Monday 23 February 2015

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 6

Dear Reader
Back to my vintage wedding style forecasts today - with fabulous trend no 6...


6. ALL-OVER BEADED LACE

Beaded lace is suddenly trending again - just take a look at the best Oscar dresses from this weekend. And it's perfect with vintage-inspired gowns. Lupita Nyongo looked stunning in a an off white vintage-inspired dress with all-over beading by Calvin Klein. And Emma Stone work a beautiful chartreuse beaded dress by Elie Saab.

On a fashion history note, contrary to popular belief, 1920s and 1930s vintage wedding dresses were very rarely beaded. Beading was more of an evening fashion among wealthy society girls. 

To incorporate this lovely luxe trend, I've recreated my Butterfly dress in a sumptuous and glamorous all-over beaded lace. I'm looking forward to showing it to lots of lovely brides-to-be. 
Whatever I do with my vintage-inspired dresses, my number one aim is to keep their vintage old-fashioned charm and not make any statements which are too obvious, and I think this lovely lace has a subtle sparkle which just works.
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try…
Vintage Wedding Trends 2015, number 4

Friday 13 February 2015

Looking forward to the Oscars…?

Dear Reader,
Isn't this chart gorgeous?
Before we see this year's crop of fabulous (ok… and perhaps a few not-so-fabulous) Oscars gowns, it's fun to remember these brilliant vintage dresses going right back to 1929. Which are your favourites...?
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

With thanks to Media Run Digital for the awesome infographic!

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends 2015 - Number 5

Dear Reader,
Another lovely style that's swinging right back into fashion this year…

5. 1950s-style! Full frothy skirts, net and lace. 

These cute and frothy prom-style dresses have always been popular. But over the last few years they've slipped a little, as fashion took a more sleek and pared-down direction.  
1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE from my Heavenly Collection
Original 1950s vintage wedding dress with frothy full length skirt
1950s style BLANCHE wedding dress worn by real bride Kathryn
BLANCHE 1950s style wedding dress in lace
Original 1950s wedding dress in lace and tulle net
This year, I'm delighted to say 1950s dresses are feeling fresh and pretty again, and are seriously in demand... 
BLANCHE 1950s style wedding dress in lace, from my Heavenly Collection
1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE on real vintage bride Chloe
Original 1950s lace wedding dress
Original 1950s wedding dress, full skirt in ballerina length in floral lace
1950s style wedding dresses from my Heavenly Collection: CHANTILLY
1950s style wedding dresses from the Heavenly Collection: BLANCHE
1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE in ballerina length lace
1950s wedding dress in lace and net, on real vintage bride Jane
Original 1950s vintage wedding dress in lace and tulle net
Original 1950s vintage wedding dress in lace and tulle net
1950s style BLANCHE wedding dress, with three quarter sleeves
The pictures here are a mix of fabulous original 1950s wedding dresses in lace and tulle, and my beautiful reproduction 1950s dresses Blanche and Chantilly, from my Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired wedding dresses
1950s style CHANTILLY wedding dress in lace and tulle
1950s style CHANTILLY wedding dress worn by real bride Sophie 
1950s style wedding dress CHANTILLY from my Heavenly Collection
The original vintage 1950s dresses pictured here are sold, but I always have more vintage in stock - in addition to the reproduction dresses in my Heavenly Collection
1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE from my Heavenly Collection
1950s style wedding dress BLANCHE with pretty v-back in lace

A welcome return for full-on 1950s femininity! Do contact me or like me on facebook if you're a fan of this pretty style and would like to see more.
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

Friday 6 February 2015

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - Number 4...

Dear Reader,
My next tip for 2015 is a trend I really love. I'm so pleased to see it right back in style...
Vintage wedding dress Florence, 1940s style in silk with long sleeves
1940s style silk satin wedding dress, Florence - soft, womanly and flowing.


4. SOFT SATIN SLEEVES, 1940s STYLE

Long fitted lace sleeves have been very popular for the last few years (perhaps influenced by McQueen's fabulous dress for Kate Middleton). But now my clients are beginning to ask for a more flowing, 1940s style of sleeve in a soft satin.
Vintage wedding dress Florence, 1940s style in silk with long sleeves
1940s inspired Florence wedding dress, with soft silk sleeves
You may already know how much I love this look - with its sexy, womanly glamour and its roots in the golden age of Hollywood.
1940s style icon Lauren Bacall, inspiration for my Vintage wedding dresses
1940s style icon Lauren Bacall, in sophisticated white.
Plus this trend has another fabulous feature: it's SO flattering and easy to wear! 
1940s style icon Lauren Bacall, inspiration for my Vintage wedding dresses
1940s style icon Lauren Bacall in soft silk evening dress.
Here's Florence again (from my Heavenly Collection of vintage inspired wedding dresses), showing long soft sleeves in silk. Florence is inspired by an original 1940s dress and has that same soft-fitting glamour. 
Vintage wedding dress Florence, 1940s style in silk with long sleeves
Florence, 1940s style wedding dress in silk with long sleeves, beading and lace trim.
For 2015, I am making this sleeve style in a transparent silk chiffon - very in keeping with the 1940s origins of the dress. Watch this space!
Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, try…
Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 1…
1930s vintage lace wedding dress by Heavenly Vintage Brides
Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 2…
vintage lace wedding dress and cape by Heavenly Vintage Brides
Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2014 - Part 3…
1930s style vintage lace wedding dress by Heavenly Vintage Brides
Thanks to Robert Lawler for the beautiful photography
and to Abby at Cherished for the lovely headwear.



