Bridal trends for 2014

On Monday June 24th I visited the Spring/Summer 2014 bridal shows in Milan SI SposaItalia.

Veronica (my sometime assistant) and I wandered around peeking into booths, observing trends and designs, and photographing some of the gowns that piqued our interest. My deepest gratitude goes to the kind publicists and representatives who allowed me to sneak in and get these picture for my little blog. I hope you will be able to find some good inspiration for your 2014 wedding gown among the dresses I feature here.

I will focus on four main brands.

You know me, I’m a bit of an anglophile, but really, British designers are the go-to solution if you’re looking for an unconventional gown, one that will both make you feel like a princess (albeit a modern one) and that you will have a chance to wear again on important occasions. Amanda Wakeley has always been a favourite of mine, I love that she designs gown which are at once elegantly sleek, and edgy, with a bit of rock’n’roll to them. That is why I was so happy the lovely people at AW kindly let me snap a few pictures of the new collection, at their SìSposaItalia booth in Milan. Have a look yourself!

The beading work, the embellishments and the dramatic cuts make these dresses veritable stars!

Not the gowns for you if you’re shy and modest, or if you’re having a religious ceremony, but a perfect party dress for your reception, or bridal gown for an afternoon civil ceremony.

I mean, you could be a goddess from the front…

… and a sexy siren from the back!

It will come as no news that lace and embroidery, embellishments and sequins, are a huge trend for 2014. Alessandra Rinaudo‘s gowns (distributed by Nicole Fashion Group) struck me particularly for their fresh and modern take on these trends.

These dresse are an ideal choice if you’re looking for a subtly coloured gown, that could please your conservative mom, while still allowing for your modern personality to shine through.

These gowns are carefully crafted to the tiny modern detail.

Naturally embellishments are a focus point here as well.

As far as the younger bridal fashion is concerned I was pleased to discover that Tosca Spose has just released this year its Flora range, a collection of fun, easy to wear gowns. Definitely more approachable than their main collection items.

Let’s face it, a Tosca Spose gown usually requires an attitude that women younger than 30 rarely can boast. But the Flora dresses I was able to see first hand are fun, quirky and really suitable for a young bride. I’m afraid I wasn’t able to shoot any picture, so you’ll have to make do with a few snaps from the original catalogue.

And shall I mention the polka dot theme here?! It’s even been used as a pattern on the fabric thread! (detailing in the pictures is of my own Photoshopping)

But the cream of the crop for me was the Acquachiara booth; I’ve been a fan of this brand for many MANY years now, and every new collections is a new love story beginning.

To make my day perfect, I was greeted and entertained by dame Basile (the brand art director and main designer) herself, and I had a lovely talk with her and Chiara Morganti, discussing the industry and the amazing craftmanship behind their new collection.

It was enlightening! Did you know that the design below is most frequently ordered in a plus size? It’s impeccable cut, timeless and carefully tailored, has a slimming and flattering effect even on the curvier shapes.

Fabrics are the veritable protagonists of this collection. Lightly gauged tulles, damask, chiffon, organza embroidered with flowers, leaves, branches; satins and comfortable duchesses, with lightly embroidered plumétis veils, smooth silks… it’s heaven for the skin!

But the Acquachiara brand is also the epitome of research, with its trademark minimal style evolving through dramatic cuts, de-structured volumes and daring geometric lines.

I was mesmerized!

How about you? If you’re planning a 2014 wedding which of these gowns would you like to wear? Please, do tell in the comment below! And make sure you contact me, should you be considering a destination wedding in Italy!