History of the Wedding Dress (Part 2)

1950s
–
A Return to White Wedding Luxury
Grace Kelly and
Prince Rainier
April 19th, 1956
Combining both Hollywood
glamour and royal fantasy, the
wedding of actress Grace
Kelly and the Prince of
Monaco gave the public a
story of ultimate fairytale
romance. 30 million people
watched this “wedding of the
century” on television. Grace
Kelly grew up in Philadelphia
and then moved to New York
to find her big break on
Broadway. She soon became a
Hollywood star. She letter met
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
They married in 1956 making
Grace Kelly the princess
consort of Monaco. Grace
Kelly as an all-American girl
turned Hollywood actress and
finally princess likely inspired
fairytale ideals and
Hollywood glamour in future
weddings to come.
Ready-to-Wear
By the 1950s, the demand for haute
couture diminished with greater
interest in ready-to-wear. The
ready-to-wear industry began
during the Civil War out of the
necessity to mass produce soldiers’
uniforms. Men’s ready-to-wear
evolved quicker than women’s,
with women’s everyday clothing
being custom-made up until the
1920s. As Paris haute couture lost
some of its prominence in the 1950s
with places like London quickly
gaining authority in the ready-towear industry, bridal fashions
would soon drift away from tailorm a d e . A s a re s u l t , f a s h i o n
magazines gained greater authority
in guiding brides in their gown
search by informing of where they
could purchase a particular dress.
1953-1959
The Invention of Nylon
The synthetic fiber nylon
discovered in the 1950s allowed a
cheaper alternative to silk fabric
most commonly used in bridal
attire. Inclusion of nylon in
wedding dress further promoted
the white wedding dress as a true
white color could only be achieved
with synthetic materials.
1957, designed by Jacques Fath
Television
The appearance of television into
American homes allowed wedding
styles and trends to visually reach
brides on a national level. The TV
series Bride and Groom, for example,
offered viewers insight into other
contemporary weddings. Initially a
radio show in 1945, Bride and Groom
entered national television in 1951
and lasted until 1954. The fifteen
m i n u t e p ro g r a m s h o w c a s e d
wedding ceremonies of modern
couples. At the end of each
broadcast, hosts offered the
newlyweds gifts and honeymoon
packages.
Bride and Groom: WATCH HERE
Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy
September 12th, 1953
Before John F. Kennedy’s
p r e s i d e n c y, h e w a s a
Massachusetts senator and
already a famous figure to the
American public. Jackie, too,
was a prominent figure in
American life because of her
influential and wealthy family.
“Society pages” still played a
large role in American pop
culture and regularly featured
the couple, even before their
marriage. Their Rhode Island
marriage was therefore
national news. The black and
white photographs of their
wedding day published in
LIFE would promote Jackie’s
Kennedy’s status as style icon
and influence bridal fashion
around the country.
Vogue wedding announcement,
September 15, 1953.
LIFE magazine, September 28, 1953
1960s
–
Weddings and Television
Princess Margaret and Anthony-Armstrong Jones
May 6, 1960
The wedding of Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth, to the future Earl of Snowden was the first
royal ceremony to be televised. Sixty million UK viewers tuned in to the live broadcast with 300 million total
worldwide who watched the ceremony. Evolving technology also allowed for close-up shots of the event
because of a newly-created type of zoom lens. With the six televised royal weddings to follow, the number of
television viewers increased immensely with each successive wedding. The most recent wedding of Prince
William and Catherine attracted 2 billion viewers.
Luci Johnson and Pat Nugent
August 6, 1966
Not all high-profile weddings
would be televised in the same
way as the wedding of
Princess Margaret. Back in the
United States, Luci Johnson,
daughter of the sitting
president Lyndon B. Johnson,
chose not to have television
crews present for her marriage
ceremony within the National
Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception.
1970s
–
The Non-Traditional
Counterculture
In the next decade, brides and grooms desired greater personalization and individuality in their weddings.
Many wished to express their political or societal views through their weddings. Wedding dress was one
way to express this individuality. No longer were celebrity styles copied down to every detail. Instead,
young people of the counterculture adapted the traditional aspects of the wedding to suit their own tastes.
Many rejected these traditions completely as a way of speaking out against consumerism or gender
inequality, for example. As a result, a variety of wedding dress was acceptable. Fashions could include
inexpensive and casual styles, as well as Indian-inspired clothes or antique garments.
Women’s Movement and the Non-Traditional
The voices of women’s rights
advocates gained greater power
during this period. Many challenged
the traditional societal roles and
expectations of women, including
those promoted by the traditional
wedding. They especially criticized
the consumerist rituals of the wedding
in which women were expected to
participate. The traditional white
wedding dress, historically a symbol
of feminine purity and virginity as
well as a marker of consumerist ritual,
did not correspond with many
feminist views. Many of these women
chose not to participate in the white
wedding tradition.
