The latest trend in bridal wear is vintage and second-hand dresses and more and more brides are choosing to go the sustainable route. In fact, earlier this month, Princess Beatrice surprised many by wearing a stunning reworked vintage gown which was worn by her grandmother for her wedding day. She borrowed the British designer Norman Hartnell dress from Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it at the 1962 film premiere of Lawrence of Arabia. The dress was refitted for Beatrice and upcycled by adding sheer puff sleeves and removing the underskirts and the bubble hem and replacing it with a silk trim to modernize it.
The Princess is just one of many brides who are turning to vintage bridalwear instead of buying something new. Searches for vintage, secondhand, and preowned wedding dresses have increased over the past year. “People have woken up to the sustainability aspect of vintage,” Lily Kaizer, owner of LA-based vintage bridal boutique the Happy Isles, told Vogue. “That’s had [an] influence on the bridal market, with people wanting not only something that’s unique, but a guilt-free way to buy something super special.”
If you’re looking buy vintage wedding gowns there are a few things you should consider. You’ll have to do research to find your perfect vintage dress to figure out what decade you’re inspired by and what your desired silhouette is. In addition, you’ll want to set a budget to narrow your search and you should be open to alterations to get the ideal fit.
