Setting the trends

• Slim silhouettes star in the latest collections from top designers

• Shoulders got more attention than in recent seasons, with tiny straps, a lacey fichu or, in many collections, a gossamer-fine shrug or chiffon overcoat.

• GROOMS – while wedding dresses move towards Forties-style slender slink, menswear has looked to the peacock for inspiration.

One of the wedding industry's most powerful trend indicators, The September British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate (BBEH), provided a vivid snapshot of bridalwear fashion. Key names in the bridal industry, including Ian Stuart, Ritva Westenius, Maggie Sottero and Veromia, revealed their latest collections at the BBEH.

Slim silhouettes that follow natural body curves were the highlight of collections from top designers such as Jenny Packham, Amanda Wakeley and Beverly Lister who added detail with layerings of intricately-worked lace, long satin sashes loosely knotted or bow-tied, and panels of beading, embroidery or heavilytextured fabrics. Shoulders got more attention than in recent seasons, with tiny straps, a lacey fichu or, in many collections, a gossamer-fine shrug or chiffon overcoat. In fact, September’s catwalk shows indicated a trend towards much more revealing gowns: plunging necklines, slashes permitting glimpses of leg, fine see-through fabrics.

Colour, when evident, was pale and pretty. Flower-fresh pinks, lavender, blue and mint green were used throughout many collections as a highlight trim that could be colour matched to bridesmaids’ gowns.Traditional creams, ivories and pale champagne shades, however, were the fashion forerunners, with bright white gathering momentum, particularly for
destination wedding dresses.

MENSWEAR

And as for grooms – while wedding dresses move towards Forties-style slender slink, menswear has looked to the peacock for inspiration. Italian design houses have the men competing for the spotlight, with crushed velvets, embroidery, frills, ruffles and flounces and their fair share of jewellery, while traditional English companies concentrated on updating the classics with boldly-patterned waistcoats and ties, pleated and gathered silks, and specialist collections with an Asian or Highland influence.

ACCESSORIES

Extravagant veils sprinkled with sparkle or edged with embroidery or heavily decorated in the Spanish-style were much in evidence with houses like Richard Designs, Joyce Jackson and Elizabeth Dickens offering hundreds of colour, length and finish options and a wide range of veiling fabrics.

Jewellery, too, came into its own, with head-turning, statementmaking
pieces. Designer Lisa Matthews produced a scarf made up of thousands of crystal beads, while Halo & Co produced an exceptional retro group within its collection. Brides will be wearing huge earrings liberally dotted with diamanté, and carrying bouquets made up of crystals and pearls or preserved roses precisely colour-matched to gowns or accessories.