Wedding trends 2013: Pretty in pink, red and blue

“Wedding gowns move away from white in 2013, as brides embrace stronger shades and bolder brights.” – Lauren La Rose (Canadian Press)

Looks like the traditional white/ivory/cream wedding gown trend that was made popular by Queen Victoria will revert back to colourful shades this year! Before Queen Victoria, wedding dresses were all sorts of colours and material, often to symbolise one’s wealth and/or status.

Based on an old superstitious poem (not sure of the origin), this is what future brides could expect their future to be like, depending on the colour they choose:

“Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
Married in grey, you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow.
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

We know that not all who have chosen white had actually “chosen all right.” 😦 Black, though made popular for mourning by Queen Victoria, [had] symbolised wealth and elegance, as it is a mixture of all colours and therefore, the most expensive hue! Red, which is one of the popular shades this year, is the usual colour for brides in most countries in Asia, as it represents vibrance and health (and frightens the evil spirits away?). Contrary to what most people think, blue – yet another 2013 bridal trend – is not a boy’s colour. In fact, it had been a girl’s colour for centuries (at least in some/most European countries), as it represents purity and fidelity. This hue will certain check off the “something blue”! Yellow or gold represents royal status in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Lastly, one can never go wrong looking “pretty in pink” (pink had been a boy’s colour before Hitler came along and gave the inverted pink triangle to homosexuals), another 2013 bridal trend.

Colours aside, here are some interesting trends for this year (directly taken from the article):

Illusion neckline: The sheer overlay at the top of the dress connects to the bodice offering a see-through effect and a “beautiful finish.” (For example, Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg’s wedding dress by Elie Saab)

Fanciful backs: From keyhole cut-outs to cascading, flowing ribbons, McGill said a notable trend emerging is the attention to detail on the backs of wedding dresses. (For example, this gown by Zuhair Murad for Rosa Clara 2013.)

Sleeves: It’s been nearly 2 years since the Duchess of Cambridge wowed many with her luxurious lace bridal gown, and the embrace of sleeved dresses into the wedding wear fold remains strong. “People are looking to add three-quarter length or full-length sleeves to a lot of existing gowns,” said Rucks, noting brides can also pair their dress with small jackets to strike a similar effect.

Vintage: Some designers are reviving retro looks from fashion’s glam eras for the modern bride. “We’re definitely seeing that ’50s, ’60s vibe with the tea length cut to the hemline, crinolined to give it the poodle skirt kind of a feel,” said Rucks. (For example, Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face.)

Read more on trends for bridesmaids and mother of the brides!

Are you getting married this year? Will you be following 2013’s trend or will you stick with the ‘traditional’ trend? For those of you who are already married, what did you wear and/or what did you wish you had worn?

Note on this blog post: Please correct me if I’m wrong!