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Since the popularity of the iconic white wedding gown, many of us have been inspired by the looks of the famous throughout time. As wedding dress trends changed, we’ve seen our bride idols flaunt short, long, voluminous, flowing or tight gowns and suits of every shape and style. To find your inspiration, here’s our very varied mix of favourite iconic wedding outfits that have influenced us throughout history:
Queen Elizabeth was only 21 when she married Prince Philip in 1947, however her majestic wedding gown inspired a very demure, lady-like elegance. The Queen dazzled the nation, still recovering from the Second World War, with her Norman Hartnell gown encrusted with 10,000 pearls sewn with silver thread. The ivory satin wedding dress was completed with an embroidered veil and her mother’s royal tiara.
The infamously beautiful star Audrey Hepburn, married Mel Ferrer after acting with him on Broadway in 1954. Widely recognised as a style icon and in with many of the couture fashion houses, Hepburn opted for a Pierre Balmain wedding dress with exaggerated details including puffed sleeves, a large bow tying in her very small waist and raised collar. The fifties designer dress was a ballerina-length, which she teamed with roses to frame her hair – a very pretty, girlish look.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor went through quite a few wedding outfits, however we love her glamourous green ensemble for her fourth marriage to singer Eddie Fisher. Her dark and luscious green figure-forming dress is understated yet striking. Elizabeth matched her translucent hooded A-line skirted dress with silk heels and a green bouquet.
Mia Farrow was another bride who diverted away from the traditional long white wedding gown. In 1966, Farrow married the star Frank Sinatra, taking on a characteristically 60s look – an on-trend skirt suit. At 21 the model sported a very minimalist style, with little embellishment and cropped hair, however without losing her femininity.
It seems the skirt suit still prevailed for famous brides of the 70s, with Bianca Jagger boasting a more laidback and sexy skirt suit for her wedding in 1971. Bianca married the rock n’ roll king Mick Jagger in St Tropez and was pregnant at the time, covering her bump with a white maxi skirt and Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking jacket. Instead of the traditional tiara Bianca opted for a wide brimmed hat, set with fabric roses and a tulle veil. Bianca’s bridal look goes to show that you really can be versatile with your wedding outfit!
From the casual cool Ms Jagger Lady Diana Spencer brought about a new wedding dress trend – the voluminous, fairytale gown. Marrying Prince Charles in 1981, princess Diana wore her iconic Elizabeth Emmanuel dress, featuring a massive puffed skirt, big shoulders with a flouncing neckline and a long, winding train. Diana followed the ‘old, new, borrowed, blue’ tradition with a blue bow sewn to her waistband, and a 18-carat gold and diamond horseshoe attached to the back of the dress.
In 2002 popstar Gwen Stefani married rock singer Gavin Rossdale in a John Galliano dress. The wedding dress makes the iconic list in that it featured an ombre pink design, gradually darkening at the hem. The dress was hailed as a work of art and Gwen donated it to the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Kate Middleton wore her famous lace bridal gown when she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011. Designed by Alexander McQueen’s creative director, Sarah Burton, the dress has inspired thousands of contemporary brides to shy away from the more flamboyant princess dress and to the more slimline, classic shape. Kate’s dress featured lace sleeves combining the four emblems of the UK – the rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock. She teamed her sophisticated dress with a long veil and borrowed tiara from the Queen.
Also married in 2011, supermodel Kate Moss, like Gwen, chose a John Galliano gown. Wedding The Kills singer Jamie Hince, her dress reflected the bohemian vibe of the wedding held in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside and her boho, laid-back style. The flowing, simplistic gown used sheer elements and art-deco style embroidery and panelling.
Another star married in 2011, Keira Knightley secretly wed her husband James Righton in sunny South France. However, unlike the other iconic brides, the actress and fashion muse went for a Chanel dress and jacket she already owned. The tulle strapless dress is ballerina-esque, however she contrasted the feminine designer pieces with edgy Raybans and flat pumps.