Wednesday 4 February 2015

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - No 3...

Dear Reader,
My next prediction for 2015 vintage wedding style is so romantic and feminine...
1930s style lace wedding dress BUTTERFLY, from the Heavenly Collection

3. LAYERED TRIMS

A key trend I see coming through this season is layered and multiple trims. Layering two - or even three - lace and floral trims at a neckline can create a truly romantic effect, more luxurious and textured than choosing a single trim. 
Layered floral lace on 1930s style BUTTERFLY lace wedding dress, from the Heavenly Collection
Of course, the secret is in choosing the perfect combination to create a soft and romantic vintage feel. Coming through right now are subtly-layered floral lace trims - as shown here on my Heavenly Collection of vintage inspired wedding dresses. 
1940s style lace wedding dress DOROTHY features luxurious lace on lace trims at neckline
Another designer who works this trend supremely well is LA-based Claire Pettibone, whose couture dresses are worn by many Hollywood stars. Her vintage-feel wedding dresses often use layered floral trims to great effect. I do admire her style and while I would never copy another designer, I love to be influenced by good design when I see it! 
1930s style lace wedding dress with fluttering layers of delicate floral lace
I've been subtly introducing this trend to some of my Heavenly Collection dresses, as you can see on 1930s style lace wedding dress Butterfly, and 1940s-styled Dorothy here. 
Lace on lace. Gorgeous trims add romance to 1930s style wedding dress BUTTERFLY
I'm very pleased with the pretty results, which are getting a great response from my clients.  Do contact me if you'd like to see more. And check back for more 2015 trends coming up this week...
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post please try…
Vintage Wedding Trends 2015 - Part 1

Vintage Wedding Trends 2015 - Part 2...

Thanks to Robert Lawler for the beautiful photography!




Sunday 1 February 2015

Vintage Wedding Dress Trends for 2015 - Number 2.

Dear Reader,
The second trend I'd like to draw your attention to is…
Victorian lace cape over lace wedding dress
Vintage wedding dress complemented by original Victorian lace cape

2. VINTAGE LACE CAPES AND COATS

In my London studio, brides are definitely moving away from shrugs and boleros this year, and asking for a softer style of lace cover-up - particularly vintage lace capes.
Victorian lace cape worn with vintage wedding dress
Original Victorian lace cape and vintage wedding dress
This elegant style may have originated in the Victorian era, but the height of its popularity was the 30s, when a fashion for short lace capes really took off - like the beautiful example I found for lovely bride Leah (below) to pair with an original 1930s wedding dress. 
1930s lace wedding dress and cape on real bride Leah (Heavenly Vintage Brides)
1930s lace wedding dress and original lace cape, on gorgeous bride Leah.
1930s lace wedding dress and cape on Leah, with flowers
Leah in beautiful 1930s lace wedding dress and lace cape
Like many 1930s fashions, it was reinvented in the 1960s and early 1970s when long lace capes - sometimes with hoods - came right back into style. I was recently asked to source a dress to complement a full-length hooded lace cape from 1972, which originally belonged to my client's mother. Fabulous!
1940s vintage wedding dress and coat (Heavenly Vintage Brides)
Original 1940s lace wedding coat, over vintage 1940s wedding dress.
Long lace coats are also very in-demand right now. This is a more 1940s look - as you can see on the example above and below, with its sensational long lace train. 
1940s lace wedding coat and vintage wedding dress (Heavenly Vintage Brides)
1940s lace wedding coat, over vintage 1940s wedding dress.
1940s lace coat and wedding dress (Heavenly Vintage Brides)
Lace cover-up coat over 1940s vintage wedding dress.
I do love a challenge, sourcing something to match a client's own personal piece. Mixing and matching eras can work incredibly well, and these beautiful styles can look gorgeous over dresses from any era. I don't think you have to be strict about it!

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, check out
1930s-style wedding dress with low back and lace trim (Heavenly Vintage Brides)
Thanks to Robert Lawler for the lovely photography.