Vintage Wedding Dress Styles for 2021
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Whether you’re an old soul with an affection for eras long gone, or you’re simply looking for a different look from the classic white dress, a vintage wedding gown is an ideal way to break away from the mold and satisfy your nostalgia.
Fashion trends are truly cyclic, seeing as vintage-style wedding gowns are making a comeback. Modern brides are clamoring for vintage-inspired gowns, thanks to the popular rustic wedding trend largely inspired by shows like Bridgerton and The Great Gatsby. And why not? Vintage and vintage-inspired gowns often feature stunning lace, graceful and airy fabrics, intricate beading, and flattering necklines.
Vintage wedding gowns come in an array of unique silhouettes, but that can be a problem in itself. Too many options means a choice dilemma, especially if you’re a perfectionist bride who wants to get the absolutely perfect wedding dress. Should you go with Bridgerton-esque frocks and empire-waist silhouettes? Or opt for ‘50s-inspired full princess skirts and bishop sleeves?
To help you decide, we’ve curated the best vintage dress styles for 2021 from our extensive collection that will transport you to your favorite decade. We’re certain that you’ll find a timeless piece to suit your personality, body type, wedding theme, and dance floor needs!
Selecting Your Vintage Wedding Dress - A Quick Guide
One of the most iconic attributes of vintage wedding dresses is the interesting silhouettes they create. If you’re planning a vintage-themed wedding, finding the perfect vintage wedding dress can be a huge hassle. Many brides want to wear a dress that has history and tells a story, but many times the available options are out-of-shape or damaged.
At Afarose, we create vintage-inspired wedding dresses using silhouettes, necklines, and fabrics that tell tales of times past and exude an antique charm. From ball gowns to princess skirts, let’s check out the most unique vintage wedding dress silhouettes of 2021 (wow that's a mouthful):
Vintage Wedding Dress Silhouettes
Ball Gown
Nothing says “vintage” quite like a full ball gown silhouette. Paying homage to the ‘30s with their ample fabric and long trains, these wedding gowns remind us of the royal gowns worn by the privileged upper class of the 19th century and before.
The sweetheart bardot neckline on our Marjorie dress flows seamlessly into a hanging waist that tumbles into a full ball silhouette. Lace sheaths add classic details that increase the unassuming charm of the whole look. If you’re doing a classic church wedding, this is a strong contender. All you’ll need to complete the look is a veil and a wide smile.
Our Astrid dress merges elements of vintage dresses across a few eras to create a delightfully mysterious piece. The satin ball gown skirt reflects the practicality of the ‘40s, but the luxurious lace detail screams girly glamour from the ‘50s. The cut-out illusion bodice and the plunging back add a daring twist that highlights feminine sensuality without being immodest. What’s not to love?
A-Line/Princess Skirts
The A-line silhouette is popular in many different styles, including vintage. For a subtle “vintage” look, consider a princess cut. This popular silhouette hugs your bust and flares out softly for an angelic, feminine look.
Our Catherine dress blends a tulle princess skirt with dainty lace appliqués. Its deep V plunging back adds a bit of drama that makes it perfect for an elegant ballroom wedding.
Layers of tulle and floral lace details evoke charming antique romance in our Gladys A-line wedding gown, featuring a V-neckline and short, simple sleeves. This dress radiates wholesome “girl-next-door” vibes, making it a terrific option for a low-key garden or backyard wedding.
Trumpet/Mermaid Silhouettes
A mermaid wedding gown is the best vintage wedding dress option to show off your stunning curves. This daring silhouette is fitted through the bust, torso, and hips before dramatically flaring out. Trumpet and mermaid silhouettes are timeless and transcend all dress styles, so the vintage touch is mostly in the details.
Our strapless Regina dress flaunts a gorgeous mermaid silhouette with lace and tulle. The lace detailing on the bodice creates a corset-ish illusion that will further cinch your waistline and enhance the streamlined silhouette of the dress. The décolleté sweetheart neckline is a cute way to show off pretty collarbones.
The focal detail on our Betsy trumpet silhouette dress is the illusion neckline and scooped illusion V-back. The pearl button details add a royal touch of antiquity to the dress that makes it a perfect option for a vintage-themed wedding. You can accessorize with pearl headpieces and jewelry to complete the look.
Sheath/Column Silhouettes
Sheath and column wedding gowns are slim-fitting, sleek gowns with little to no volume. These vintage wedding dresses—which feature everything from flowing charmeuse to scalloped necklines—are a great way to show off your unique style.
If you’re planning a retro, minimalist wedding, you may have just found the dress. Our Vita dress whispers subtle elegance with its perfect charmeuse layer, modest neckline, and wine-glass silhouette. The illusion V-back is adorned with charming lace and the nape-to-floor button detailing adds a stunning symmetry to the look.
Our Vita dress is the ideal blend of clean, modern, and timeless, and is perfectly suited to a modern ‘60s-loving bride.
Our Evangeline dress combines a lacy off-the-shoulder illusion neckline with flowing tulle to create a versatile sheath silhouette that fits many wedding themes. The diamond white lace and short sleeves create an antique aesthetic that imitates the staple style of the roaring ‘20s. Perfect if you’re looking for a dress that’s modest, mysterious, and magical.
