How to be a vintage bride like
PRINCESS Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a surprise ceremony, but even more unexpected was her choice of wedding dress.
Instead of enlisting a top designer to make a gown like so many royal brides before her, Beatrice dipped into the Queen’s archives and found a peau de soie ivory taffeta dress by Norman Hartnell.
The Queen wore it to the premiere of Lawrence Of Arabia in December 1962, and again to the State Opening of Parliament in 1966.
Beatrice had the Queen’s senior dresser Angela Kelly and designer Stewart Parvin remodel the dress, adding delicate capped sleeves and topped off the outfit with another loan from her grandmother – the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, which the young Princess Elizabeth II also wore on her wedding day in 1947.
“Princess Beatrice’s choice of wedding dress marks a point in the royal family’s iconic fashion choices, taking steps towards mindful consumption even on such an important day,” says Victoria Prew from rental platform HURR Collective (hurrcollective. com). If you’re considering vintage for your wedding day, here are some tips.
BE OPEN-MINDED
“TRY not to be too focused on the designer; there are incredible options out there without the labels,” says Victoria.
BE TARGETED IN YOUR SEARCH
“IF YOU’RE looking for a particular cut, style or era, be specific in your search. Naming brands or eras that are associated with the style you’re looking to emulate will help you narrow down the search to the most relevant items,” says Emma.
PLAN IN ADVANCE
VINTAGE wedding dresses tend to be one-of-a-kind, so it’s unlikely you’ll find a dress that fits you like a glove.
“Make sure there’s enough time to have your perfect piece altered,” says Victoria. “Get the dress, then get it altered to perfection.”
BE FLEXIBLE WITH SIZING
“IT MIGHT have also been altered at the time of buying to fit the owner, so you may have to size up or down to get the fit that works for you,” says Emma. “Always get in touch with the seller to check the specific measurements.”
SEARCH FOR ACCESSORIES
“VINTAGE is also great for crowns and earrings,” says Victoria.
“Going vintage means you can guarantee your choice will be ‘timeless’ rather than ‘trendy’ – it’s your day, so make a statement.”
CONSIDER ITS CONDITION
“WHILE a few buttons or sequins missing shouldn’t put you off investing in a great quality, pre-owned wedding dress, more significant signs of wear and tear require further thought,” Emma says.
“Don’t risk money on items that are fraying, holed and stained as, chances are, trying to repair a gown and get a good colour match will be trickier to get away with. If the dress hasn’t been professionally cleaned by the seller, consider getting this done yourself.”