Friday 14 February 2014

1950s WEDDING DRESSES - A GUIDE.

Dear Reader,
1950s vintage lace wedding dresses are aways in great demand, and are some of the most popular in my collection. And it's easy to see why. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, BLANCHE from the Heavenly Collection
'BLANCHE' 1950s style wedding dress in cream lace
This decade in wedding fashion is so feminine and flattering, from the chic modesty of Grace Kelly-inspired gowns, to the prettiness of frothy 'prom-style' dresses. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, BLANCHE from the Heavenly Collection
'BLANCHE' 1950s style wedding dress in cream lace, pretty boat neck
Some of the most popular styles for vintage lace wedding dresses are these pretty 1950s shorter-length styles, particularly with long or 3/4 sleeves. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, original long sleeved dress with tulle skirt
1950s lace wedding dress with tulle skirt SOLD
These lovely dresses usually come in two lengths. First 'tea length', which finishes just below the knee, or 'ballerina length' which is longer and was designed to show off a shapely ankle!
1950s lace wedding dresses, original long sleeved dress with tulle skirt
1950s lace wedding dress with tulle skirt SOLD
Sizing and cut for 1950s wedding dresses is quite unusual, and reflects the type of undergarments that were worn. The waist sizes are often quite small, as the bride's waist was pulled in with a corselette. And the bust was high and 'pointy', shaped by a 'bullet bra'. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, BLANCHE from the Heavenly Collection
'BLANCHE' 1950s style wedding dress in cream lace with full skirt, £1495
The effect is designed to be ultra-curvy and the full skirt accentuates this womanly shape, in keeping with the 'New Look' of the 1950s. But don't let this be a concern - with the help of my clever seamstress we can achieve a really good, flattering fit.
1950s lace wedding dresses, original long sleeved dress with tulle skirt
1950s lace wedding dress with tulle skirt SOLD
Sometimes Grannies come to my studio, to see the dress with the bride. I love to hear their own wedding day stories: they used to resort to putting their ‘bobby' socks in their bra to achieve the fashionable shape!
1950s lace wedding dresses, original long sleeved dress with tulle skirt
1950s lace wedding dress with tulle skirt SOLD
It's much simpler to find the perfect fit these days. The dress featured in some of these images is 'Blanche' from my Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired dresses. Blanche is available in all modern sizes from 6 to 14 - so no need to resort to socks!
1950s lace wedding dresses, BLANCHE from the Heavenly Collection
'BLANCHE' 1950s style wedding dress from my Heavenly Collection
The version of Blanche here is shown in lace, with bracelet (or three-quarter) sleeves, and in ballerina length. Do check out my Heavenly Collection, as there are many other design options for this lovely 1950s-inspired dress. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, BLANCHE from the Heavenly Collection
'BLANCHE' 1950s style wedding dress in cream lace, ballerina length
The other two dresses featured here are original 1950s lace wedding dresses. The pretty dress with long sleeves and tulle skirt has just been snapped up, and I hope to feature pictures of the lovely bride wearing it here on my vintage wedding blog (in my Real Brides section) very soon. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, original long sleeved dress with tulle skirt
1950s lace wedding dress with tulle skirt SOLD
1950s lace wedding dresses, cotton lace wedding dress £950
1950s lace wedding dress, fitted bodice and flattering waistband SOLD
You can see more pictures of Blanche and my Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired wedding dresses (in sizes 6-14) here, and more original 1950s dresses in an earlier 1950s blog post here or in the Original Vintage section. 
1950s lace wedding dresses, cotton lace wedding dress £950
1950s lace wedding dress, three quarter sleeves.
Big thanks to Robert Lawler for the photographs. Do check out his website here

If you'd like to view any of my dresses, please do contact me. And thanks for dropping by today, Reader, I hope to see you again very soon!

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides