wedding dress.

I do love a challenge, sourcing something to match a client's own personal piece. Mixing and matching eras can work incredibly well, and these beautiful styles can look gorgeous over dresses from any era. I don't think you have to be strict about it!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, check out

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 1

Thanks to Robert Lawler for the lovely photography.

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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.

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Real Vintage Bride Genevieve - Keeping it in the Family!

Dear Reader,

Today I'm specially pleased to show you gorgeous vintage bride Genevieve…

Vintage bride Genevieve in 1940s lace and satin wedding dress

Genevieve is one of four stunning sisters from a truly charming family. And Genny is the third sister who visited my London studio to find her perfect vintage wedding dress!

Champagne satin and beading on glamorous 1940s wedding dress

Genevieve chose a champagne-coloured satin 1940s wedding dress. It's a very glamorous dress with exquisite beading on the bodice and a long, long train with delicate lace inserts.

Real vintage bride Genevieve shines in her 1940s dress

Genevieve has such a lovely personality, and her 1940s dress was the perfect complement - allowing her graceful beauty to really shine. 

You may remember seeing more of Genevieve's family here on my blog and on my website. First, at sister Felicity's wedding (with bridesmaid Genevieve on the far right)...

Felicity in vintage cotton lace wedding dress, with bridesmaid sisters!

And then again at sister Molly's wedding...

And sister Molly wears gorgeous 1960s wedding dress with high neckline

Each sister has her own distinctive style. And as you can see each is a stunning bride! Charming mother Sue and Aunt Molly add to this remarkable family who were such a pleasure to work with. In Genevieve's kind words...

"I wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help in finding me my wonderful wedding dress! It was a perfect day and I felt beautiful in the dress and had so many compliments on it.  

The day really wouldn't have been the same without your help! I will of course be recommending you to everyone (not just for the family tradition!)"

What a family! I hope you've enjoyed seeing them. (And thanks to photographer Mairead McDaid.) Pop back next week for my Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015.
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

For more Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here...

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