Interestingly, there are two exhibitions going on right now that look at the history of wedding dresses. If you are able to check out either of them, please leave a comment with your thoughts and let us know if you think they’re worth a visit.
Wedding Dresses 1775-2014
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
May 3, 2014 – March 15, 2015
This exhibition will trace the development of the fashionable white wedding dress and its treatment by key fashion designers such as Charles Frederick Worth, Norman Hartnell, Charles James, John Galliano, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang offering a panorama of fashion over the last two centuries. On display will be the most romantic, glamorous and extravagant wedding dresses from the V&A’s superb collection and will include some important new acquisitions as well as loans including the purple dress worn by Dita Von Teese for her marriage to Marilyn Manson and the outfits worn by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale on their wedding day. The exhibition will highlight the histories of the dresses, revealing fascinating details about the lives of the wearers and offering an intimate insight into their circumstances and fashion choices.
News and reviews of the exhibition:
The Guardian – “Wedding Dresses at the V&A – in pictures” (do check it out for the fabulous photos!)
New York Times – “The Bride Didn’t Always Wear White”
Vogue – “Inside The V&A’s Wedding Dresses Exhibition”
Vanity Fair – “A look at the New V&A “Wedding Dresses 1775-2014” Exhibition”
London Evening Standard – “Wedding Dresses 1775-2014, V&A – exhibition review”
American Brides: Inspiration and Ingenuity
Patterson-Appleton Center for the Visual Arts in Denton, TX (a 45 minute drive from Dallas)
June 28 – October 24, 2014
This exhibition features more than forty wedding gowns, dresses, and ensembles that span from 1840 to the present and emphasizes the importance of bridal traditions that were handed down from the 19th century to the present day, such as the white wedding gown that was made popular by Queen Victoria. Visitors will gain an appreciattion of the beautiful details and handiwork in each gown represented in the exhibition. The designs range from traditional, historic silhouettes to dresses from the 1960s and 1970s, when previously acceptable norms for bridal wear were tested. Texas designers from Dallas and Houston have dresses in the show, along with UNT professors and recent MFA grads from the fashion program.
News and photos of the exhibition:
CBS – “Wedding fashions exhibit showcases changing styles of American brides”