Many “non-traditional” styles evolved
as a result.. The mini-skirt, or the
wedding suit (as worn by Bianca
Jagger in 1971), reflected increasing
women’s liberation.
Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox
June 12, 1971
Despite the media attention given to alternative weddings, traditional wedding practices continued. In fact,
94% of brides did wear white and 87% donned floor-length ensembles despite the trend for miniskirts. The
wedding of Trisha Nixon (daughter of sitting president Richard Nixon) to Edward Cox demonstrated the
white wedding’s unbreakable popularity in the 1970s. She wore a conventional long white lace dress and a
veil. Trisha’s pre-wedding preparation as well as the wedding itself was shared with the public through
media and magazines like Look and Life.
1980s
–
Return to a Fairytale
Lady Diana and Prince
Charles
July 29th, 1981
Following the alternative weddings
publicized throughout the 1970s, a
return to traditional occurred in the
following decade. As seen through
Tr i c i a N i x o n ’ s w e d d i n g , t h e
conventional wedding never really
disappeared, but the 1980s marked
greater interest in the white
wedding over the alternative
wedding celebration. The fairytale
proceedings of the royal wedding of
Lady Diana and Prince Charles
embodied this renewal of tradition.
The public watched as Diana
arrived to St. Paul’s Cathedral in an
elaborate horse-drawn carriage. She
emerged in a sparkling tiara and a
ruffled ball gown with a 25-foot
train. Soon every bride was copying
Princess Diana’s wedding style –
puffed sleeves, ruffles and white
lace.
1990s
–
Pop Culture and the Bride
Movies
Movies centered around weddings
proliferated ‘90s popular culture.
In fact, in 1997, 1999 and 2000,
wedding movies made up part of
the top ten box-office releases.
Films such as the remake of Father
of the Bride, Four Weddings and a
Funeral, My Best Friend’s Wedding,
and Runaway Bride encouraged the
white wedding dress tradition.
Specifically, they showed images
of elaborate wedding celebrations
that promoted the female viewers
to emulate the wedding luxuries
shown. Wedding movies of the
1990s were especially unique in
comparison to wedding movies of
the decades past in that they
emphasized the entitlement of
every bride, no matter her income,
to indulge in a lavish, consumerist
wedding.
The Internet
Creation of the internet
allowed instant, global
access to a limitless
supply of wedding
information from around
the world. Brides could
view photos of celebrity
weddings which
encouraged bridal
designers designers to
emulate celebrity styles
even more so than in the
past. Online retail also
changed the way a bride
could shop for her
wedding dress thereby
challenging the bridal
shops of the past.
1996, Philipa Lepley
1997, Deborah Milner
2000s
–
The Personalized Bride
New Venues and a New Style
More and more, brides and grooms
opted for ceremonies outside the
traditional church venues. At this
time, destination weddings gained
prominence, with many other
ceremonies taking place in hotels or
country clubs. As a result, the
strapless gown became popular, with
skin bearing, corset-inspired styles
beginning in the 90s. Brides within
these new secular settings no long
have to follow religious dress
regulations.
Same-Sex Partnerships and Marriage
A growing number of states are legalizing civil unions as well as same-sex marriages.
Consequently, more same-sex couples now have the opportunity to celebrate a legal union through
a wedding or other celebration. Many lesbian brides opt for the traditional white wedding dress for
their celebration to fulfill childhood dreams of “the dress.” Many others prefer a tux or suit to fit
their personal style or to make a statement against the heterosexual symbolism of the white
wedding dress. As of December 2, 2013, 15 states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex
marriage with 5 other states that allow civil unions.
Social Media
Websites such as Facebook,
Pinterest and Twitter have become
essential tools for the bride. These
media outlets allow brides to
instantly communicate the details
of their weddings. Fir example,
image sharing sites like Tumblr or
Pinterest bring countless images of
wedding apparel styles and other
wedding elements to the techsavvy bride. Blogs also allow
brides to easily share ideas with
other brides as they plan their big
days. Despite these websites that
encourage a bride to use the
shared ideas as inspiration for her
own wedding, the emphasis on a
2000s wedding is on individual
personalization of the traditional.
Catherine and Prince William
April 29th, 2011
The latest royal wedding was of Kate Middleton and Prince William at Westminster Abbey. Unlike any other
royal wedding in the past, the public had immediate access to online photos, blogs, articles and other
updates via social media communication to stay informed about the day. Kate’s dress therefore immediately
inspired look-alike styles for many brides. Kate Middleton herself seems to have found inspiration from
Grace Kelley’s similar lace-overlay wedding dress.
