Modest wedding outfits rise in popularity among brides through the pandemic
26 June, 2021
Sarah Holly wore a bespoke white two-piece suit created by UAE bridalwear label House of Moirai at her wedding in New Zealand, where she and her husband eloped amid the pandemic.
Harry Potter themes, succulents instead of bouquets and bridal jumpsuits are simply a few of the wedding trends to have emerged in 2021 so far, according to recent overview of Pinterest data by Money.co.uk.
Modest wedding outfits, like Holly's, are another, with this style proving more popular than sheer, satin and boho designs in the survey.
“I definitely think bridal fashion has taken a far more modest turn since the pandemic,” says Barbaranne Heaton, imaginative director of House of Moirai. “Necklines remain quite low still, but sleeves are being added.”
Modest dress is definitely popular in the Mena region because of religious and cultural sensitivities.
Eva Hachem, founder of online wedding dress marketplace Dress Come True, says conservative gowns are often worn by “a bride who dresses modestly in her everyday life and follows the hijabi dress code”.
But Heaton says the trend has spread further afield and among other communities, too. Where traditionally this sort of clothing sported high necklines, long sleeves and to-the-floor hems, now, she says, “it’s more a reference to slightly more elegant, covered silhouettes that still show the curves of a bride but without flashing a whole lot of skin”.
Heaton has seen a lot of her customers requesting slim-fitting silhouettes. “So, skimming off the hip and built in at the waist but with additional sleeves,” she explains. “Necklines vary from a deep V that shows just a little skin, or high right into a boat neck for more coverage but may have a minimal back.
“The bride is looking for a balance between modest and slight reveal. Sleeves are often semi opaque in nature concerning not seem to be too solid or heavy.”
We are able to even see this catching on among bigger wedding dress labels. Australian brand Maggie Sottero, for example, posted a blog page about 10 top modest styles for 2021, dubbing it as a “fabulously unexpected trend” for the year.
Other brands such as for example Alex Perry, Rosa Clara, Alaia and Vera Wang all have well-regarded modest options within their collections for this year, too.
“Most bridal dress labels do not necessarily focus on modest brides, although the trend is steadily improving,” says Hachem, who stocks a wide range of items manufactured in Turkey or Egypt, as both markets have a wider collection of conservative clothing.
“Modest brides usually select non-modest wedding gowns and then tailor them by either adding an inner thick lining to cover the cleavage and arms area.”
One popular way to do this is to add a detachable bolero which can be worn over the gown, removing the need for any comprehensive alterations.
Hachem in addition has seen a growth in interest in preloved wedding gowns, in addition to simpler styles and fewer embellishments, amid the pandemic as budgets have grown to be tighter. “I call this the ‘less trend’,” she says. “Generally less volume, less glitter, less budget.”
Heaton has noted the same. "Styles are being simplified,” she says. “I certainly feel a far more fashion influence within bridal. Clean lines, less fuss, definitely newer silhouettes. That’s been coming through for a while now, but the pandemic has moved it forward.”
‘Multi-use’ gowns are also increasing, she adds, due to a move towards sustainability. With an increase of elopements and city hall weddings on the agenda, she’s been creating more tailored suits, midi-length two pieces, separates and jumpsuits, being worn instead of gowns.
“I think following the past 1 . 5 years we’re becoming more alert to what is important, how exactly we feel, how we hook up and that feeds into every aspect of a marriage, like the dress,” Heaton says.
“Brides have already been through a lot but still are, with regards to their weddings, so their method of their wedding if you ask me feels more cautious. Stripped back, elegant, simple. You can also class it as ‘modest’ alone, but more in an overall sense of their method of their wedding and their wedding style.”
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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