Whether you’re after a modern and simplistic design or an extravagant and lavish statement gown, Spring/Summer 2020 has covered it all. As the weather becomes warmer, we can often expect to see a great demand for delicate laces from classic floral designs, to leafy embellishments, to elegant paisley swirls. Along with this, the Spring season never disappoints when it comes to gowns with a dreamy, flowy and romantic touch. However, this year the bridal industry has shaken it up a little bit, with greater variety in terms of dress silhouettes and unique fabrications and laces. This year it’s all about texture and sheek glamour from scattered pearls, to sparkling glitter ball gowns, to soft ostrich feather fun, to clean-cut and modern designs. Whether you’re having a more relaxed and casual party-vibe wedding, or a more formal ball-room reception, you will absolutely love what this season has to offer. We love a good variety of gowns and this year there is no excuse to not fall in love with your dream gown and be super on trend and stylish at the same time.
Designer: Lee Petra Grebenau
ONE SHOULDER AND BOWS
After Megan Markle’s incredibly beautiful and sophisticated Givenchy wedding gown, we all fell head over heels for the off the shoulder look. And whilst this is still a strong trend across the bridal industry, Spring/Summer 2020 has offered a new interpretation of this gorgeous design. The one-shoulder design is a perfect way to accentuate your collarbones whilst still remaining modest and providing a sufficient amount of coverage. The one-shoulder look is a more modern interpretation of the classic off-the-shoulder design. Whether you prefer it clean and plain or with a touch of sparkle and lace, this versatile design is suitable for both. For brides wanting to add a unique twist to the one-shoulder design, considering adding an oversized bow, a gorgeous statement sleeve or a regal cape which can drape seamlessly over your shoulder to the desired length. Whilst the classic bow has come in and out of trend over the past few years, we are definitely loving this modern twist to utilise it as an extravagant statement feature. Instead of using both sides of the bow, use only one on your gown to create a form of asymmetry which is extremely contemporary and stylish.
Designer: Peter Langner
RUFFLES AND TEARED SKIRTS
Ruffles are generally known as quite an old-fashioned and out-dated style, however this Spring we should expect to see this unique trend come back, bigger and better than ever before. To modernise this beautiful style, consider a minimal teared skirt which requires less layers and less fullness. This can look incredibly beautiful when made from a pleated tulle, glitter fabric or silk organza. It’s important to note that ruffles are designed to stick out from the body and to provide a voluminous silhouette which can often hide the brides figure. To avoid this, we would recommend opting for an A-line silhouette with a fabric that drapes softly. Another technique to prevent extra bulk is to create the skirt on a full-circle flared pattern and to avoid gathering excessively around the waist and hipline.
Designer: Lee Petra Grebenau
PUFFY SLEEVES
There’s no denying how incredibly popular the statement sleeve has been over the past few years. From simple everyday-wear to evening-wear and bridal, this trend is definitely not ready to leave anytime soon. We can expect to see plenty more beautiful bridal gowns created with this stunning sleeve feature. Whether you’re after extra coverage or you’re simply wanting to add a unique feature to complete your bridal look, the puffy voluminous sleeve is perfect for you. From the classic balloon sleeve, to the elegant bishop and romantic butterfly sleeve, the list is endless. The puff sleeve is perfect for a gown that generally has a softer and loose-fitted skirt silhouette. To add a touch of Spring, opt for a beautiful floral and leaf embroidered lace to complete your bridal look. The embroidered tulle laces are more contemporary in style and look gorgeous when scattered and appliqued onto your dress sleeve and skirt. To really add some drama to your gown, consider off-the-shoulder sleeves to showcase and accentuate your neckline and collarbones.
Designer: Anna Barge // Photographer: Siji Fujimori
SECOND SHORT DRESS
As more brides turn to casual, party-inspired weddings, we can definitely see why this second-dress trend has become increasingly popular over the past year. As the weather warms up, we can expect to see more brides changing from their beautiful ceremony dresses into something more fun and relaxed such as this gorgeous high-low style gown. The high-low style has been around for years and has crossed into the eveningwear and bridal market for the past few seasons. More popular than ever before, we can expect to see a lot more brides and mother of the bride/groom considering this unique gown length, over a completely straight cut. For brides wanting to dance the night away without the hassle of a long train and heavy wedding gown, then look no further than this gorgeous short-second dress. To complement your ceremony dress, consider adding a touch of the same lace onto the bodice of your second gown or even scatter the lace sparsely over your shoulders for a romantic and feminine touch. Remember that when you opt for a second dress it’s best to avoid overly tight and restrictive styles as you want to be comfortable.
Designer: Nurit Hen Couture
PEARL ADDITION
Pearls, pearls, pearls and more pearls! Can we ever have enough pearls? This year has definitely been the year of pearls. From heavily embellished gowns, to scattered designs and extravagant pearl finished veils, we are absolutely in love with this trend. There’s no denying that the pearl embellishment is quite a classic addition, however this Spring/Summer we can expect to see this gorgeous round-gem incorporated into modern and simplistic design. For brides wanting to add a touch of drama and elegance then look no further. The pearl bead is a very understated embellishment that can make a statement without the heavy sparkle and intricate and complexed lace designs. When selecting a pearl design, it’s important to consider functionality as lightly scattered pearl gowns can often be less comfortable to sit down in. The pearl finishing is suitable for almost every style, whether you’re after a simple fitted sheath gown or a voluminous ball-gown. There’s always a way to add a touch of pearls to any bridal gown.