Away From White
The women’s movement and
sexual liberation of decades
past, as well as greater rates of
cohabitation, divorce and
remarriage, have turned the
white wedding dress into a
symbol of tradition rather than
a marker of purity. While many
brides continue to wear white,
colorful bridal gowns are
making a debut. In American
designer Vera Wang’s 2014
bridal collection, every dress
was a shade of pink. Ranging
from light blush to deep
fuchsia, the collection
intensifies a growing trend for
colorful wedding gowns.
Conclusion
–
Finding influence from world events, technological advances, glamorous celebrities,
dashing royals an an ever-growing media presence, the wedding dress tradition has both
persisted and adapted across time. No matter the perceived threats to its existence,
wedding apparel continues to be a hallmark of wedding ceremonies. In fact, the wedding
dress seems to continually return to the “traditional,” especially after periods of intense
change. With modern trends leaning towards the colorful, wedding apparel of 2013 mirrors
the very earliest wedding trends of the 1700s. It is only a matter of time before the wedding
dress once again returns to a trend of romantic white. The wedding dress will then begin
once more its eternal cycle of tradition.
Works Cited
–
“American Royal Wedding – Luci Baines Johnson.” Collar City Brownstone. Word Press, n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
ARTstor, Inc. ARTstor. http://library.artstor.org/library/#1. November 2013.
Bowers, Catherine. “Wedding Dress Styles of the 1930s.” eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.
“Bride and Groom.”Internet Archive. Internet Archive, 2001. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
“Brides Revisited.” Chertsey Museum. Runnymede Borough Council, 2013. Web. Oct. 2013.
“British Royal Wedding History.” HubPages. HubPages, Inc, 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.
“Chic Vintage Bride – Princess Patricia of Connaught.” Chic Vintage Brides. Web. Chic Vintage Brides, 26 Dec. 2012.
Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Dunak, Karen M. As Long As We Both Shall Love. New York: New York University Press, 2013. Print.
Ehrman, Edwina. The Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashions. London: V&A Publishing, 2011. Print.
Fritz, Maura. “Memorable Celebrity Wedding Wedding.” Real Simple. Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, 2013. Web 2 Dec.
2013.
Hatton, Robert W. and Earl Ranney. “1950s ‘Bride and Groom’ Married Couples on the Air.” Reminisce. RDA
Enthusiast Brands, 2013. 1 Dec. 2013.
“The History of Same-Marriage in the U.S., 1970 to Now.” The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partner, LLC, 3 Dec.
2-13. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
“History of the Wedding Dress (1900s-Now).” Wedding Dresses. Wedding Dresses, 7 March 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Howard, Vicki. Brides, Inc. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006. Print.
“Kate Middleton’s Sensational Wedding Dress.” TIME. TIME Inc., 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
Lewis, Jone Johnson. “Royal Weddings.” About.com. About.com, 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Licht, Marina. Style & the Bride. Style and the Bride, 2013. Web. 2 December 2013.
LIFE. Time Inc, 2013. Web. 30 November 2013.
Works Cited Cont.
–
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
McBride-Mellinger, Maria. The Wedding Dress. New York: Magnolia Editions, Ltd. Print.
“Monaco Royal Weddings: Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.” HELLO! Daily News. HELLO! Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
O’Gorman Klein, Kristen. “Weddings Through the Ages: From 1900s to Today.’ Bridal Guide. Bridal Guide, n.d. Web.
3 December 2013.
Omer-Man, Michael. “This Week in History: The First Televised Royal Wedding.” The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem
Post, 06 May 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2013.
“Our Top 10 Wedding films of All Time.” Bitsy Bride. Bitsy Bride, 2013. Web. 3 December 2013.
Persad, Michelle. “Grace Kelly’s Wedding to Prince Rainier was an Elegant Affair.” Huff Post Style. The Huffington
Post, 19 April 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
“Pink is the New White – Vera Wang’s 2014 Bridal Collection.” Wedding Journal. Ireland’s Wedding Journal, 2013.
Web. 1 Dec. 2013.
Pleck, Elizabeht H. Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of the Lavish Wedding. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Print.
Probert, Christina. Brides in Vogue Since 1910. New York: Abbeville Press, 1984. Print.
Smelter, Gretchen. “BRIDES turns 75!” SPD. Society of Publication Designers, 22 April 2009. Web. 12 Nov 2013.
Smith, Andrea. “Facebook and Pinterest Are the New Wedding Planners.” Mashable. Mashable. Inc., 29 Nov. 2012. 3
Dec. 2013.
“Short History of Ready-Made Clothing.” NIST. National Institute of Standards and Technology, 08 Oct. 2004. Web
29 Nov. 2013.
V&A. Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. Web. Oct. 2013.
The Vogue Archive. Proquest. 30 Nov. 2013.
Zone Wedding. Zone Wedding, 2013. web. 3 Dec. 2013.