Platform for Cutting-Edge Trends in the Bridal Industry
British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate, UK
The September British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate (BBEH), one of the wedding industry’s most powerful trend indicators, provided a vivid snapshot of bridalwear fashion for Spring-Summer 2007. Key names in the bridal industry, including Ian Stuart, Ritva Westenius, Maggie Sottero and Veromia, revealed their latest collections at the BBEH.
BRIDALWEAR
Slim silhouettes that follow natural body curves were the highlight of collections from top designers such as Jenny Packham, Amanda Wakeley and Beverly Lister who added detail with layerings of intricately-worked lace, long satin sashes loosely knotted or bow-tied, and panels of beading, embroidery or heavily-textured fabrics. Shoulders got more attention than in recent seasons, with tiny straps, a lacey fichu or, in many collections, a gossamer-fine shrug or chiffon overcoat.
As Bridal Buyer predicted, colour, when evident, was pale and pretty. Spring flower-fresh pinks, lavender, blue and mint green were used throughout many collections as a highlight trim that could be colour matched to bridesmaids gowns. Traditional creams, ivories and pale champagne shades, however, were the fashion forerunners for 2007, with bright white gathering momentum, particularly for destination wedding dresses.
MENSWEAR
And as for grooms – while wedding dresses move towards Forties-style slender slink, menswear has looked to the peacock for inspiration. Italian design houses have the men competing for the spotlight, with crushed velvets, embroidery, frills, ruffles and flounces and their fair share of jewellery, while traditional English companies concentrated on updating the classics with boldly-patterned waistcoats and ties, pleated and gathered silks, and specialist collections with an Asian or Highland influence.
ACCESSORIES
The new minimalist gowns made room for adventurous accessorising. Extravagant veils sprinkled with sparkle or edged with embroidery or heavily decorated in the Spanish-style were much in evidence with houses like Richard Designs, Joyce Jackson and Elizabeth Dickens/ offering hundreds of colour, length and finish options and a wide range of veiling fabrics.
Jewellery, too, came into its own, with head-turning, statement-making pieces. Designer Lisa Matthews produced a scarf made up of thousands of crystal beads, while Halo & Co produced an exceptional retro group within its collection. In 2007 brides will be wearing huge earrings liberally dotted with diamanté, and carrying bouquets made up of crystals and pearls or preserved roses precisely colour-matched to gowns or accessories by newcomer Verde.
CATWALK SHOWS
The Fashion Shows give invaluable insight into the latest trends and fashions in the bridal industry. As well as highlighting the looks from the top mainstream bridal manufacturers and all the best in directional trends from the top designers, these two inspirational shows are the perfect opportunity to view the very best in designer wear and best-selling manufacturers. Both shows played daily to a packed audience keen to see up-to-the-minute bridalwear, menswear and accessories fashions in action. The 2007 collections did not disappoint and many a retailer used the showstoppers as the basis for their buying plans, teaming up the gowns with the accessories shown on stage when placing orders. Unquestionably, copying catwalk coordination is a clever way of ensuring you’ve got the key looks together.