Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dresses have long been a staple of the fashion industry, with bridal couture being a booming business. The tradition of ending fashion shows with a wedding dress can be traced back to the nineteenth century, when Queen Victoria wore a white lace gown to her wedding, symbolising her wealth and status. Today, wedding dresses are often the most expensive and elaborate gowns in a collection, with price tags reaching six or seven figures. While some designers choose to reject the traditional bride look, others uphold the tradition, creating extravagant and fantastical wedding dresses that serve as a source of inspiration for brides-to-be.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress in fashion shows | Symbol of wealth and status |
| Symbol of virginity and purity | |
| Symbol of fantasy and uniqueness | |
| Display of craftsmanship and luxury materials | |
| Tradition and rejection of the status quo | |
| Extravagant and elaborate designs |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding dresses are a requirement for some fashion shows
The inclusion of wedding dresses in fashion shows can be traced back to the origin of the white bridal gown in the nineteenth century. The tradition was started by Queen Victoria, who wore a white lace gown when she married Prince Albert in 1840. This symbolised her wealth and status, indicating that she was so affluent she did not need to wear the dress again or worry about getting it dirty while working.
Since then, bridal couture has become a significant aspect of the fashion industry, with brides being older and seeking unique designs, often with the financial means to pay for them. This has resulted in an increase in potential customers for couture bridal gowns, making bridal fashion an important and lucrative sector for designers.
However, in recent years, there has been a shift in the tradition of the bridal look. While some designers continue to uphold the bride-goes-last custom, others have chosen to reject it. For instance, during the past couture season, only about half of the shows featured a white gown, and a third of the designers opted for non-traditional interpretations of the bridal look.
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They are often the most expensive item in a collection
Wedding dresses are often the most expensive item in a collection. They are usually the most elaborate, meticulously made, and embellished with luxurious materials. The Dior couture gown that Melania Trump wore for her marriage to Donald Trump, for example, was estimated to have cost $100,000 to $200,000. It was made with 300 feet of material. Victoria Swarovski's wedding dress was a $1 million couture gown by Michael Cinco, beaded with 500,000 crystals. These dresses are often seen as a display of wealth and status, dating back to Queen Victoria's wedding gown, which symbolised that she was so wealthy that she did not need to wear the dress again.
The bridal business is booming in couture, with older brides wanting something unique and presumably having the money to pay for it. There are more potential customers for couture bridal gowns than ever before, and they are willing to pay for the fantasy. Designers are responding to this demand by showcasing fantastical creations on the runway.
While some designers may choose not to include bridal gowns in their runway shows, opting instead to focus on their own bridal couture business, the bridal gown remains an important and lucrative part of the fashion industry.
The inclusion of wedding dresses in fashion shows and as part of designer collections speaks to the desire to cater to this market and showcase the most extravagant and luxurious designs. Wedding dresses are often the pinnacle of a collection, the final look, and a moment of spectacle that can leave a lasting impression.
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White wedding dresses were originally a display of wealth
The tradition of white wedding dresses was started by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. Prior to Queen Victoria's wedding, brides wore a variety of colours, including gold, blue, or, if they were not wealthy, whatever colour their best dress was. White dresses were reserved for women being presented at court.
Queen Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress was a statement of her wealth and status. As fashion scholar Molly Rottman explains, "Women used to wear anything from navy to plaid — dresses that could be used again. When Queen Victoria wore white during her wedding, it was a symbol that she was so wealthy she did not need to wear the dress again, and that she did not need to worry about getting that garment dirty during work, because she didn’t have to work.”
White dresses were also more expensive and harder to keep clean, further reinforcing their association with wealth and status. Before the industrial revolution, the idea of wearing a wedding dress only once was absurd, even for the very rich. However, as society became more prosperous in the aftermath of World War II, the white, single-use wedding dress became more common.
The trend set by Queen Victoria was further popularised by Hollywood and royalty, and it soon became the default colour for wedding dresses in Europe and European-dominant countries. Today, Queen Victoria's 1840s-style wedding dress—with its slim waist, lace, and full skirt over petticoats and crinolines—is considered the "classic" wedding dress silhouette around the world.
