What will she wear? The enduring romance of the wedding dress

Over 30 of the Fashion Museum’s most exquisite cream, ivory and white the finest wedding dresses will be on show at the ‘What will she wear? The enduring romance of the wedding dress’ exhibition . Many of the exhibits are over 100 years old, delicate silks with gossamer fine lace and embroidery, all carefully hand-picked for the new display.

" WHAT WILL SHE WEAR? (the question of course asked of every bride) will include wedding dresses lovingly made of the finest silks brocaded with metal thread, lustrous silk satins, even crisp white nylons; some of the dresses are decorated with ribbons and bows, some with cascades of antique lace and some are just heart-stoppingly beautiful in their pared-down classical elegance. We are aiming to show the richness and variety of the white wedding dress down the ages, as well of course the enduring romance of the traditional style".

White has been the colour most associated with wedding dress in western cultures for well over 200 years and WHAT WILL SHE WEAR?will present historical examples from the early 19th century. The most up to date wedding dress in the exhibition is a white lace dress, with an asymmetric hem by designer Alexander McQueen worn in Summer 2010, and especially lent to the Fashion Museum for the display.

The display at the Fashion Museum will also include a selection of framed sepia photographs, all part of a previously unseen archive collection of 1930s wedding dresses by the Paris couture house of Worth.

Photo:

Cream/gold brocade silk wedding dress from the 1940s, worn by Eileen Brokenbrow