Why Should I Wear a Classic Wedding Dress?
A classic wedding dress is timeless and elegant, often featuring time-honored and cherished stylistic elements that have been favorites across the decades, so it has obvious appeal for brides of any age. Wondering if it’s the right choice for you? Avery Austin is here to help you decide if wearing a classic wedding dress is just what you need for your special day. Read on to learn more about what makes a wedding dress classic, then we’ll dive into the top 5 reasons why brides wear classic wedding dresses. If you’re feeling more and more like a timeless wedding dress is what you need in your life, then you’ll also find some tips on how to choose a wedding dress that’s classic.
What Makes a Wedding Dress Classic?
Classic wedding dresses are elegant, quintessentially bridal, and beautiful in any decade. In other words, classic wedding dresses are timeless, never outdated. But what makes them so? Any wedding dress feature that is considered traditionally bridal can contribute to making a bridal gown feel classic. Below are a few examples of classic wedding dress elements.
- Flattering Silhouettes: Tried-and-true flattering silhouettes that are favorites year after year include the a-line or ball gown styles and sheath styles. Learn more about these two types of silhouettes in Avery Austin’s blog about sheath vs. a-line silhouettes.
- Classic Necklines: The most common necklines you’ll see on classic wedding dresses are strapless, sweetheart, off-the-shoulder, and v-neckline. Explore details on these timeless necklines and more in Avery Austin’s Wedding Dress Neckline Guide.
- Traditional Bridal Fabrics: You’ll probably recognize the bridal fabrics we’re about to share because they’ve been wedding dress classics for as long as we can remember! Timeless wedding dresses are often made with satin, lace, mikado, chiffon, and/or tulle. Learn more about these classic fabrics and more in Avery Austin’s Guide to Wedding Dress Fabrics.
- Modest Elements: Since traditional bridal styles were modest, today’s classic wedding dress styles continue this legacy (though perhaps not as strictly as decades before). This means you’ll find many timeless styles avoid the bold, sexy details like plunging necklines or backless designs. Modest coverage in the bodice and sleeves are most common, but a modern compromise that still offers a classic vibe is to use sheer panels or other illusion details.
-
Minimal Embellishments: Clean lines and mostly unadorned fabric are common characteristics of classic wedding dresses. Since certain types of embellishments are often more reflective of current fashion trends, it’s not surprising that a timeless wedding dress is usually without such fickle features.
With these common classic wedding dress elements in mind, you’ve got a pretty good idea of what you can expect a timeless wedding dress to look like. Now let's move on to some of the perks to choosing such a style.
5 Reasons to Wear a Classic Wedding Dress
If you’re on the fence about classic wedding dresses, then let’s explore why you should wear one! Here are Avery Austin’s top 5 reasons to wear a classic wedding dress:
Classic Wedding Dresses...
- Stand the Test of Time. Decades from now, you and your family can look back and still appreciate the beauty and elegance of your classic wedding dress. With this style, there’s less risk of embarrassed explanations for past fashion trends that newer generations might consider cringy.
- Are Easily Rewearable. No, we’re not trying to imply you’ll need to wear your wedding dress again (though maybe you’ve got dreams of a vow renewal celebration in the future?)...What we really mean is that classic wedding dresses have mass appeal for other brides. That makes it easier to sell your classic wedding dress to another bride if you wish or to pass it along to one of your children in the future.
- Are Naturally Sophisticated and “Bridal.” They’re classic for a reason! The same luxurious bridal fabrics, chic and flattering silhouettes, and classy features remain the epitome of elegance over the years, and brides love that!
- Can Easily Be Personalized. When you deck yourself out with a baseline of timeless style, you can then personalize your overall bridal ensemble to make that classic wedding dress truly your own. Maybe you want to add custom details to enhance a timeless wedding dress with your own style or a feature that makes you feel even more comfortable and confident on your big day. Whatever the reason, classic wedding dresses often feel like blank slates, just waiting for an artist like you to make it their own. Wondering how a dress might be customized? Check out how you can customize a wedding dress at Avery Austin here.
- Honor Tradition. Classic wedding dresses are often synonymous with traditional wedding dresses because it’s the classic designs we usually see growing up, then they become a part of our childhood dreams. Once grown, wearing that traditional look not only fulfills that deep-seated childhood wish but also taps into your own family’s heritage and bridal customs.
Now that you know why you should wear a classic wedding dress, it’s time to figure out how to choose one!
Tips for Choosing a Classic Wedding Dress
When you’re shopping for a classic wedding dress, there are a few key things you can keep in mind to help you narrow your options. Take a look at the tips below, then use them to guide your exploration of timeless wedding dress styles.
- Look for Sophisticated and Refined Designs: This is above all the most important part. While other favorite bridal styles can sometimes have elegant design details, it’s key to make sure that your overall look from top to bottom is unquestionably refined. For example, a sexy bridal gown might have the classic off-the-shoulder neckline, but the rest of the look might be too bold to be considered timeless. Avoid the other niche bridal themes (like sexy, rustic, boho, etc.) and make sure each feature of your wedding dress feels classically elegant.
- Opt for Flattering, Timeless Silhouettes: There’s a reason why a-line and ball gown wedding dresses are so popular year after year: They flatter every figure, so brides of every size and shape can look and feel great in them. This gives them ultra timeless appeal, which is key to a classic wedding dress style. Check out Avery Austin’s a-line wedding dresses and ball gown wedding dresses and you’ll see what we mean! Prefer to show off your natural figure? Not to worry. The sheath silhouette is consistently a highly sought-after classic wedding dress feature too!
- Go for Clean Lines: Think minimalist and you’re guaranteed a classic bridal vibe. Minimalist wedding dresses are simple and unadorned, no extra sparkles or frills (more on that in the next point) to distract from a naturally elegant look. Just scroll through Avery Austin’s simple wedding dresses to see how those clean lines can give you a timeless look.
- Keep it Simple: Avoid excessive embellishments or over-the-top accessories. These are trendy things that can spike in popularity some seasons, but then be considered “too much” during other wedding seasons. If it’s a classic wedding dress with a shine that you seek, skip the allover glitter and sequins and opt for the subtle shimmer of a lustrous fabric instead to maintain that feel of timeless elegance. Want a headpiece that will still feel relevant when you look back on those wedding photos? Avoid veils that are longer and heavier than your gown and go for a chic elbow-length veil with a classic blusher for that timeless reveal moment during your ceremony.
Beyond all of the suggestions and guidelines for choosing a classic wedding dress, the most important thing is to focus on your own comfort and happiness. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding, so you want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident to make the most of your memorable day. If that means your classic wedding dress has an extra dramatic feature that makes it less modest than a traditionally classic style or some embellishments to elevate the sparkle because that’s something you love, then go for it! Consider it your way of personalizing that wedding dress from classic to YOU, then own it from the moment you step into your wedding ensemble for your march down the aisle.