Traditional wedding celebrations today are significantly inferior to themed weddings. Increasingly, young couples are trying to make their wedding day unforgettable and unique. There are many options for holding an extraordinary wedding celebration, but the most popular is still the retro option, filled with the charming spirit of the past. But, as a rule, retro style implies not only a suitable setting, but also appropriate attributes, including the outfits of the young. Modern wedding salons provide brides with a huge selection of dresses. At the same time, a wedding dress in retro style has its own features of choice, which should not be missed.
Features of retro style wedding dresses
For many, retro style is associated with an old outfit. In fact, everything is much more interesting than just an old-fashioned dress. Retro is one of the most unusual trends in the fashion industry, which involves recreating the image of the bride, taking into account all the style and fashion features of the era from the 2000s to the 80s of the last century.
Thanks to its coverage of a large period of time, retro style is truly diverse. Moreover, any wedding dress in this style is not just a repetition of retro models, but a real work of art, in which all the best details of dresses of the last century are borrowed. Vintage outfits can also be included in this category. But you should understand that these are things that are not just stylized, but were actually sewn in the past. Although such wedding dresses are less popular, since vintage items are quite expensive.
Today, fashion designers offer options from the most daring combinations of decor, as well as color and fabric, so absolutely every bride can find the perfect dress for her unforgettable day.
Important! A retro dress will not look as elegant and impressive on the bride if the groom is dressed inappropriately.
Who are they suitable for?
Retro clothing is designed for different figures and types, so everyone can find their ideal dress:
- There are many options for slender and fragile young ladies - almost all straight and short models, options with geometric prints and plain ones with contrasting trim in the form of a collar and cuffs.
- A-line and A-silhouette will help girls with rectangles (balanced chest and hip volumes, a dimly defined waist).
- For ladies with curves, you can find decent options: full skirts, open shoulders and bare arms in a medium length will emphasize femininity.
- Wide hemlines will help draw attention away from large shoulders.
- Tall girls will especially like the a-line model, culotte (overall dress), shirt dresses, and safari dresses.
- Hippie style makes slim people stand out.
- Light weight and a small tummy will be hidden by loose styles.
- Flares and large pleats on skirts can easily replace the baby-doll style and fit into modern ensembles, placing an advantageous emphasis on the hips and legs.
Retro dresses from the early to mid-20th century
Retro style wedding dresses can be divided into types depending on the time to which they belong. Thus, until the mid-20th century, retro dresses changed from fluffy lace dresses with a corset to straight-tailored dresses. The following style trends can be included in this period:
- Victorian era (pre-20s);
- art deco (20s);
- Chicago (30s);
- minimalism (40s).
Wedding dresses, which can be classified as Victorian in style, have an hourglass shape with a narrow bodice and bodice. A mandatory attribute of such dresses are various forms of ruffles and lace.
The art deco style implies a loose-fitting bride's outfit, cylindrical, sleeveless, and low-waisted. The peculiarity of this style is that it involves the presence of a large amount of decor in the form of shiny elements, rhinestones, beads and even fur and feathers.
Attention! A dress in the Art Deco style will be quite difficult to choose due to the peculiarity of the style, so it is better to order such a wedding dress to be tailored, which will allow you to tailor it to your body type.
Chicago style wedding dresses have the peculiarity that they allow you to highlight the beauty of the female figure. Basically, dresses have a tight-fitting silhouette and a fairly deep neckline; sometimes the chest area is complemented by drapery. The back may be open. A long skirt will help to slightly delay insolence and excessive openness.
The 40s were difficult, including in terms of fashion. Expensive fabrics and an abundance of decor are a thing of the past; they have been replaced by simple but rather sophisticated minimalism. Features of wedding dresses of the sophisticated 40s are:
- inexpensive fabrics for decoration (organza, chiffon, tulle);
- shirt cut bodice;
- element that emphasizes the waist;
- long skirt (mostly ankle-length).
Greek and Empire silhouettes
Description
The Empire style originated in Ancient Greece. Models with an empire silhouette appeared on the wedding fashion market relatively recently, but have already gained popularity among brides. They feature a raised waistline and a flowing skirt silhouette.
For tailoring, light translucent fabrics are used, such as chiffon, silk or organza, which give the image airiness. Beautiful drapery made of beads, ribbons and rhinestones will give the wedding dress a festive look.
IMPORTANT! Empire dress is the most suitable option for a pregnant bride
Advantages
The Greek style of the dress suits girls with any type of figure. In addition, the empire silhouette emphasizes the chest and hides a problem stomach.
Such models are popular among pregnant brides who do not want to draw the attention of others to their interesting situation. Of course, the outfit will not hide pregnancy in the eighth or ninth month, but at an earlier stage the rounded tummy will remain unnoticed
The dress, sewn in the Greek style, is suitable for any height. It does not restrict movement and allows you to dance even to energetic music.
Flaws
There are practically no disadvantages to the empire style
The only thing you need to pay attention to when choosing is the transparency of the material from which the wedding dress is made. If it is sheer chiffon, it is recommended to wear a petticoat
Retro dresses of the second half of the 20th century
Retro dresses, dating back to the second half of the 20th century, are gaining popularity in the opposite order, ranging from minimalism and a simple cut to bright additions and a full skirt.
