Choosing a wedding dress takes some seriously careful consideration and if you want to stand out from the Pinterest crowd and deem Vera Wang a little, dare we say it, cliché, then you're in luck.
"Getting married but a strapless ballgown isn’t for you? Perfect! You’ve picked a great time to shop for a wedding dress that’s anything but trad", says Jade Beer, editor of Conde Nast Brides and author of The Almost Wife.
Jade has rounded up the hottest under-the-radar wedding dress designers that will ensure you're one step ahead of the bridal trends (as long as you rush to buy one immediately after reading this article before all your friends set eyes on it).
Danielle Frankel
Think minimalist shirtdresses, delicately embroidered slips, sharp trouser suits and blazers that double as dresses. Danielle is originally from Los Angeles, now based in New York, and has previously designed for bridal mega brands, Marchesa and Vera Wang.
The best news is that her debut trunk show is due to land at The Wedding Gallery in London this month (March). Look out for her red carpet-worthy dress with leg-of-mutton sleeves and glamorous volume, her long white silk jackets and cool jumpsuits with sheer-illusion sleeves – most of which could easily be worn again.
Lein
Is it bridal or is it ready-to-wear? And does it even matter? Meredith Stoecklein, who trained with Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez and Chanel, has a collection of effortless, soft tailoring looks that could just as easily be worn by a guest as the bride herself. And the re-wear likelihood for the bride is high.
Belted, wide-leg trouser suits, knot-tied jumpsuits and interchangeable separates – including a neat boxy jacket, a white mini and a loose spaghetti-strap camisole – all sit together in an easy-to-wear collection for the no-fuss bride. Look out for special pale blue and lemon pieces in her latest Fall 2018 collection and a black jumpsuit that would work well in the evening of a black-tie wedding.
Some pretty details, such as delicate, vine-like ribbons and extra-long self-tie straps left to hang down the back, elevate otherwise simple, straightforward pieces.
leinstudio.com
Rime Arodaky
Perfect if you want to channel that unstructured, free-spirited chic Parisienne vibe; head to The Mews Of Notting Hill, where you’ll also find other French bridal looks from Delphine Manivet and Laure de Sagazan.
Rime’s sheer lace details, clean geometric lines and unashamedly sexy fabrics combine with lots of sheer cutaway panels, lace-edged ruffles, sheer-illusion bodices, daringly low-cut exposed backs, thigh-high slits and voluminous overskirts. Her latest collection is one that still manages to be beautifully feminine and includes modest trains and some surprising sleeve shapes. Also check out her prêt-à-porter collection and spend some time daydreaming your way through the label’s online journal for more modern bridal inspiration.
One Day Bridal
Coming to you all the way from Melbourne, Australia, this label describes itself as ‘a little less bridal, a little more modern’, their bride being someone who is ‘ready to make a statement’. And if she does it wearing One Day, that statement will most likely be all-over lace kimono-style sleeves, a standout two-tiered tulle skirt or a gown in one of their luxe Mikado fabrics.
The gold tulle Nala dress, with its mirrored and embellished detail, soft bell sleeves and handmade gold leather belt, is not to be missed. A relative newcomer, the label was founded in 2011 by creative director Kyha, and has grown to include the Chosen, Curve and One Day collections, catering to a range of different sizes, body shapes and budgets.
Daughters of Simone
Founded by two Californian sisters, Ashley and Brittany Castanos, this label features collections full of lingerie-inspired dresses you can waft around in, feeling like you’re not wearing anything at all. Planning a beach wedding? Or a more bohemian vibe? Definitely check them out, especially if crochet lace, off-the-shoulder styles or cascading trains are your thing. But they can ratchet up the glamour, too, with a smattering of embroidered brass sequins and delicately placed pearls.
Don’t miss the Stevie gown from the Dawn Of A New Age collection, if the lightest ivory chiffon and sheer legs are the stuff of your bridal dreams. They love a veil, too. Major bonus: they will ship a gown to you to try on before you have to buy it. If you need more inspiration, take a look at Brittany’s 2015 wedding day in Yosemite Valley – it’s the definition of laid-back luxe.
Viktor & Rolf Mariage
Unlike the other collections on this shortlist, this is one where you’ll find more strapless gowns in more conventional shapes – but made with the fabrics and design elements to elevate them way beyond the ordinary. That most prolific of bridal-design details, the bow, features heavily at V&R, whether it’s across bridal, fragrance bottles, the couture collection or eveningwear.
Earlier gowns had giant bows sweeping across the front, soft ones draped over shoulders and a series of neatly tied ones dotted down the back. For the Fall 2018 bridal collection, they’ve delivered them sat neatly on bare shoulders, at the dip of a chic V-neck, cascading down the front of a ballgown and on the belt of a long-sleeved mini. But perhaps the most memorable dress is one with oversized ruched tulle hearts scattered all over the skirt.
Delpozo
Think classic interchangeable separates, elegant draping and silk column dresses from this Spanish label – all breathtaking in their simplicity. A pair of cropped wide-legged trousers with bows tied at the waist is paired with a sleeveless, embellished blouse that would be perfect for a cool city wedding. Designer Josep Font originally trained as an architect, and that can be seen in his structural designs with favourites including tea-length dresses and sweeping, fluid, ankle-length gowns.
Kaviar Gauche
This Berlin-based fashion label launched in 2004, with bridal following in 2009, and today presents what it likes to call ‘modern glamour’. That seems to be borne out by celebrity fans such as Florence Welch and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. The La Vie En Rose 2018 collection is unashamedly feminine and incorporates lots of floral appliqué, blush-coloured light-as-air fabrics, rose-coloured accessories such as knits, shoes, belts and sashes, plus some interesting skirt lengths. Definitely one for fashion-conscious brides.
kaviargauche.com
Odylyne The Ceremony
Unfussy and fluff-free, this label is popular with more boho, carefree brides planning a relaxed big day. Look to its latest collection imagery for an instant feel. The model’s hair is styled loose, undone and veil free; the only jewellery long, oversized cross necklaces and rosaries. Stephanie White’s gowns are romantic and ethereal but still pack a strong fashion punch. A dramatic sequin netted cape is dotted with small light-reflecting pearls and falls into a more traditional train shape, while the sheer lace, high-neck Stella gown with show-stopping, scalloped-edged bell sleeves is hand embellished with silver beading – a real crowd pleaser.
odylynetheceremony.com
Lihi Hod
Feminine, wearable and with strong influences of lingerie, Lihi’s 2018 collection has all the hallmarks of her Dior training alongside John Galliano in Paris. With the sheerest lace paneling, exposed boning, deep V-necks and shapes that seem to somehow cling to the body, these dresses sit just on the right side of sexy.
Handcrafted elements are evident right across the full collection, making these gowns ones that will be cherished long after the big day has drawn to a close. If this designer’s work sounds like it might be for you, then spend some time looking at the hundreds of real brides in the label’s online gallery to see just how versatile her looks are. lihihod.com
Jade Beer is the editor of Condé Nast Brides. Her debut novel, The Almost Wife, is available to buy on Amazon now.
If you don't fancy donning a classic white gown, check out our pick of the best alternative wedding dresses.
