1930’s Vintage Wedding Dresses ~ A Guide to this Elegant Era in Bridal Style…

This afternoon, I hand over to Helena Butler, specialist collector and restorer of vintage wedding dresses, via her company 'Heavenly Vintage Brides'.  Helena guides us through 1930s bridal style…

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

One question that interested me was why I found it difficult to find beautiful gowns in great condition that pre-dated this period?  I know there are some amazing vintage wedding gowns from earlier decades but dresses from the 30's onwards seem to have lasted so well.

The main reason is the introduction of Rayon, this fantastic strong fabric was originally called Artificial Silk, it was perfect for the draped styles of the day – it ruched and hung so beautifully, as it had a wonderful weight to it. It was also more affordable than silk too, which was a huge advantage during the Depression Era.  So whereas so many of the 20's silk and chiffon gowns have rotted,  the 30's Rayon dresses have lasted very well and can be restored to their full beauty with a little know-how and love.

Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2010, Heavenly Vintage Brides

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The main influence for the shape of 30's Bridal Gowns was Hollywood.  As the Great Depression drastically altered peoples lives – Hollywood films offered escapism and  glamour, and wedding gowns were modelled on the evening gowns worn by the Stars.

It was during  the 30's that the idea of a 'White Wedding' took roo.  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.

The white dress was promoted as an ideal from an earlier age; as  during the First World War and the Depression, Brides had just worn a suit or a day dress, so the new style of wedding dress heralded a return to glamour and romance.  Hem lines had started to rise in the 20's, but  they fell right back to the floor in the 30's, and simplicity and pared-down elegance became the only way for the modern bride.

Heavenly Vintage Brides... Heavenly Vintage Brides...

Madeleine Vionnet's 20's and 30's dramatic bias cut gowns had a huge influence on fashion, and revolutionised the way dresses fitted, although this technique had been used earlier, it was now developed it into a new way of dressing. Other features of the dresses like the cowl neck, and draping, re-inforced the fluid idea of the design and became part of the whole.

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The dresses required little in the way of ornamentation, diamante dress clips were worn and still look great today, beaded necklines were also popular in the later part of the decade. Technological developments during the 30's meant that costume jewellery was better made and much more widely available.

There are many fabulous examples of 30's diamante brooches and dress clips in fantastic condition, which look perfect with a satin gown.   For my photo shoot here, I used two lovely diamante headdresses by Alan Hannah; Alan and Rita have been working with top jewellery designers to create a stunning range of Bridal jewellery, and these two pieces fitted so well with my theme I was delighted that they let me use them.

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At present I have around 8 or 9 beautiful 30's gowns including the ones seen here, I also have about 40 other gowns from every period, and the only way to find the best one for you is to pop over and try them on! 🙂

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Thank you so much Helena for contributing this feature to Love My Dress.  It's really interesting to learn more about the bridal fashions of the 1930s, how to work the look and where Brides can source quality vintage wedding dresses to try on!  I love the whole look of this era – and tried to replicate it somewhat on my own wedding day

You can see more from Heavenly Vintage Bridal on the Love My Dress Wedding Blog here.

Much love,

Annabel xXx

Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

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