Vintage Wedding Dress Necklines
The neckline may seem like a minor detail, but you’ll be surprised to discover there’s an art and even science to this aspect of dress design. If you take your body type and height into consideration, necklines can accentuate and enhance the look of your dress. Let’s check out some of the necklines available from our vintage-inspired collection.
Illusion Necklines
The illusion of a strapless, deep plunge or sweetheart neckline is created by extending skin-matching fabric (such as tulle or lace) from the top of the bodice to the base of the neck or over the shoulders. This lovely neckline is the perfect mix of modern elegance and traditional romanticism, especially when appliques placed on top appear to float over the skin.
Our Hana dress features a soft off-the-shoulder illusion neckline with long sleeves. The illusion continues to the bodice and gives the impression that you’re wrapped in fairy flowers. It’s a simple, yet undeniable charming look that will survive the test of time.
On our Adela dress, the illusion neckline is a cute, classic sweetheart perfect for brides that want to feel like princesses on their big day. Still, the plunging illusion V-back exudes a mature femininity and adds a bit of drama. The button and lace vintage-inspired details complete the look.
Scoop Neckline
For a more “classic” take on vintage, try a scoop neckline. These necklines are a friend to almost all body types, so that’s one less detail to worry about! Scoop necks are deeper, wider cuts that will draw the eye downward and lengthen your neck.
Our Lucine dress is a simple, versatile piece with a clean scoop neck and sleeveless style. The thigh-high slit and chapel train complete the elegance of this look and make it suitable for just about any wedding, indoor or out.
Sweetheart Necklines
Sweetheart is a wedding dress mainstay for a reason. The sweetheart neckline is always flattering and is easily worked into several variations.
On our Elysia dress, the sweetheart neckline is a layered satin gorgeousness that accentuates the upper body. With the belt-cinched waist and the full skirt, this statement-making ball gown is perfect for a formal, romantic wedding.
Our Diamond dress pairs a strapless satin sweetheart neckline with a low-hanging waist that is every bit the homage to the roaring ‘20s. The lace details on the hem add a Victorian-era charm that elevates the look beautifully. This simple vintage blend creates a timeless piece for any bride who prefers a simple, traditional wedding dress.
Vintage Wedding Dress Fabrics
Perhaps the most important factor when selecting a vintage or vintage-inspired dress is the fabric. From tulle or charmeuse to satin or lace, fabrics carry a story with them that echo back to long-gone eras, fashions, and aesthetics.
More importantly, fabric textures determine the silhouette of every dress, so it is important to consider the style you’re going for before choosing a fabric to match. For instance, tulle holds well for full-skirt materials because of its floatiness. We can’t say the same for lace or charmeuse, which are better suited for slimmer, body-defining silhouettes.
Fabric choices do depend on seasonality as well, because some fabrics are more lightweight than others. For example, satin tends to be a thicker fabric, so it's a good choice for cooler weather weddings. Here are some of the best fabric options in our vintage collection:
Tulle
When else do you get to wear tulle?! Assuming you’re not a ballerina, tulle is definitely not everyday wear. The classic bridal fabric is becoming increasingly popular in sexy illusion styles with barely-there necklines, cutouts or sleeves.
It’s a pretty special occasion fabric, and a wedding is a perfect excuse to break out the tulle. One great thing about this lightweight fabric is that it provides ample structure without being a literal burden to carry.
Our Durriya is a sleeveless, classic lace-and-tulle combination that creates the perfect ball gown silhouette for an angelic bride.
On our Merry dress, a cinched corset bodice flows out into a dreamy, charming skirt that’s giving us serious Princess Diana vibes.
Lace
Lace is one of those materials that adds a touch of elegance to any dress. The fabric comes in a dizzying array of patterns and is most commonly used as an overlay or detail. Inspired heavily by 1950s fashion, lace is a staple for many wedding styles.
Our Charmaine dress pairs charming lace, classic tulle, and a satiny cinched waist together to create a versatile wedding dress. The A-line drape is highlighted with lace trimmings, and a half slit gives this dress an easy day-to-night look.
The Hebe dress is a lace design that lengthens the body with its trumpet silhouette. Its modern simplicity is complemented with a modest ‘80s charm that the lace elevates. She’s a beauty on every level!
Satin
Satin is one of the most versatile—and most durable—wedding dress fabrics. Luxurious and sexy, it embodies elegance and lends itself well to many silhouettes. On our Amber dress, satin plays up the silhouette with its glossy sheen, adding a touch structure and regality to the high-low ballgown look. It also has pockets! As every dress should!
Something New, Something Old...
Shopping for vintage wedding dresses online can prove difficult. Faced with terrible sizing charts and deceptive return policies, online wedding dress shopping can quickly become a nightmare.
At Afarose we believe that a bride should have an array of options no matter what aesthetic she’s going for and that online shopping for wedding dresses should be a simple, straightforward affair.
Our extensive collection of vintage-inspired dresses is budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. Check out the full collection at Afarose.com to find a vintage dress that merges modernity with the finest fashions of decades past.
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