Designer: Reem Acra
A TOUCH OF SPARKLE
To all our sparkly-diamond loving brides out there, we are extremely excited to be able to share this shimmery trend with you all. Spring/Summer 2020 is unlike any other season. We are putting aside the plain laces and embroidered tulles for something with a little more wow factor. If you’re after a strong sparkle and touch of silver then the glitter tulle is the perfect fabric for you. The glitter tulle will often come in variations from, lightly sprinkled with glitter for a subtler glow, to a heavily glittered look for a bride wanting to really wow her guests. For brides who still want to incorporate a pattern then consider a clear sequin and clear bugle beads to create a beautiful design on your gown. Clear beads and clear sequins are the best way to achieve a beautiful shimmer and shine without changing the colour and appearance of your gown. Avoid matte coloured beads as this will often only give you a little shine when the light hits the surface. A big misconception of achieving a shimmery gown is to go for a silver coloured sequin. Whilst this will definitely achieve a shimmer, it isn’t necessary to opt for a silver as a clear bead will achieve the same.
Designer: Lee Petra Grebenau
THE POWER SUIT
Not a fan of dresses and overly glitzy embellishments? Then you will absolutely love this trend. The bridal industry has changed dramatically in the past few years with a more versatile approach to design and a greater range of styles for brides to get inspired by. We absolutely love that this has finally become a trend. We should expect to see a lot more brides opting for a stunning fitted pant suit or jumpsuit design. Whether you walk down the aisle like a boss-woman in your power suit or decide to change into a second outfit that’s a tad comfier, we are all for it! For any bride wanting to re-create this gorgeous tailored pant, we would recommend using a breathable fabric with a little movement and flexibility such as a pure silk faille or a silk satin-back crepe. These materials have a good thickness and achieve a crisp and clean-cut finish. To really jazz up your power suit, opt for a statement sleeve, oversized bow or even a simple, well-crafted blazer.
Designer: Oscar de la Renta
FEATHERY FROCKS
To all our bold and daring brides out there wanting to add some extra drama and a splash of fun to their bridal look, then we have the perfect trend for you. The feathery feature has been quite popular over the past year and we can expect it to continue into the warmer season for this Spring/Summer 2020. The feather feature is often made from a beautiful soft ostrich feather which is then custom dyed to suit your beautiful bridal gown. The feather look is perfect if you’re wanting to add a real soft and dreamy feature, along with a tad of friskiness and fun. The feather feature can be incorporated into your gown as much or as little as you prefer. We can expect to see beautiful fitted skirt silhouettes covered fully with this beautiful feathery touch, along with more simple gowns showcasing a plain fabric with a feathery hemline or minimal feathers attached just to the neckline.
Designer: Liz Martinez
FULL LACE AND HIGH NECK
Whilst it may be getting warmer, we can expect to see an unlikely trend hit the market this Spring/Summer. The full lace and high neck design is often popular during the cooler months as both often provide that extra warmth and coverage, however this year we can see it transition into Spring. This trend often features a lace overlay which drapes from top to the bottom hemline of the skirt. The high neck look is quite an old-fashioned look but when created from a modern embroidered lace, it can look extremely regal and very contemporary in design. For brides who absolutely love a high neck look with lace but also want to remain extremely on trend, consider opting for a fitted skirt silhouette. The sheath, A-line or fit and flare style is extremely elegant and feminine with this neckline. For brides wanting to add a more wow factor, then consider adding a beautiful tulle overskirt which can be the perfect detachable accessory to change up your bridal look.
Designer: Nurit Hen Couture
SPLASH OF PASTEL
Pastel gowns have come in and out of season but there’s no denying how much we love a uniquely coloured gown. Whether it’s a subtle bridal blush, a creamy oyster/champagne tone or a bold pastel blue or lime green, we adore a non-traditional wedding gown. Coloured bridal gowns are consistently becoming more and more popular with brides swaying away from the traditional starch white. For brides wanting to add a splash of pastel but still retain that gorgeous bridal look then we have some great tips and tricks for you. The most common way is to select a base colour of your preference and then to add a gorgeous ivory bridal tulle over the top. This way your gown on the outside will be bridal but in the different lighting, your guests will be able to see a subtle hint of colour which always looks incredibly beautiful. If you prefer to avoid tulles and sheer overlays, then consider using a gorgeous ivory bridal lace. Whether it’s an overlay or an applique, your gown will definitely look bridal when you scatter a beautiful bridal lace over the top of it. For brides wanting to avoid laces, then consider adding a gorgeous train with a beautiful veil. A lace-up back is also another great way to add a bridal feature to your coloured wedding gown.
Designer: Rivini