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Wedding dresses are a booming business in couture
Wedding dresses are a significant aspect of the fashion industry, with a thriving market for both new and second-hand bridal wear. Couture wedding dresses, in particular, represent a booming business, attracting high-end clients who are willing to invest significant sums in their dream gowns.
The tradition of ending fashion shows with a wedding dress, often referred to as the "bride-goes-last" tradition, has been upheld by several designers. While some designers have chosen to reject this tradition in recent years, showcasing modern interpretations or non-white gowns, the presence of a wedding dress as the finale remains a notable occurrence in couture fashion shows.
The bridal couture market caters to a specific clientele, often those with considerable wealth, who are willing to pay for luxurious and bespoke creations. These gowns are meticulously crafted, featuring intricate details, luxurious materials, and flawless craftsmanship. The process of designing a custom wedding dress involves close collaboration between the designer and the bride-to-be, resulting in a unique and personalized creation that reflects the bride's taste and style.
The exclusivity and prestige associated with couture wedding dresses contribute to their appeal. Designers such as Winnie Couture, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, Dior, Valentino, and Alexander McQueen are renowned for their exquisite bridal collections. These designers have dressed celebrities and high-profile individuals, further elevating the status and desirability of their couture wedding gowns.
Additionally, the secondhand bridal market is also experiencing significant growth. Vintage and archival pieces, such as those sourced by stylist Mimi Cuttrell for Alexandra Cooper's wedding, are gaining popularity. This expansion of the secondhand market provides opportunities for brands to cater to a diverse range of brides, offering both new and pre-owned options to meet the varying preferences and budgets of their clientele.
Overall, the couture wedding dress market thrives due to its ability to blend tradition and luxury, attracting clients seeking unique, meticulously crafted, and often exclusive gowns for their special day.
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Wedding dresses are not always the final piece in modern shows
Wedding dresses are not always the final piece in modern fashion shows. While it is a tradition that has been carried forward from the nineteenth century, modern shows have deviated from this custom. In the past couture season, only about half of the shows featured a white gown, and only a third of the designers opted for the bride-goes-last tradition. Designers like A.F. Vandervorst and Alexandre Vauthier rejected the princess bride look, with their models wearing a black negligee and a dress made out of a trash bag, respectively.
The bridal business is booming in couture, and some designers choose not to showcase bridal gowns on the runway because they has their own bridal couture business. However, designers will continue to showcase these fantastical creations as the ultra-luxury sector is thriving. Older brides want something unique and are willing to pay for it, so there are more potential customers for couture bridal gowns than ever before.
The white wedding dress is a symbol of wealth and status, dating back to when Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. It showed that she was so wealthy that she did not need to worry about staining the dress during work because she did not have to work. Similarly, Consuelo Vanderbilt wore a cream-colored House of Worth gown when she married the Duke of Marlborough in 1895.
While wedding dresses are often featured in finale collections on reality TV shows like Project Runway, they are not always a requirement. For instance, in Season 5, Leanne was challenged to make a wedding dress, and Austin in AS1 was known as a bridal designer, so it made sense for him to include one. However, it is not common for winning collections that did not require a wedding dress to include one.
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Frequently asked questions
Ending a fashion show with a wedding dress is a tradition that stems from the 19th century. The white wedding dress symbolises wealth and status, with Queen Victoria popularising the white wedding dress when she wore a white lace gown at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.
No, it is not a requirement. While it is a long-standing tradition, fashion shows can also end with an evening gown or other types of formalwear.
Melania Trump wore a Dior couture gown, estimated to cost between $100,000 to $200,000, when she married Donald Trump. Victoria Swarovski wore a $1 million couture gown by Michael Cinco, beaded with 500,000 crystals.
No, fashion shows can also feature non-traditional wedding looks. For example, A.F. Vandervorst designed a gown that resembled an Oscars gown made out of a garbage bag, and Alexandre Vauthier created a sheer black negligee with a matching veil.