This period can be characterized by the following styles:
- New Look (50s);
- dudes (60s);
- hippies (70s);
- disco (80s).
A wedding dress in the New Look style has the main feature of using satin or silk fabric in bed colors with open shoulders and a back to the shoulder blades. The length of the dress should be no higher than the knees, and the bodice should fit tightly to the figure.
Lush wedding, short retro dresses are a striking feature of the outfit of the 60s, when women became bolder and preferred to wear more daring and revealing outfits. In such dresses, the presence of bright accents is welcomed; a play of color and even a print are also allowed. The skirt has an a-line shape, and the waist is emphasized by a belt.
Attention! In the 60s, sheath dresses began to come into fashion, so such models of wedding dresses, when properly accessorized, can also be called retro.
Hippie style dresses date back to the 70s, and today they are also gaining considerable popularity. For a wedding in this style, outfits with floral patterns on lace, puffy sleeves and a boat-shaped or V-shaped neckline are relevant. The preferred color is beige or ivory.
Dresses from the 80s can be called true predecessors of the classic wedding dress. They have a full, floor-length skirt with lace or satin inserts. The bodice has a neat cutout in the neckline area, as well as voluminous puffed sleeves.
1960s dresses
The full skirt and tight bodice trend of the 50s continued into the early 60s, only the length changed - just above or below the knee. Then the pencil dress of the 50s turned into a shapeless robe dress in 1963.
They could wear robe dresses to run errands, go home or to the beach, but they were not suitable for the office. They were too short. Dresses in the 1960s became shorter and shorter. Anything above the knee was a “miniskirt.”
How short the dress was became a sign of a woman's self-confidence. The length of the hem was directly proportional to how sexually liberated a woman was. Short skirts were not intended to attract men for sexual interest
They attracted attention so that the WOMAN could decide whether his attention was needed. Sexual power through fashion
The colors and prints were first inspired by pop art and modern art movements. Checkerboard, stripes and polka dots, color blocks and even Campbells soup cans were used in short dress designs. Eventually, "pop" evolved into soft pastels, pique fabrics, and plaid patterns for a more "girly" look.
There was also a trend towards earth tones as the decade moved towards the hippie movement. Moss green, earthy brown, mustard yellow and dark orange were worn year round.
Who would suit a retro style wedding dress?
Wedding dresses in retro style are suitable for absolutely any girl, since the period that this style covers is quite large, practically including an entire century. It is important to understand that, like all unusual outfits, retro dresses from different times have their own characteristics.
Girls who want to stand out among everyone, as well as create an unforgettable image, should give preference to dresses of the Victorian era with a fluffy openwork skirt like a real empress. For bold brides who are not afraid of the gaze of others, short wedding dresses in the retro style of the 20s or models of the 30s with an open back and a deep neckline are suitable. For modest brides who stick to the classics, minimalist or disco style models are best suited. But bright and cheerful girls are recommended to choose an appropriate outfit typical of the rebellious 60s.
Models and styles of retro wedding dresses
There are simply a huge number of models and styles of retro wedding dresses, including fluffy floor-length dresses and the opposite tight-fitting mini-dresses.
As a rule, the bride can choose a variety of options for her look. In retro style there are many models with a classic style. The cut of such dresses is quite simple, the bodice is made in the form of a corset, and the bottom is made in the form of a multi-layered skirt.
There are also options for retro dresses with an A-line silhouette, where the bodice slightly fits the body, and closer to the waist it widens and smoothly turns into a skirt. In this option, the presence of frills and small folds is not allowed, so as not to disrupt the harmonious image.
The straight style of the dress is a feature of the Art Deco style, which dates back to the 20s. Also, using straight-cut models, you can create a retro image of a bride in the hippie style.
The retro mermaid style is less popular, since such a dress cannot be attributed to a specific time. It refers more to stylized models made according to a new design, but with the addition of vintage details.
The Greek style can also be classified as a mixed model. These wedding dresses have a semi-fitting silhouette and are made of flowing fabric with a hint of retro style.
Short and medium-length dresses in the form of a trapeze are the main option when choosing an outfit for a retro wedding like a dude.
Oddly enough, retro style also suggests outfit options in the form of a trouser suit. The period of formation of the women's wedding trouser suit should be considered from the 40s.
Accessories
Wedding accessories are, perhaps, integral attributes of any bride’s look. Even the most chic dress can look ugly if you choose the wrong shoes, hairstyle, and jewelry to match it.
- Shoes are an important part of the “hip bride” look, because dresses of this style are often shortened, exposing the calves of the legs. It is worth excluding shoes with flat soles or wedges from the image, and giving preference to stable heels or platforms. It is important to note that shoes can be replaced with open-ankle sandals or complemented with ribbons to match the dress. The color variations of dudes shoes also cannot be limited, so you can choose yellow, green or red shoes.
- Hairstyle – should be selected depending on the shape of the face, hair length and dress style. A ribbon in your hair, barrettes or hairpins with beads will look harmonious.
