ROMPER ROOM
The offbeat fashion trend that’s taking weddings by storm,
Brides are wearing the pants like never before.
Wedding rompers and bridal playsuits have been hitting international runways and selling out in wedding stores.
From the long-legged satin romper to the lacy playsuit, non-traditional brides are choosing to step into white onesies to mark their special day.
“I think the kind of girl who would wear a romper for her wedding is the kind of girl who thinks ahead of the pack,” Canadian designer Kaelen Haworth told the Star.
Haworth, of Oakville, Ont., is now running her own eponymous label in New York City and has two white, wedding-appropriate rompers in her spring collection this year.
“I love a romper, and I probably would have worn one as a late-night option for my own wedding if I’d had the foresight,” she said.
“For me, I wanted the dress for the formal part of the occasion, but (the romper) would be a great outfit to switch into for the dancing and debauchery.”
Wedding rompers are appearing on catwalks in many different shapes and styles, from sheer bohemian lace to white fur, sequins and strapless satin. Celebrities are also fuelling the trend. Beyoncé’s sister Solange Knowles made headlines in November for donning a tight, cream, long-legged romper on her wedding day and Harry Potter star Emma Watson has been spotted in a full-lace romper on the red carpet.
The pros of wearing a romper to your wedding is that it is “easy, cute and frees you up to drink, eat and dance.”
But a potential con could be looking back on wedding pictures and feeling like you were following a trend on your big day.
“As long as you make it yours, I don’t think it would be something to regret,” Haworth said.
Jessica Mulroney, spokeswoman for Kleinfeld Bridal Boutique at Hudson’s Bay, has seen a growing trend of “a more relaxed bride,” which she said was going hand in hand with the birth of the wedding romper.
“Lots of weddings are done on a smaller scale and in a more relaxed setting. A romper is the perfect outfit for the ultra-cool bride who wants to remain comfortable and stylish at her wedding,” she said.
“Brides are begging to feel more like themselves on their wedding day. A romper is yet another trend that reflects the easy-breezy bride.”
“As long as you make it yours, I don’t think it would be something to regret.” KAELEN HAWORTH CANADIAN DESIGNER
The romper is for “a more fashion-forward girl,” but buyers beware, Mulroney said, “it may be an option you regret many years down the road.”
Weddingbells editor-in-chief Alison McGill first noticed the romper spreading into bridal wear at the Rivini runway show in New York in late 2013.
“That’s when I first saw the wedding onesie. I loved it and thought it was very different. It’s a nice, sexy, sleek option.”
When Anthropologie’s wedding brand, BHLDN, launched the Prato bridal romper last fall, it sold out immediately, senior buyer Lindsey Robers said.
The ivory lace jumpsuit is advertised online as a “head-turning reception switch.” It has grosgrain bows down the back, scalloped edges and sheer, lace sleeves.
Rompers are “definitely gaining steam,” Robers, of Philadelphia, said. They are an easy way to add a “contemporary touch” to your wedding.
“Brides want their wedding-day looks to be an extension of who they are. When you see style icons such as Solange Knowles wearing a jumpsuit on her wedding day, it spurs a movement of brides wanting to explore the option, ultimately encouraging designers and retailers to increase their offerings in response.”