Browsing through recent runway shows, we noticed a few trends emerging in dress designs for 2012 brides:
1. Corset bodice wedding gowns
Designer Monique Lhuiller has at least a dozen corset style dresses in her spring and fall 2012 collections. Other designers including Romona Keveza, Lazaro and Claire Pettibone also have corset gowns in their collections.
Monique Lhuiller gown from moniquelhuillier.com
2. Cap-shoulder wedding gowns
One of our absolute favorite gowns we've seen lately (check it out here) has beautiful cap sleeves and is by Chicago designer Alice Padrul. She has a few similar styles in her beautiful collection. We've also seen the cap-sleeves and other similar covered shoulder designs in collections by Nicole Miller and Marchesa.
Marchesa cap-shoulder marchesa.com
3. Early Hollywood glamour wedding dresses
Several of the latest vintage style gowns seem to be inspired by classic 1920s and 1930s Hollywood glamour, with shimmering silver and gold fabrics and details. Designers that primarily incorporate these looks into their collections include Johanna Johnson, Jenny Packham, Ines DiSanto and Atelier Aimée.
Atelier Aimée gown, Juliet and Romeo Collection, www.aimee.it
4. Antique shabby vintage wedding dresses
We noticed several country music stars wearing shabby chic vintage style dresses this year at the Grammy awards, and likewise have also spotted similar trends in wedding dresses. We regularly see these types of vintage styles on BHLDN.com and Freepeople.com, but designer Clair Pettibone has had fantastic vintage gowns go down the runway for 2012 and prior seasons that absolutely take our breath away.
Clair Pettibone vintage gown, clairepettibone.com
5. Plunging V necklines and backs wedding gowns
Designers Badgely Mishchka seemed to showcase all of these trends in their most recent runway shows, but most prominently their designs featured dropped V necklines and backs, which we also noticed in a some other collections including Anne Bowen, Caroline Castigliano, and Jim Hjelm.