A gown fit for a princess, topped with a fluttering veil and sparkling tiara, can make for a fairy-tale wedding. But what about the bride who’d rather skip the corset and crinoline, and possibly even her shoes? Until recently, such a woman found herself scouring ready-to-wear racks for something white-ish that might be considered wedding-worthy.
Now, savvy designers are catering to her relaxed tastes with offbeat bridal dresses and separates that impress not just for the big day, but for the happily ever after. Here’s a look at three lines catering to the indie bride.
Beachy bridal
Even before it had an official wedding line, Calypso St. Barth was a popular shopping destination for, well, destination brides. This Thursday, the Caribbean-chic, New York-based luxury label will introduce its first bridal collection, Calypso Mariée. Its 15 pieces range from a platinum-gray beaded slip to an embroidered white linen eyelet dress with matching flares.
“Weddings have evolved into such diverse, individual expressions, and we wanted to capture that modernity and filter it through our free-spirited lens,” says creative director Elisa Miller, who happens to be engaged and fantasizing about her own nuptials. “Barefoot on a beach in a diaphanous harem jumpsuit is my current daydream!”
Twice as nice
Designer Aviva Falk, meanwhile, focuses on elegant, two-piece bridal silhouettes: a wide ruffle, for example, that spirals over an asymmetrical top down to a bilevel skirt.
“For me, the interest in a garment lies in the shape it creates on the body, and for that you need a clean backdrop to work with,” says Brooklyn-based Falk, who unveiled her Viva Aviva Bridal line in February (it’s available online at vivaaviva.com).
Working in silk faille because “it has such a beautiful structure to it,” and silk crepe de Chine for its drape, Falk has crafted eight versatile and affordable bridal separates, along with one ruffled dress. “My hope is that you buy your skirt and top, and then rewear them with jeans or a simple T-shirt,” says Falk. “That way, you get to relive the best day of your life.”
Altar of love
“I think the only good meringue is the kind you eat,” declares French bridal and couture designer Delphine Manivet, whose eponymous Upper East Side boutique opened in October. Indeed, her modern dresses are about as far as you can get from puffy wedding confections.
The sweeping but understated white lace gown she made for actress (and Elvis’ granddaughter) Riley Keough’s February wedding is a case in point: fitted through the hips with long sleeves and an open back.
Wind is an ethereal theme of Manivet’s 2015 collection, Pagan Bride: “You’ve got some very airy fabrics and some stiffer ones, like gazar de soie, which gives the impression of a parachute,” she says. Perfect for floating through your big day … and forever after.