Recap of Bridal Market for Fall 2012 Gowns

Bridal Market has come and gone, and our heads are still spinning with all of the gorgeous fashions we saw!

It was so cool to see some of our favorite trends still going strong for the Fall 2012 bridal collections and really fun to see some emerging styles that we think you will LOVE! So, without further ado, here are what we consider the top trends!

Unique Straps/Sleeves
Many brides are still moving away from the strapless gown and looking for straps and sleeves. But not just any strap or sleeve – they want something unique! We are seeing more one-shoulder straps, straps made of decorated or embellished materials and different strap configurations, all giving brides numerous options in making their bridal gown different and memorable.

Coupled with this is the ever-strong trend of Illusion Necklines and Straps. Gowns incorporating illusion necklines and straps are the best of both worlds, offering brides a bit more coverage without being matronly. Some of these illusion elements were completely sheer while others were embellished with crystals, appliqués or lace. Simply gorgeous!

Back Details/Interest
Gowns with back interest or details were also quite prevalent again! Some gowns featured bold, plunging backs, allowing brides to show some skin. If you’re not quite so daring, never fear… keyhole backs covered with lace, embroidery or appliqués are sexy but modest and perfect for the demure, romantic bride.

 Designers also went for drama on the backs of skirts, adding details such as unique trains or lots of gorgeous fabric elements. Designers are taking a 360-degree approach, focusing on every angle of their gowns since guests will see the bride both coming and going!

Slits
Remember Angelina Jolie’s stunning gown that got people talking at Oscars? It was a great precursor to a huge trend in wedding gowns this season – the slit! Designers are daring to go all the way to here…And confident and stylish brides looking for a gown with a little sex appeal will love this design feature.

Beaded Bodices vs. Twinkle
We saw several gowns again featuring the beaded bodice, with gorgeous crystals and heavily embellished designs. These intricate designs are now mostly paired with a more simple skirt, a striking combination.

But an emerging sister trend we loved was the twinkle effect, in which gowns were adorned with subtle elements that when hit with light give off a beautiful shimmer or slight sparkle. Designers are using sequins and understated shimmery materials to perfect this element. This is a lovely look, very soft, romantic and beautifully ethereal.

Peplum Skirts, Tiered Skirts and Textured Bottom Mermaids
Interesting skirts continued to grow as a trend and we saw a lot more peplum skirts this season. The peplums can be more structured but there were also several more softly draped designs, as well as…wait for it…removable peplums! This is another nod to the convertible gown movement with designers providing options for the bride who would like more than one look for her evening but may not want to buy two gowns.

fabulous Hayley Paige gown Sloane, shown with and without removeable peplum

 In addition to peplums, there were also more tiered skirts this season, and we also saw quite few textured bottom mermaid style gowns. These gowns are great for brides looking for some drama and glamour in their gowns!

Cotton
With the huge explosion in vintage style weddings, it was no surprise to see more gowns catering to this trend. One way designers are answering this demand is through cotton bridal gowns! Cotton, “the fabric of our lives,” may seem like an odd choice for bridal gown material, but you would not believe the gorgeous execution! We are not talking about t-shirts here, ladies! These beautiful – and yes, comfortable – gowns were elegant and charming, and are offered in designs that could accommodate many wedding styles, including rustic barn to destination beach to boho chic and more.

Lace Bodice
We saw so much fabulous lace again this season! Lace bodices are a huge force and again, this is not the conventional stuff of years past. The lace we’re seeing now, especially on gown bodices, is fresh, floral and graphic. Inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, the new lace is sexy with a touch of tradition. Even with this new edge, lace is romantic and soft, and transports us ever so slightly away from our modern world. Once again, we saw more of that gorgeous metallic lace as well. It is just beautiful!

beautiful metallic lace

Color
Of course, it came as no surprise that color is HUGE again! Brides are really taking to the color offerings outside of white and ivory and the designers are again stepping up. The hues continued to be soft – like latte, petal, oatmeal, blush and violet – but a few designers have put out stunningly bold colors for brides looking for a very dramatic bridal entrance. What do you think, ladies? Are there any of you who plan to wear a red or black wedding gown?! Yes, they are really an option, thanks to some cutting edge designers!

Victoria Nicole's offerings of color include latte, light ivory, pearl and petal

Simplicity
You have to know by now that bridal trends can be contradictory. That’s because, thankfully, designers know that each bride has a different personality and style; some brides are bold and modern, while some are traditional and demure and others still are somewhere between. So while we saw a lot of details and drama on gowns, we also saw a glorious return to simplicity. Clean lines, uncomplicated designs and unadorned fabrics were all featured in several designers’ collections. Oh, so beautiful in their simple elegance!

While those are the biggies we observed, some other trends we saw included dropped waists, origami details, bohemian gowns, scoop necklines and gowns inspired by the Mad Men rage.

dropped waist ballgown by Lazaro

dropped waist gown by Victor Harper



This gorgeous Jim Hjelm gown features origami detailing on the skirt



Claire Pettibone's Abbey is a gorgeous boho style

Beautiful Lazaro gown perfect for the bohemian bride

Augusta Jones' aptly named Marilyn gown has a feeling of times gone by

We cannot wait until the fabulous gowns we ordered start arriving! Be sure to like us on Facebook as we will add photos of our new gowns as we receive them in-store. Let us know what you think! What trends will be a must for your wedding day look?