While 2021 bridal trends have already disrupted many traditions — micro-dresses and jumpsuits reigned as brides swapped ballgowns for look more suited for minimonies and intimate gatherings that defined the pandemic — come next fall, wedding dresses will continue to reflect the times we are living in.
As New York Bridal Fashion Week showed this week, designers are opting for versatile pieces that brides-to-be will want to wear again after the ceremony, with recycling the biggest trend of all. Brands like Lazaro, Nadia Manjarrez, Houghton by Katharine Polk, and Katherine Tash offered 2-in-1 garments, as well as practical design elements like pockets and high-low skirts.
Ready-to-wear trends also made their way down the runways, with Bridgeton-style corsets, cut-outs, and statement sleeves leveling up the game for brides who want a departure from the classic silhouettes.
Ahead, take a look at some of the biggest 2022 bridal trends coming to a fall wedding near you.
Detachable Pieces
It’s a common practice for brides to trade gowns for mini dresses during the reception, to make way for partying the night away. For fall 2022, designers and brands are eliminating the need for a second dress. Instead, they are offering gowns with detachable pieces — from sleeves and overskirts to bows and trains — that can take a bride from the altar to the dance floor with a quick tug of an overskirt.Long-sleeved gown with detachable bow train from Allison Webb
Corsets
Much like the rest of us, the bridal world has also paid attention to Bridgerton. Regency-inspired corsets are now making their way down the aisle in the form of gowns with corset bodices and dresses with exposed boning.Houghton by Katharine Polk
Cut-Outs
If there’s a definitive 2021 fashion trend, it’s cut-outs, and it seems that the Y2K-ready style is ready for its big day. Bridal brands and designers are embracing shows of skin, with everything from midriff-baring numbers to back slits appearing on the runways.PatBo
Statement Sleeves
Similarly to cut-outs, statement sleeves have been one of the biggest trends of 2021, with celebrities and designers offering a spotlight on the shoulders. For bridal, the style is just as extra, with off-the-shoulder and voluminous sleeves marking gowns. Designers like Katherine Tash and Nadia Manjarrez went a step further and offered detachable options that can come off for the reception.Elie Saab
High-low Skirts
The 2010s were marked by high-low skirts (you know, the dreaded mullet-like skirt we all loved to hate). Now that the style is coming back in ready-to-wear, wedding gowns are also embracing the asymmetrical hemline.Viktor&Rolf
Asymmetrical Ruffles
Ruffles add the perfect touch of drama to an otherwise simple white gown. Brands and designers this season elevated minimalist silhouettes and crisp fabrics with lopsided ruffles that gave this bridal-approved detail a modern twist.Theia
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