- A veil is, as you know, an important attribute of a bride, but modern fashion allows for its absence and its replacement with other accessories in the hairstyle. For the dude style, the veil can be shortened, presented in the form of a colored tulle, or replaced with an elegant hat with a veil - the main thing is that it all harmoniously blends into the image of the bride.
- Costume jewelry – fits perfectly in the form of voluminous necklaces with large beads or stones. Shortened colored beads and stud earrings of the same model will look win-win.
- Stockings are an optional, but also important attribute. It is better to choose plain ones, without any pattern. Stockings with arrows on the back line of the calves will look especially stylish.
The bride's wedding look in the dude style will be unusual and definitely unique if you think through every detail and put them together harmoniously. The wedding celebration will definitely be remembered for its brightness, enchantment and originality of the dudes style.
Colors and shades
Retro style is quite diverse, as we have already understood, therefore there are no color restrictions in it either. Naturally, as for a classic wedding, it is characterized by more pastel colors, such as:
- white;
- beige;
- Ivory;
- vanilla;
- cream.
But in some periods of time, brides simply did not want to follow established stereotypes and walked down the aisle in bright colored dresses. That is why today there is no specific color scheme for retro dresses, they can be:
- pink;
- black and white;
- blue;
- yellow;
- lilac;
- green.
Fabrics
Depending on what time period will be taken as the basis for the retro wedding dress, the fabric will be selected.
The Victorian style is characterized by an abundance of lace, as well as the presence of natural fabric. Therefore, it is advisable to give preference to brocade and lace fabric.
Art Deco style is associated with luxury, as are the models of the next decade. Therefore, it is better to choose retro dresses for this look made of silk or satin; the trim can be made of organza or chiffon.
To recreate the bridal look of the 40s and 50s, dresses should be chosen from the simplest fabric possible, such as tulle, chiffon and organza. The base of the dress can be made of satin or crepe.
Combination of retro images of the bride and groom
The groom's suit should follow the retro wedding concept and match the bride's outfit. To create a Gatsby-style look, a man will need a three-piece suit and a narrow-brimmed hat. The main accessory will be a bow tie and suspenders. For a 50s style wedding, the groom will wear a classic black suit with a white shirt. A light-colored linen suit will help create a 70s-style look.
Retro style has a special flavor and characteristic features. A vintage outfit allows the bride to stand out from the crowd
When composing an image, it is important to pay attention not only to the selection of a dress, but also to the search for thematic accessories
What to wear with a retro wedding dress
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of accessories and shoes for a harmonious retro look. The choice of additional elements should be based on the characteristics of the time from which the image itself was borrowed. For example, shoes in the form of shoes with a small stable heel with a semicircular toe and an ankle strap are typical for the 20s. But closer to the 60s, such shoes are replaced by more feminine pumps with thin stiletto heels.
A veil is an obligatory attribute of a wedding dress, but in retro style it can be successfully replaced with a hat with a wide brim or a mesh, as well as a hair garter. In Victorian style images and already in the 80s you can find a classic veil in retro outfits.
The 20s and 30s also feature gloves; they can be long, made of lace or openwork fabric. The retro look of the bride from the same years can be complemented with a fur cape or feathers.
Jewelry should be selected so that it fits harmoniously into the wedding look. For example, you can complement your outfit with a beautiful brooch or beads made of natural or artificial pearls.
How to create a harmonious look with a retro wedding dress
To create a harmonious and successful retro look for a wedding, the presence of a dress is not the basis. The outfit must be complemented with accessories, and the hairstyle and makeup must match it. In addition, the following conditions must be observed:
- You should completely immerse yourself in the era of time from which the image was borrowed. You can look through fashion magazines of that time or carefully study the information, paying attention to all the little things (jewelry, makeup, additional accessories).
- You should definitely choose a suitable hairstyle so that it complements the image and completes it completely.
- The style of the dress should be selected not only based on the cut of models of past times, but also taking into account the characteristics of the physique. Short girls should not give preference to fluffy dress models. If your breasts are small, it is better to avoid a deep neckline, and if you have wide shoulders, you should exclude models with shoulder pads.
Hair and makeup
To achieve a complete look, you need to choose the right hairstyle and makeup. Hairstyles with waves go perfectly with a jazz style look. The ideal option would be a short haircut, but if your hair is long, then you should put it in a simple bun.
Hairstyles with curls and hair arranged in rollers above the forehead or above the temples are suitable for the look in the style of the 30s and 40s. If you are creating an image in the style of the fifties, then you will need to do a high hairstyle with a backcomb. If possible, you should use hairpieces or special extensions to add volume to your hair.
To do your makeup correctly, you should look at photos of beauties of that time. In any case, you need to take care of the ideal skin tone. To give your face more expressiveness, you should use bronzers. Set makeup with transparent loose powder.
The emphasis is usually on the eyes. Long arrows and false eyelashes are welcome. To add some spice to your appearance, you can use a “fly” by sticking it above your lip.
So, a retro wedding look is a chance to emphasize your individuality and be unique on your wedding day.
