MODERN brides have been ditching traditional white and church-friendly outfits for high slits, corset tops, and low-cut looks.
I was invited to New York Bridal Fashion Week, and saw first-hand how designers are catering to the risqué new trends.
Horizon Bridal Market held its third annual event in Manhattan, showcasing independent designers with distinctive collections.
"Brides come to Horizon Bridal designers because they want something new, something fresh that they haven’t seen everywhere," founder Alyson Melhus told The U.S. Sun.
Alyson explained: “They’re seeing a lot of unconventional, alternative, not traditional styles, and it’s blending more into everyday wear."
Women are dressing sexy in their own day-to-day lives, so why not do the same on their special day?
I also spoke to several designers at BFW, whose collections embody that mentality.
“For years, bridal wasn't about fashion. I feel like it was more about what your mom wanted you to wear, what your grandma wanted you to wear, what was appropriate for the venue you're getting married in," said Betsy Judd, owner of label BB NYC.
As a former bridal salesperson, Betsy also felt "it was a missing opportunity in the industry” to find pieces that were different from what your friend might wear for their big day.
Her collection includes crop tops, skirts, and mini dresses, many of them covered in sequins.
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She added: “Brides spend a lot of money (on a wedding). This is your day, so it should reflect your personal style.”
Wedding consultant Julie agrees.
"The traditions of bridal and how it started is not the case anymore. It's not all about the purity of it. While that's still a factor for many, it's not the factor for some," she explained.
"For my wedding, I did a red slip dress for my reception, and I did it because it felt like me."
As part of the fashion week event, I attended a runway show that highlighted many of the designers' signature pieces.
Models strutted down the runway in corset tops, slits that showed a bit of upper thigh, short cocktail dresses, plunging necklines, low-cut backs, and more.
The body-confident styles stepped away from a former pure and covered-up vision that was the opposite of chaste.
Mexican-American fashion designer Lourdes Castañeda is the creative mind behind Edith Élan, an independent bridal brand based in Charleston, SC.
The South Carolina-based designer prides herself on her size inclusivity with a collection that ranges from size 0 to size 30.
Lourdes said: “My design aesthetic is timeless styles that blend vintage details with modern silhouettes.
“The importance of a wedding dress is it needs to be an elevated version of the bride, so it's still true to who they are, but it's a little (more) extra special than everyday clothes."
No matter their size, her brides have the option to wear low-cut and form-fitting gowns, specifically made for their curves.
California-based designer Alyssa Dahl specializes in sheer detailing, couture, hand-sewn details, and appliques on her wedding dresses.
She described her Dahl Collection gowns as "very sexy, feminine, sheer, romantic.”
If you put many of her flowy gowns against the light, you could see right through them, revealing the many layers of light tulle and a bodysuit underneath.
“I really focused on the girl who wants to show off her body,” she said.
Similar to Betsy, Alyssa referenced her own experience when piecing together and pricing her collection.
"I ended up making my own wedding dress, which was completely sheer with a bunch of appliques and everyone was like 'Whoa, we haven't seen anything like this'," she revealed.
That's what prompted her to create elegant, lavish looks that look like they cost $20,000 when their retail price is less than a quarter of that.
Sensual bridal brand Delana Muse shared a similar mentality that pushes traditional standards.
Designer and owner Sheila Salemme said: “In a lot of my gowns, you find that there’s a lot of sexiness and sultriness in there, a lot of thigh splits and corsetry as well.”
Her Arista gown has a low-cut V-neck, which amplifies a bride's bosom but can also be adjusted as they see fit.
"With my gowns, I always try to push the limits a little bit more and allow brides to take it back if they want to, but I go all the way in to show that they can go this route,” Sheila added.
Another not-so-shocking fashion trend that has made its way into the bridal world is Barbie.
Capitalizing on the success of the hit film, many designers have utilized pink and girly designs that Margot Robbie's character wears in the movie to further their collections.
Accessory designer Sara Brosious has been a fan of the doll's female empowerment message since childhood and used it as inspiration for her latest collection.
She incorporated lace, chic bows, polka dots, sparkles, and feathers into her glamorous items.
Sara recently launched lace socks and described them as "a new fashion-forward up-and-coming bridal trend.”
The "super cute" item goes down into the heels and can be worn full-length or slouchy.
The accessory designer also showed off a white feather and pearl purse that was "super Barbie and relevant to any wedding."
In tune with Sara's sentiments, Horizon Bridal founder Alyson admitted that she felt like "the mind frame of being a bride is changing."
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Alyson said: “It's not so much about the traditional white dress anymore. It's about standing out. How can they have their wedding be the most Instagrammable moment for them?"
With gowns with a retail price ranging from $1,500 to $4,000, the Horizon Bridal event promised affordability without compromising on quality and style.
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