1930s Vintage Wedding Dresses - A Guide to the Decade of Glamour!

Dear Reader

Who can resist the allure of the 30s, with all the glamour it conveys? I'm often intrigued by the gorgeous vintage wedding dresses I've sourced, so I have done a little research into the subject...

Beautiful white satin original 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

One question that interested me was, why it is so difficult to find beautiful gowns in great condition that pre-date the 30s? Well, the main reason is the introduction of Rayon. This fantastic strong fabric was originally called Artificial Silk, and was immediately embraced by all the major fashion houses. It was perfect for the draped styles of the day - it ruched and hung so beautifully, as it had a wonderful weight to it.

Stunning white satin original 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

Rayon was also more affordable than silk too - a huge advantage during the Depression Era. So whereas so many of the 1920s silk and chiffon gowns have lost their appeal, due to the silk 'breaking down',  the stronger 1930s Rayon dresses can be restored to their full beauty with a little know-how and a lot of love. There are certainly some amazing vintage wedding gowns from earlier decades, but dresses from the 30s seem to have lasted so well.

Glamorous gold satin 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

The main influence for the shape of 1930s wedding dresses was Hollywood. As the Great Depression drastically altered peoples lives, Hollywood films offered escapism and glamour. And so wedding gowns were modelled on the evening gowns worn by the Stars.

Simply glamorous. VIOLETTE 1930s-inspired silk wedding dress, from £1450

Hem-lines had started to rise in the 1920s, but they fell right back to the floor in the 30s, and simplicity and pared-down elegance became the only way for the modern bride. Madeleine Vionnet’s 1920s and 1930s dramatic bias cut gowns had a huge influence on fashion, and revolutionised the way dresses fitted. Although this technique had been used earlier, in the 1930s it was developing into a new way of dressing.

Slinky white satin original 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

Other features of the dresses - like the cowl neck and draping - reinforced the fluid idea of the design and became part of the whole. Low backs and open backs were subtly sexy, and combined with the sinuous fabrics, made a striking statement. 

Subtly sexy - white satin original 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

VIOLETTE 1930s-inspired silk wedding dress with lace sleeves, from £1450

VIOLETTE 1930s-style wedding dress with petal sleeves in silk satin, from £1450

It was during also the 30s that the idea of a 'white wedding' really took root. This was not a new idea - the white wedding dress was originally popularised by Queen Victoria. But from the 30s onwards, manufacturers started to produce gowns specifically for the bride, and the bridal gown became a cherished possession.

VIOLETTE 1930s-style dress with chantilly lace inserts, £1450

The white dress was promoted as an ideal from an earlier age. During the First World War and the Depression, brides had simply worn a suit or a day dress, so the new style of wedding dress heralded a return to glamour and romance.  

Movie-star glamour! White 1930s satin dress priced £1250 incl slip

Hollywood romance in white silk satin, VIOLETTE from £1450

The dresses required little in the way of ornamentation. Diamante dress clips were worn and still look great today. And beaded necklines were also popular in the later part of the decade. Technological developments during the 30s meant that costume jewellery was better made and much more widely available. There are many fabulous examples of 1930s diamante brooches and dress clips in fantastic condition, which look perfect with a satin gown. 

VIOLETTE 1930s-style dress worn with diamante dress clips

At present I have around eight or nine beautiful 1930s vintage dresses - including the two original beauties shown here - priced between £950 and £1350. (Dresses of this age are never lined as the ladies always wore a slip, so the price includes an individually-matched slip of the same age and style as the dress.)

Super-glamorous gold satin 1930s wedding dress, £1250 incl slip

And of course, my vintage-inspired Heavenly Collection features a number of 1930s-style dresses such as Violette shown here in different versions, priced from £1450. 

VIOLETTE in silk, from my vintage-inspired Heavenly Collection

I also have about fifty other vintage wedding dresses for sale for sale from every period, and the only way to find the best one for you is to pop over to visit me and try them on! 

Hope to see you soon,

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

All photos with thanks to Robert Lawler Photography

Sarah in a 1930s satin wedding dress: Heavenly Vintage Bride of the week

Dear Reader

Sarah is our Bride of the Week, so serenely beautiful in this original 1930s satin and lace gown.

To complement the gorgeous 30s dress, I also sourced this lovely vintage veil. I think it suits her so perfectly, and Sarah was delighted too,

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for your help with my dress. The veil too was amazing. Your advice was great and it all worked out perfectly." 

Inspired by Sarah's gorgeous style, let's take a closer look at 1930s dresses next week. Check back on Monday for lots more!

