Tradition has been a fundamental part of fashion and has seen a modern shift over the past century. In aspects of the bridal industry, for example, styles are no longer staying traditional for the bride. Women are adopting new styles for their memorable day that do not fit the norms.
What is tradition?
Encyclopedia.com defines traditional dress as “the ensemble of garments, jewelry, and accessories rooted in the past that is worn by an identifiable group of people.”
The white wedding dress dates back to Queen Victoria marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. At the time, she was untraditional by wearing a white dress. Most brides of the time wore red but she wanted to be different. Other European leaders took after her and wore white dresses on their wedding day, which ultimately started to represent wealth.
However, Americans did not catch onto this tradition until post World War II, when Princess Diana walked down the aisle in a silk ivory gown. It took the Western hemisphere over 100 years to adopt the tradition of white gowns, but within just these past five years, there as been a shift in the perspective of bridal traditions.
The recent shift
Source: Myself
Since Princess Diana’s white gown bridal appearance, white grew in popularity. However, other colors are still prevalent.
According to the Almanac, each color you choose to wear on your wedding day has different symbolic meaning.
Over the past 5 years, studies show that women still prefer white attire for weddings, yet it has decreased by 11% (WedInsights, 2021).
Along with changes to the color of the dress, the attire of the occasion for women is changing entirely. Wearing jumpsuits and separates have upped to 14% in 2021 (Harris, 2021).
“The resurgence of the jumpsuit has also been a major trend and is fast becoming one of our bestselling bridal silhouettes. Sophie Turner, Solange Knowles and Kaley Cuoco prove that a bridal jumpsuit is an elegant yet effortless choice for the big day.”
Social media has impacted the shift in apparel because brides and designers are introduced to unlimited inspiration from other people. It tends to be a trickle down trend from the high social class down to lower. People are continuing to hop on this trend to dress for the occasion as it matches their self-expression.
Look at this TikTok for example, which grants inspiration about 2022 Bridal Trends:
In 1971, bridal history was made when Bianca Pérez-Mora Macías married Mick Jagger in an all-white tuxedo from Le Smoking (Jones, 2021). It was not a quick turn around to the trend, but brides started to catch on slowly. Brides didn’t start wearing them for the fashion aspect, instead it was a quick outfit to get when brides rushed their wedding. Another reason is that some brides decided to wear a suit for the courthouse but then dress for reception. Others feel they are more comfortable in a suit over a dress.
Designers and retailers are getting in on this shift. Suitshop, a provider of wedding suits and tuxedos, launched a coordinating suit set for men and women in 2022. The company does not differentiate the materials used depending on the gender the product is intended for. They both use stretch fabric that is structured yet non-restrictive. The ability to wear a suit mixes both masculinity and femininity and allows for an edgier style.
“I wanted it to feel like we were reinventing what constitutes bridalwear,”
Nadine Merabi is a bridal designer who just launched a bridal suit which focuses on personalization. She designs embellishments and detail which reflect the woman’s personality and creativity. Suits give more freedom as to what can be added to make it unique and sentimental. This gives women more confidence in wearing the attire instead of feeling bound to a traditional wedding gown. Instead of a traditional pants suit, the blazer can be worn as a dress, the bride can wear a skirt, or wear a blazer with a dress. The possibilities are endless and tailored for each individual.
Photo by Mariola Zoladz photography / photo by Lydia V. Mitchell / photo by Ella O Callaghan for Nadine Merabi / design by Tiana Crispino
Change in tradition is good
It can be boring seeing the same thing over and over, and that is why trends arise quite often. This is a sign of progression and allows freedom through self-expression. What we wear is supposed to reflect who we are, and how can brides do that if the traditional attire is not what they desire?
Designers and bridal wear companies have begun to adapt to the change by creating what the consumer wants. Additionally, if a consumer wants a suit that can be worn for more than one occasion, then that is also adding to the sustainability in fashion. By investing in jumpsuits and tuxedos, they are able to reuse the attire for other occasions without affecting the carbon footprint by having it sit in their closet after the first use.
Feeling good, comfortable, and confident on your wedding day should be a top priority. Therefore, if a dress isn’t for you, don’t be afraid to test out another option that may not be seen as the norm. Newsflash the norm is outdated.
Gabriella Marinelli 