New York Bridal Fashion Week is the much-awaited event in the wedding industry, offering a glimpse of stunning bridal collections twice a year. It’s a grand celebration, especially now that weddings have returned to pre-pandemic levels. During this week-long event, we kept our eyes peeled for the latest trends to help brides-to-be find their perfect wedding dress.
For Spring 2024, designers took traditional designs and gave them a contemporary spin for the modern bride who wants to stand out. Today’s brides want something unique, with a focus on quality construction and making a statement. In this article, we’ve gathered the highlights you need to know for the upcoming season.
1) Feathers
These gowns, inspired by the Roaring ’20s, are perfect as either a bride’s main dress or her second look. Be the center of attention at your wedding reception in a playful, midi-length ball gown adorned with feathers by Galia Lahav, or opt for a strapless corset gown with a feather trim by Lee Petra Grebenau. If you want to make a grand entrance, consider the impressive Nardos’s gown, complete with a festive feather veil.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Badgley Mischka, 2 – Lee Petra Grebenau, 3 – Nardos, 4 – Ines Di Santo, 5 – Nardos, 6 – Galia Lahav
2) Lace Dresses
Last November, Naomi Biden’s bridal look inspired by Grace Kelly brought classic lace wedding gowns back into vogue. However, designers have given it a fresh twist this season, catering to the contemporary tastes of fashion-forward brides.
Mira Zwillinger‘s square corset fitted lace gown with a detachable high-neck lace long-sleeve topper featuring floral embroidery allows the bride to switch up her look and bare her shoulders for a touch of elegance and drama.
During Bridal Fashion Week, Katherine Tash‘s long-sleeved lace gown with a high-neck trumpet and hand-embroidered detailing caught our eye, along with Galia Lahav‘s elaborate corset gown with a detachable matching overskirt and a separate high-neck French lace bolero. Lee Petra Grebenau‘s romantic mermaid gown in Chantilly lace was also adorned with a dramatic detachable overskirt and off-the-shoulder lace sleeves.
We also loved Dana Harel‘s modern and elegant fitted mermaid gown, Moe, made of sautage lace. And for a playful and joyful update in embroidered laces, Monique Lhuillier‘s short Tallulah Dress is perfect for spring and summer weddings!
Bridal Designers: 1 – Lee Petra Grebenau, 2 – Mira Zwillinger, 3 – Katherine Tash, 4 – Galia Lahav, 5 – Monique Lhuillier, 6 – Dana Harel
3) Statement Detachable Sleeves
The trend of removable sleeves remains popular and continues to catch the attention of brides. This design has been embraced recently, offering versatility with multiple looks in one garment.
Galia Lahav‘s silver-embroidered mermaid gown with a sheer and sparkling silk tulle layer exudes drama and glamour. Short, voluminous sleeves by Julie Vino add a romantic and airy touch to the look. Mira Zwillinger showcased delicate tulle cuffs and detachable grand bell sleeves with matching handmade details, adding an elegant and sophisticated touch. Sachin & Babi‘s gown features elbow-wearing sleeves that transform into a translucent coat, demonstrating their versatility and adaptability to different wedding settings.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Galia Lahav, 2 – Julie Vino, 3 – Mira Zwillinger, 4 – Francesca Miranda, 5 – Mira Zwillinger, 6 – Sachin & Babi
4) One-Shoulder Sleeves
One-shoulder sleeves came back on the runways this season, and designers have explored various ways to make this elegant detail work. From Badgley Mischka’s modest off-the-shoulder strap to Sachin & Babi‘s statement layer, the one-shoulder sleeve silhouette has been reinterpreted in sophisticated ways. It’s a unique and stunning choice for brides looking to add a touch of modern elegance to their wedding day look.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Badgley Mischka, 2 – Sachin & Babi, 3 – Mira Zwillinger, 4 – Nadia Manjarrez, 5 – Mark Igram Atelier, 6 – Kelly Faetanini
5) Modern Necklines
Designers have been experimenting with nontraditional necklines this year. Lee Petra Grebenau and Julie Vino incorporated a playful cat-eye neckline into their gowns, while Dana Harel went for a dramatic deep lace neckline. Elie Saab showcased a softer, more delicate look with ruffled necklines.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Katherine Tash, 2 – Dana Harel, 3 – Elie Saab, 4 – Lee Petra Grebenau, 5 – Julie Vino, 6 – Vivienne Westwood
6) Architectural Draping
This year’s bridal fashion has showcased more architectural, well-crafted gowns with a modern twist. It has been exciting to see how these designers thoughtfully played with volume in the skirts of ball gowns.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Nardos, 2 – THEIA, 3 – Nardos, 4 – Vivienne Westwood, 5 – Mark Igram Atelier, 6 – Rami Al Ali
7) Trains
Designers have come up with an equally enchanting alternative to veils and capes, and it seems that trains will be in vogue this new bridal season.