Have a great weekend,
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides 

1940s lace wedding dress and jacket - what a darling!

Dear Reader

For my original vintage wedding dress of the week, I'd like to show you a charming little 1940s lace dress and jacket. 

The 40s are sometimes overlooked, getting a little lost between the glamorous slinky 30s and the super-pretty 50s. But I think dresses from the 1940s have so much to offer: from lovely elegant crepe gowns, to sweet and subtle lace styles like this one. 

And 1940s dresses are usually an easier fit than those from the 50s. They are less exaggerated, with a softer, more flowing fit. (Although please bear in mind that some fitting will usually be required with any vintage dress, to ensure it's perfect for you.)

This little darling is priced at £995 including the jacket and swishy rayon fitted slip. Or if you prefer, it can be worn with an extra full petticoat (at an extra charge of £45). 

Thanks as always to Robert Lawler for these beautiful photographs. And thanks, Reader, for stopping by.

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

A 1960s vintage wedding dress for Rebecca's Berlin wedding

Dear Reader

This week, I'd like to show you beautiful bride Rebecca, who married Gerald in April. 

For her city wedding in Berlin, Rebecca wanted a very chic vintage dress. She chose this lovely sophisticated 'tape lace' dress from the early 1960s. 

The dress looked fabulous! Rebecca teamed it with a very pretty pair of Rachel Simpson shoes, and a dainty bouquet of roses.

 In Rebecca's words, 

"We were married in Berlin at a registry office. The office is in the town hall from which JFK spoke when he visited Berlin in the 60s. And then we celebrated at a local villa in Kreuzberg, central Berlin.

The dress was perfect, just the right thing for the day. I got so many compliments - thank you!"

 

Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing these lovely pictures!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

Another wonderful Edwardian vintage wedding dress, on real bride Francesca

Dear Reader

After talking about Edwardian vintage wedding dresses last week, I wanted to show you these pictures of beautiful Francesca, who recently married in Italy. 

Francesca's lovely outfit is very similar to an Edwardian dress I just saw in the V&A exhibition. But, actually Francesca's is an original Edwardian lace blouse teamed with a contemporary bridal skirt I sourced for her. They were a perfect match...

For more gorgeous Edwardian wedding dresses, do check out my Original Vintage dresses for sale here. Thanks for dropping by!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

Edwardian vintage wedding dresses - a guide.

Dear Reader

The Edwardian period was just ten years from 1901 to 1910. But it is still popular today: just look at the international success of Downton Abbey. (The period after the death of Edward until the First World War is often included, too.)

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1250

Fashionable Edwardian brides aspired to the 'S' shape, which was created by whalebone corsetry. The corset design (called The Health Corset) although restrictive, was at least not as damaging to their health as corsets of the Victorian era. The waist circumference was gradually reduced by tighter lacing, until they reached their smallest size which - shockingly - could be as small as 16 inches.

I look for dresses with a reasonable waist size (not 16ins!) then I have a few clever techniques for increasing the size further. For example, adding lace from the same era. This can bring the waist to about 26 or 27ins - which of course is still very small fitting and not for everyone, but hopefully doesn’t require a corset!

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1250

And there are other features which may need modification: first, the front of the bodice is often loose-fitting, or 'pigeon chested’. Secondly, Edwardian wedding dresses often have high necks usually supported by tiny ‘bones'. These can be removed or adapted to give a softer neck shape.

I am not at all against changing vintage dress to make them work in a modern context,  as long as it's done sympathetically and the dress looks better for it! 

I am also a fan of Edwardian style headdresses. The fashion was for delicate circlets made from wax flowers, see my post here. I've definitely seen a trend amongst my clients for fresh flowers instead of diamante - which I think is a lovely change. I will always love a well made side-tiara but it’s nice that girls are rediscovering real flowers. And circlets are definitely a trend right now.

Original Edwardian vintage wedding dress (with 1930s satin slip), £1350

I'm a huge fan of this style of lace - or any cotton lace, actually! And it’s so good for vintage collectors and wearers as it stays strong for many years. 

Many veils were also made of Tambour lace such as those shown here. I am in the process of having some lovely veils made to complement my dresses, using a special sewing machine which replicates this style of lace.

As soon as my new veils are perfect, I'll let you know: you'll see them here first! I've included some pictures of two wonderful original Edwardian dresses which are both available now. If, like me, you love the dresses from this period, then do check out these vintage Edwardian dresses here. 

Hope you've enjoyed this post - and see you soon!

Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides