Tie the Knot Scotland top bridal picks from London Bridal Week
Tie the Knot Scotland top bridal picks from London Bridal Week
Want to know what brides are going to be wearing in 2024? Look no further than London Bridal Week, a fabulous showcase of up and coming bridal styles – specifically organised for shops to buy their wedding-dress samples for the year ahead. Nicole Conner rounds up all the fiercely feminine wedding gowns that caught her eye in the Big Smoke…
Left: In an ode to the ’90s, corsets are back with a bang. Often regarded as symbols of sexuality and femininity, the bustier tops were given a pretty bridal spin and paraded on every catwalk. Case in point: Alan Hannah’s Remi gown. The way the corset hangs over the skirt giving a detached, two-piece illusion is super-chic. Right: The devil was in the details at London Bridal Week this year. Ellis Bridals understood the assignment when it conjured up Elle, a modern, romantic delight which is adorned with 3D lace. This helps to draw the eye to the gown, creating a flattering silhouette. Style it with a net veil and chic gloves for major fashion points.Left: With its exposed corset bodice, 3D florals and detachable long sleeves, the Gardenia by Justin Alexander is a bold, feminine silhouette that ticks just about every trend that’s hot right now. I fell in love with the satin flowers along the sweetheart neckline, and the fact they spill on to the cathedral train is just chef’s kiss. Right: Do an Angelina Jolie and flash your pins in Pollardi’s daring Darsia gown. The Ukrainian designer brought the sparkle with the embellished long sleeves which I thought really elevated this clean-cut ballgown.Left: The minis are having a moment. Lyla, a contemporary satin number by British designer Freda Bennet, would be my top pick. The fitted bustier bodice and short wrap skirt are designed to flatter, plus it’s not too unlike the one Made in Chelsea’s Sophie Habboo sported that sent the bridal world into a frenzy earlier this year. Expect a similar impact! Right: Looking for a dress that warrants a dramatic entrance as you strut down the aisle, but isn’t so cumbersome you can’t dance all evening? Take a look at Viv, a dreamy silhouette from Australian designer Evie Young Bridal. The gown is shown here with its detachable overskirt that will amp up the drama for your ceremony, but come reception, it can be removed to reveal a slinky design with a daring high leg split. As if the dress couldn’t get any better, the corset bodice has been embellished with sequins and pearls to beautifully contrast with the classic matte satin underneath.Left and right: Inspired by ‘iconic women who haven’t been afraid to make waves by being authentically themselves’, Canadian designer Sarah Alouache’s Femme collection features so many knockout looks it was hard to pick a favourite. However, Jackie, a floral-adorned dream cemented its place in my heart thanks to the ‘glamour in the front, party in the back’ chain detail.Left:Ronald Joyce really knocked it out the park with the Kyra dress. Minimalist ballgowns are hot property for 2024, but the British designer took elements from two other trends to create a clever hybrid: the asymmetrical sweetheart neckline leans into the ruched-bodice craze, plus the back has a chic ruffle train for maximum impact. Right: La Perle, a line from Canada’s Calla Blanche, is designed with the unconventional bride in mind. It takes classic bridal silhouettes and elevates them by adding quirky details. Case in point: Easton. The elegant satin column dress has a sophisticated strapless bodice, but what sets it apart is the detachable tulle sleeves. These are a fabulously bold statement for anyone wanting to turn heads. There is also a second option that offers a more modest approach: the long-sleeve jacket is floor-length and has a cool ruffle collar and cuffs.Left and right: Why have one bridal look when you can have two, or in the case of Casablanca Bridal’s Valentina gown, three? Gowns with detachable elements are going nowhere fast, and we caught up with the brand’s creative director Crystal Lu who demonstrated how brides can switch up their w-day style. This dress is a showstopper on its own, but also comes with detachable narrow straps. Want to up the ante? Add long puff sleeves.