Amsale‘s strapless trumpet gown boasts a floral jacquard fit-to-flare Watteau cape, while Viktor & Rolf‘s Dreamy Bow Romper is embellished with their signature bows leading to a double tail train. Fairytale Flowers features a tulle Watteau train added to a romantic A-line gown, and Vivienne Westwood‘s Galaxy Cape is adorned with an 18th-century Watteau style train for added drama. The EDEN strapless sheath gown by Lihi Hod, featuring a sweetheart neckline, draping on the bodice, and a long Watteau cape with balloon sleeves, is also worth noting.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Amsale, 2 – Liz Martinez, 3, 4 – Viktor & Rolf, 5 – Lihi Hod, 6 – Vivienne Westwood
8) Corseted Bodices
Corset bodices have become increasingly popular each season as they offer structure and sex appeal, drawing for many brides. Designers have incorporated corsets in various styles this season. Honor‘s pleated tiered gown features a corset bodice that is integral to the design. Galia Lahav‘s plunging deep-V corset top creates an ultra-sexy look on this gown. At the same time, Evelyn’s blooming floral dress features an intricate heart-shaped corset that enhances the romantic vibe. Corsets are going nowhere, even for newcomers like Cinq, who showcased a fantastic collection full of this timeless element. All the designs are perfect for contemporary brides.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Katherine Tash, 2 – Honor, 3, 4 – Galia Lahav, 5 – Wiederhoeft, 6 – Cinq
9) Capes & Coats
Designers offer many options to enhance your bridal silhouette most sublimely and attractively. For instance, Mira Zwillinger and Liz Martinez have created delicate floral capes, while Galia Lahav has opted for a structured high-neck capelet. Monique Lhuillier and Sachin & Babi have taken it further with massive jackets that exude sophistication and style. With so many options, brides can elevate their wedding look with a statement-making piece that’s both practical and chic.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Honor, 2 – Mira Zwillinger, 3 – Galia Lahav, 4 – Liz Martinez, 5 – Monique Lhuillier, 6 – Sachin & Babi
10) Jumpsuits & Pantsuits
Pantsuits and jumpsuits have brought a refreshing variety to wedding fashion, catering to same-sex weddings or brides who prefer to eschew the traditional skirt. Designers have embraced this trend with a range of stylish and unique options.
Sachin & Babi‘s jumpsuit, adorned with sequins, adds a glamorous touch to the trend. Meanwhile, Viktor & Rolf‘s modern jumpsuit incorporates draped flowers and a band for a touch of elegance. Esé Azénabor, in their first-ever Bridal Fashion Week, showcased a pantsuit with an elongated jacket featuring sharp textured shoulders and a deep neckline adorned with a large bow and crystals.
Yellow by Sahar‘s stylish trouser suit features mother-of-pearl buttons on the jacket, cuffs, and waistline of straight trousers. Nadia Manjarrez introduced a matte crepe jumpsuit with a slight peplum bustier and side leg slits. At the same time, Lihi Hod‘s sheet corset, pants, and blazer combo perfectly combines the intimacy and openness of the female body for the modern, fashion-forward bride.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Yellow by Sahar, 2 – Sachin & Babi, 3 – Esé Azénabor, 4 – Lili Hod, 5 – Nadia Manjarrez, 6 – Viktor & Rolf
11) Color
This season, we have seen a trend of designers embracing bold colors, resulting in gowns that exude playfulness and create unforgettable moments.
Sachin & Babi, for instance, incorporated blue and light-pink dresses into their recent collection, such as the white-based Endira Gown adorned with pink flowers and the Aura Coat.
On the other hand, the Honor Spring/Summer 2024 Bridal & Bespoke Collections offer dramatic and luminous hues, along with unexpected details and fabrics, to create bold and feminine designs for the modern-day bride. This brand truly brought color to the occasion! Other designers, such as Kyha Studios and Galia Lahav, opted for black, while Nadia Manjarrez presented a stunning strapless mermaid gown in a gorgeous turquoise hue.
Instead of the traditional “something blue,” we’re seeing designers incorporate blue hues into their designs uniquely and beautifully. For example, Markarian‘s Lulu mini dress is adorned with stunning blue flowers, while the coordinating Bailey Embroidered Blusher veil adds a touch of elegance. This dress would be the perfect choice for an after-party look. For brides dreaming of a fairytale wedding, Sareh Nouri‘s ballgown with layered detail and printed floral off-the-shoulder draped band with Watteau petals will surely make their princess wedding dream come true.
Bridal Designers: 1 – Kelly Faetanini, 2 – Sachin & Babi, 3, 4 – Honor, 5 – Chosen by Kyha Studios, 6 – Nadia Manjarrez, 7 – Markarian, 8 – Andrew Kwon, 9 – Sareh Nouri
