The Wedding Dress History #WeddingMall

The Wedding Dress 6 #WeddingMall

Nevertheless, with consistent promotion white bridals steadily gained favor through the century. A bride would be reminded in an 1889 issue of the Delineator that since her "wedding is the most important event in a young girl's life, it seems, therefore, right not only that all appropriate pomp and ceremony should be displayed, but that the insignia of bridehood should be adhered to. The illusion veil, the orange blossoms and the pure white gown are the bride's, not only because of her position, but also from time - honored custom.'' Finally white became to accepted as the bride's banner that the Ladies Home Journal noted in 1890: "from time immemorial the bride's gown has been white". While not quite accurate, this reference highlights how deeply instilled the image of the bride in white had become.

Although there are early records noting the presence of orange blossoms - a guest at U.S. president John Adams' son's wedding reported that the bride wore white satin, orange blossoms, and pearls - it earned a royal association when, as a bride, Queen Victoria prominently displayed this Mediterranean symbol of fertility. Its sentimental symbolism appealed to most Victorian brides who, for extra measure, festooned their gowns with garlands of sweet - smelling orange blossoms. The royal approval transformed these tiny blooms into a vital element of bridal regalia. In fact, noted Harper's Bazar, the wedding was " the only time in a woman's life when she could wear these fragrant blossoms." It is a measure of the power wielded by these ladies' journals that every bride, despite her circumstances or the look or newness of her gown, tried her best to wear orange blossoms and a veil. Indeed, many photographs survive of Wild West brides severely posed in their best dress and sporting a veil and orange bloom.

Recognizing their leadership role for readers, the journals abounded in practical advice for the average bride. " It is to the careful young woman with but a few hundred dollars to spend that we hope to give some assistance'" noted Harper's Bazar in 1868. "The price of satin varies from seven to fifteen dollars a yard, the popular quality, 27 inches wide, is sold at eight dollars. Faille and soft poult de soie are the next choice after satin, and cost about the same. Very handsome corded silk at four to six dollars a yard and plain taffetas as low as three dollars, but these require an over skirt of illusion that add considerably to the outlay." The wise bride was also reminded by the Ladies Home Journal in 1894 that with "a white gown thought must be given to the becoming a fashion shade, for after all, there are as many tones in white as in other colors; the one that most suits the pale blonde is absolutely unbecoming to the rosy brunette."

In addition, no magazine could afford to ignore the accessories of the bridal dress. After highlighting the favorite bridal dresses of the reason - silver - flecked tulle over white satin, white crepe lisse over a slip of white silk - Godey's Lady's Book, in 1850, went on to inform the bride that "tulle veils, very full, are still worn more than any other. They are inexpensive and always give a peculiar grace and delicacy to the face and figure." Whether tulle or lace, "the wedding veil is certainly the most necessary part of a bride's costume, and it is much more a matter for great care in arranging it on the head than people seem to think necessary," cautioned Harper's Bazar in 1895.

The magazine wisely suggested that a bride make several attempts, before her wedding, to attach her veil to her head. Otherwise, the editors warned, "the prettiest woman can be made to look like a fright with her veil put on unbecomingly, and the handsome lace veil badly adjusted would look worse than even a coarse tulle one." The veil was sacrosanct, and even if a bride opted to be wed in a fetching bonnet, it would have a veil. Lace veils were the preferred, but more expensive, choice. Even Queen Victoria wore a veil of net - although lavishly adorned with floral lace appliques. As successive generations of nineteenth - century brides married, it became popular to wear an heirloom veil - something borrowed. And to complete the picture, Godey's Book, in 1849, reminded brides that "white silk stockings and satin slippers should always be the accompaniment of a bridal dress. Kid or prunella have a vulgar look."

Although nineteenth - century etiquette demanded that the bridal veil and orange blossom garland be removed immediately after the wedding, it was widely recommended that a bride re-wear her wedding dress as often as possible in the early days of her married life, for both sentimental and practical considerations. The Delineator insisted, in 1889, that "the orange blossoms and the veil are never worn again after the wedding; even if the gown be assumed the next day, white roses or some other flower must be substituted for the orange blossom, for they are sacred to the bride and not to the wife." In fact, most brides ordered or made their bridal gown with the intention of having it redesigned for later use. Since the bride's garb closely resembled the fashions of the day, with slight changes the wedding dress was perfectly appropriate for wear on other occasions. The ever-practical Ladies Home Journal advised brides to always use plenty of fabric rather than extra trimmings when making the gown, as "you will always be able to make it over into another style, whereas with less material and a few odds and ends of trimming, this is doubtful." It was also quite common to have a second bodice made at the same time as the bridal bodice and skirt to allow for an immediate option for re-wear.

By the end of the century, the Victorian wedding was big business, supported by a booming fashion trade. Traditional, laden with sentimental trappings, and endorsed by nostalgic brides, Victorian style has been well documented, captured forever in photographs and numerous illustrations, to serve as inspiration for many of today's brides.

Source: Anna Wang @MomosBridal and @GoArticles