Punk not pink!

Retro fashion doesn’t have to be all about demure frocks, perfect hair and manicures. At the moment fashion seems to be looking back to the 70s and 80s for inspiration. Now I’m not about to suggest that you doll yourself up like Kylie in that infamous Neighbours wedding. Uggh, that was not a good look. Overall I’d have to say that 80s wedding fashions were generally ghastly.

What I DO suggest is that you ignore the frills and go punk instead! Paula Yates married Bob Geldof in 1986 and her scarlet dress and matching veil put a radical twist on the traditional Bridal outfit. Why not use Blondie as an inspiration to create a look that’s feminine but edgy and a bit messed up around the edges? Her one-shouldered dress and blond-with-dark-roots hair would look great strutting down the aisle. Annie Lennox is a woman I admire for all sorts of reasons far more significant than her fashion sense. But if you have the guts to go a bit punk, why not copy her amazing sprayed-on eye makeup from the Freddie Mercury tribute concert? So, who’s got a Groom ready to dress up like Bowie?

If you have cash to splash, the designers to choose are Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Westwood started out dressing punks with clothes sold from her shop ‘Sex’. These days she’s calmed down a bit, but you can still guarantee her dresses will have an edge to them that’s worth paying for.

First Dance Decade?

I have to admit that watching ‘Strictly’ is one of my guilty secrets. The ‘first dance’ at your wedding is likely to be one of the only times you actually have to plan something, instead of making do with the drunken disco you usually get away with on a night club dance floor.

Although you might (I hope) want to give the orange tan, feather boas and neon colours a miss, you should think about the style of dance that would best suit you as a couple and the outfits you’ll be wearing on the day. Although I’d love to learn a Tango for my own wedding, my dress will cover up my legs and all those ‘kicks and flicks’ will be rendered invisible!

Going ‘retro’ for your dance might include learning a 40s Lindy Hop if you’re feeling energetic, a Charleston to fit your deco theme, or a classic Viennese Waltz if you are going for classic romance. Whatever you choose, practice hard and have lots of fun on the day – whatever you choose, it will be a dance to remember.

Small budget? Think 40s

I am not one of those fantasists who look back at the 1940s and think life back then was better. From talking to my own grandparents I know what a struggle life was during and after the War. This was particularly true for young couples hoping to get married. They had to deal with no time (most men and women got limited home leave from the forces), no money, and nothing to buy even if they could save up their cash and ration coupons. My Nana got married in a borrowed dress which fitted so badly she was embarrassed to wear it, and my Grandma bought a neat little suit she knew she could wear after the wedding.

If you are planning a wedding on a budget you could turn to the 1940s for some cost-saving retro inspiration.

Decorations: bunting and paper streamers

Wedding Cake: Homemade

Bride clothes: a pretty knee-length dress or a light-coloured suit

Food: In the 40s weddings were afternoon affairs. Put on a late afternoon tea with cakes and pastries. It will be cheaper than a heavy 3-course meal and you can always provide snacks later in the evening.

Another fun and economical option would be fish and chips. Maybe personalise it by printing your own wedding ‘newspaper’ to wrap it in?

Winter white

The weather has turned and as the light fades a winter chill has set in. I shiver when I think about winter brides in strapless dresses, shivering their way up the aisle. Modern dresses are usually made out of the lightest fabrics - satins, tulle, lace... But if we look back at bridal fashions in the past, the Victorians made intricate cream wool bustle gowns and in the 30s and 40s white velvet was a popular choice.

this stunning gown (a 1930s example in a classic bias-cut style) shows that even a long-sleeved velvet number can be a slinky and flattering option.

Modern dresses in velvet are hard to find but a quick trawl through Google came up with this

Dress patterns - vintage without worry

There are some drop-dead-gorgeous vintage dresses out there, and if you
see the one-off dress you can't live without then you'll need to make
sure that it's in good sturdy condition. Kate Moss made the headlines
(no change there) a few years back when the 1930s vintage silk
dress she was wearing disintegrated on a night out. You can't worry about your
dress on your wedding day, so how can you avoid a similar disaster?

You don't have to be an expert to check your dress - just take a close
look at the following:

Fabric - is it strong? It needs to be supple, and have no pull marks or
tears or thin patches when you hold it up to the light.

Seams - are they intact? often old thread rots with age and becomes
weakened. Check for pulled fabric at the seams.

Fixings - does the zip work? are the buttons all there and sewn on
tightly? Do the poppers still work? All of these things can be replaced
if neccessary.

If wearing a delicate vintage dress is too much stress for you, a good
alternative to a modern wedding gown is to use a vintage dress pattern to
have a repro vintage dress made especially for you. This is the ideal way
to get the look you want but with modern fabrics and a perfect made-to-measure fit.

There are many websites that sell vintage patterns like the ones below.

Very Vintage - auctions to watch

As a retro bride you may choose a vintage dress, or decide that a reproduction frock is a better choice. If you are after good quality vintage dress in wearable condition you can take a punt on ebay but I would suggest checking out one of the auction houses that specialise in vintage textiles and fashion.

Kerry Taylor Auctions made the papers recently after selling a few of Princess Diana's dresses. They regularly hold auctions of vintage clothing ranging from Regency to high-end 80s designers. The auctions have photos to look at online and you can pick up a beautiful dress for way less than a modern wedding gown. Here are a few due to be sold on 4th October:

1970s Ossie Clark
 

1920s velvet

1930s satin or crepe

Edwardian elegance 

Four dresses in one lot