The History of the Wedding Dress

Wedding dresses have a long history of change, just as the everyday fashion of women has changed significantly over the decades and even centuries. Wedding attire was once practical, embellishing a dress for the occasion then altering it back for everyday use. Today's bride has numerous options and it isn't typically viewed as frivolous to purchase a dress to only wear once, as it used to be. Does this Spark an idea?

History

The first recorded wedding gown was worn by Princess Philippa, the daughter of Henry IV in 1406, according to Discovery's TLC. Wealthy and royal women were typically the only people who could afford a special dress for one occasion only. As different styles, hemlines, colors and fabrics became popular, common women would do the best they could to imitate those of higher status.

Trains and garters became traditions during the 1500s. As fashion trends went through transitions, bridal gowns followed. Sleeves, waistlines and the shape of gowns changed. Puffy sleeves gave way to fitted sleeves and back again. Corsets and petticoats merged into higher waistlines; then it was on to slimmer skirts and then back to princess fairytale shapes again.

Significance

Because materials were handspun, the more material used and the more luxurious fabrics used indicated one's great wealth or royal standing. Middle and lower class women used less luxurious fabric, meaning they could use more of it.

Gold or silver thread was preferred--particularly among the wealthy--and jewels or furs adorned wedding gowns. The term "bridal gown" was coined during the 1930s, which was a decade of glitz and glamor despite the hard times.

Function

Most women wore their best dress or altered their wedding gown after the wedding to become the gown they wore for social events or church. This worked particularly well during the 1800s when wedding dresses highly resembled everyday fashion. During World War I, women often wore their best suit, borrowed one or rented one for the occasion. The Great Depression brought on similar circumstances; it wasn't proper or feasible to spend a great deal of money on a dress.

Types

Velvet, silk, satin and fur were commonly used in wedding dresses for those who could afford such fabric, into the late 1800s. The mid-to-late 1800s saw organdy, tulle, lace, silk and linen. Polyester, taffeta and double-knit gowns were introduced during the 1900s.

Colors

Wedding dresses were as bright and colorful as the bride's family could afford. Before the mid-1800s, brides opted for gowns dyed purple, red or even black as those colors signified wealth and prosperity. Many brides chose to wear blue dresses, because it was thought to bring good fortune, prosperity, faithful husbands and fertility. Blue represented purity, and was the color of choice for wedding gowns until Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress in 1840. She was also the first bride to have her bridesmaids carry her train.

Since then, white has become one of the most popular colors for wedding dresses, particularly in England and the United States. Floral and plaid-patterned dresses were largely worn until the turn of the century, when department stores and catalogs made it easier for brides to purchase white fabric and patterns. White was eventually dubbed the color of purity and remains the most popular choice for wedding gowns in the Western culture.

Indian and Asian brides typically wear red and gold wedding dresses, which represent good luck, prosperity and good fortune in their respective cultures.

Size

Gowns were always floor length--it was deemed decent and proper--until the 1920s when the first wedding dress to come just above the knee was made by CoCo Chanel. After World War II, when clothing, among other things, was rationed, floor-length gowns made a comeback. The 1970s introduced bell bottoms and pants suits as bridal attire, although actual dresses and skirt suits were still worn.

Modern Options

Brides of current times choose a dress that reflects their personality, style and the formality of their wedding. Women have worn bikinis, shorts, miniskirts, jeans, ball gowns or simple suits to exchange vows. Dresses offer different hemlines, waistlines and shapes so that every bride can choose the dress that flatters her and meets her own idea of what her wedding gown should look like. Any color can be chosen, although white and shades of white remain the most popular in Western culture.

References

• Discovery TLC
• From Times Past
• Monroe Historical