The Evolution of Bridal Style: Designer Wedding Dresses by Decade

There’s no doubt it. fashion has come a long way over just the past couple of decades. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is always going to be subjective. However, there is no denying that fashion, especially when it comes to the designer wedding dress, has had its highs and lows. If you’re a soon-to-be bride, you may be wanting some help in choosing your next designer weddings dress, and that can be accomplished by knowing the history of the wedding dress. Read on to learn about the evolution of bridal style over the decades.

The 1900s’ Designer Wedding Dress

During the start of the 1900s, the corset was very much still being implemented amongst the popular and, of course, the bridal dress. That is why it was not unusual to see a bride wearing S-shaped corsets. These corsets were meant to emphasize a woman’s shape and, thus, make her look not only more desirable, but also “womanly.” In addition to the corset, you would also likely see the typical 1900s’ designer wedding dress covered in puffy sleeves, aka gigot sleeves, just above the elbow and a fabric neck covering. Although the bottom portion of this type of dress varied, you would likely find most of them to be flowy.

The 1920s’ Bridal style

The Roaring Twenties not only brought prosperity across the country, but also new fashion. This was especially visible in both the nightlife and bridal industries. The flapper dresses were, of course, an iconic look and one that was heavily desired by the masses. The flapper dress look was then taken into consideration when wedding designers began designing their dresses. That is why it was not unusual to see hints of the flapper look within the bridal dresses at the time. This means that dresses were much tighter. In fact, it was during this time that the famous designer, Coco Chanel, introduced the first knee-length wedding dress. These dresses had plunging necklines and were covered in adornments, which gave them a classic, yet party look. Because of their unique style, they are still very popular even today and can be found within various bridal stores in Columbus.

The 1930s’ Designer Bridal Dress

After a decade of prosperity, the nation entered the Great Depression. It is during this time that even the well-to-do experienced financial difficulties. This affected various parts of people’s lives, including what they wore. One of those includes the type of wedding dresses available at the time. A wedding dress in Columbus would have likely been made from rayon rather than the traditional silk material. However, because the Great Depression was so difficult for many people, most brides would, instead, wear their nicest floral dress rather than buy a new one.

The 1940s’ Designer Bridal Dress

Although the Great Depression was over, the recovery period was still going on within many families. This meant that even though jobs and government assistance were available, money was still very tight. This led women to recycle wedding dresses rather than buying new ones. This meant that not only were bridal dresses handmade, but multiple sisters in a single family could wear one dress over the span of a couple of years.

The 1950s’ Designer Bridal Dress

It was not until the 1950s that the traditional wedding dress was seen again amongst the public. This was largely due to the fact that Hollywood began to be a bigger part of society and, thus, influenced a lot of what people were wearing. This, of course, was spearheaded by Hollywood icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly to name a few. In terms of design, the typical dress of the 1950s was often a ball gown style with a small waist design.

The 1960s’/’70s’ Designer Bridal Dress

Although the 1960s continued with a similar style to the ’50s, some dresses attempted to move away from the traditional style as much as possible. These included dresses that went way above the knee with the neckline going higher. In terms of the ’70s, it seems like much of the bridal looks became a hodgepodge of past designs.

The Iconic ’80s Designer Bridal Dress

Although some would say that the ’80s was also a collection of other eras, the designs were much more put together than in the ’70s. If you were a bride in the 1980s, it was likely that your dress would have been a bouffant, princess-cut gown with many layers added underneath. This could be a little overwhelming for today’s standards, but multiple layers at the time were looked at as being more glamourous.

The 1990s: The Simple Look Era

A far cry from the puffiness that you would find in the ’80s, dresses in the 1990s were taken down multiple notches. This is because brides suddenly began preferring dresses that were simple and sleek with many of them sporting a strapless look. The 1990s were truly the era of the minimalistic look.

The 2000s and Modern Times Designer Bridal Dresses

Entering the modern era, bridal dresses remain relatively simple yet are now sporting splashes of the traditional wedding dress. Relaxed fits and silk are still very much in play, but now brides are looking to add some uniqueness to their dress. This has come in the form of both unique cuts, such as the princess and mermaid cut, and the design of the lace that will be present on their dress.