BY ALISON MCGILL
When Chenelle D’Cruz began shopping for her wedding dress, she hit two bridal boutiques in hopes of finding ‘the one.’ Though she loved a few of the gowns she tried on, she realized the styles she gravitated towards were trying to look vintage. “Something felt off for me and I thought, why not try on the real deal?” D’Cruz shares.
A magical walk through bridal history
D’Cruz booked an appointment at Toronto’s Vintage Bride and when she arrived at the shop, she got chills. “I was in awe of the quality of the fabrics and unique dresses,” she says. “It was like taking a magical walk through many different eras all at once. I found myself envisioning all the different brides and their wedding days.”
Walking in, D’Cruz says she had no idea what she wanted and had a blast trying on wedding dresses from several different decades, guided by store owner Cher Thornton.
She ultimately landed on a 1939 candlelit gown with a V-collar, covered buttons, gigot sleeves and a sweeping cathedral train. Recent Toronto bride Lauren says she had a similar experience shopping at Thornton’s boutique for her wedding gown, a silk and lace layered slip dress design from the 1920s.
Wearing wedding dresses with a past
“I loved finding out the history behind my dress,” Lauren shares. “It originally came from the New York-area, which made it feel even more special, like it had lived another story before mine.”
Going with vintage wedding dresses guarantees a romantic air of nostalgia and a one-of-a-kind look, and it’s also a sustainable fashion choice you can feel good about.
Old-world style, modern sensibility
Giving new life to something old that’s also a piece of fashion history is a special thing, and it’s something Canadian custom bridal designer Catherine Langlois is particularly passionate about. “The excitement of a bride bringing in her mother’s dress or a ‘found’ dress is like Christmas for me,”
Langlois says. “Many times, we can’t use the entire gown because the style is too dated, or the fabric may not be in the best condition. I have also done complete restyles of an existing gown.”
Trend-wise, Langlois says, currently the biggest throwback decade brides are tapping into is the ’90s. “The drop Basque waistlines, Vivienne Westwood-inspired corsets and full or draped skirts are having a moment. I’m also seeing a sleeper trend towards dresses from the 1930s, which had an ease and sensual femininity about them. Though it’s not quite hit vintage status yet, Catherine Middleton’s gown from 2011 is also an iconic style many brides are asking for.”
If you are looking to land an old-world wedding gown, Lauren’s best advice as a vintage bride is to be open-minded and patient when shopping for wedding dresses. “This is a different experience; you’re not walking into a boutique where you can order your size. Focus more on the feeling a dress gives, not the label or decade it’s from. When I found my dress, I knew it was the one because it made me feel like a piece of art.”
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