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Looking for some wedding dress inspiration? Take a look at these 11 vintage brides who defined the decades
What is it about vintage?
From clothes to wine to films, the more aged the thing is, the better the result. The same goes for brides. We have an obsession with weddings of the past. The royal weddings of both Kate and Meghan drew almost immediate comparisons to that of Diana and Queen Elizabeth’s outings.
And any modern-day wedding of an actress still does not hold the same appeal as one of the women of Hollywood’s golden age. Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly have three of the most instantly recognisable wedding dresses of all time. Those dresses are still influencing designs today.
Bianca Jagger was the epitome of rock ‘n’ roll cool in her skirt suit complete with hat and mesh overlay when she married Mick Jagger. Most recently, Emily Ratajkowski tried to emulate the look at her wedding to Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2018 but Bianca’s bridal outfit can never truly be copied.
The reason for this is that the appeal of these brides lies in the fact they are from another era. At the time, many of these brides broke the mould in terms of nuptial fashion. It was fresh, risky and unknown and that is why to this day they are loved.
And this is a good thing because each bride is meant to individual and these moments of the past are to be used as a guide, not gospel. So look towards them with admiration and then, take whatever inspiration you need to create your moment in history.
Elizabeth Taylor wore a Helen Rose gown for her first trip down the aisle to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton (great-uncle to Paris and Nicky).
The classic beauty of Audrey Hepburn shone on her wedding day to director Mel Ferrer. She wore a ballerina-length dress by Pierre Balmain, accessorised with elbow-length gloves and a fresh floral crown.
Jackie O’s iconic wedding dress was the creation of African-American designer Ann Lowe. However, Anne was not credited and when Jackie was asked who made it, she replied: “a coloured dressmaker.”
The story of Grace Kelly is the ultimate fairytale and her wedding dress is just as enchanting. She wore a dress designed by Helen Rose and made of silk taffeta, silk net, peau de soie, tulle and Brussels rose point lace.
Elizabeth Taylor married actor Richard Burton twice. At their first wedding, the actress wore a canary yellow babydoll dress designed by Cleopatra costume designer, Irene Sharaff. The look was completed with hyacinths and lilies of the valley which were weaved through her hair in a dramatic plait.
Singer Frank Sinatra married actress and model Mia Farrow in 1966 at Sands Hotel. The bride wore a crisp white two-piece dress suit complete with a pixie cut.
Dressed in a now-iconic white Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket and long bias-cut silk skirt, Bianca Jagger caused a sartorial sensation at her 1971 wedding to Mick Jagger in Saint-Tropez.
In 1959, Brigitte Bardot married actor Jacques Charrier in the back garden of her parent’s villa wearing a pink gingham shirtwaist dress by Jacques Esterel.
The tragic story of Sharon Tate becomes all the more upsetting when you see an image of the actress on her wedding day where she wore an ivory silk moiré mini dress.
Lorna Luft – daughter of Judy Garland – broke the bridal rules by wearing an off-the-shoulder striped two-piece set at her wedding to musician Jake Hooker.
Legendary singer Cher married Allman Brothers Band frontman Gregg Allman in 1975, three days after her divorce from Sonny Bono became final. Her form-fitting satin gown is stunning.
Image: Brides Today Instagram
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