1918 wedding dress styles
It's interesting:"I think you'll all agree that it's been a wonderful wedding so far. ... But I never received a formal invitation to the wedding, so I just hope I haven't eaten a meal ..."
The wedding dress styles of 1918, the end of the Edwardian era, reflected modesty and romance. The necklines were high and the hemlines were low. The stylish gowns featured long sleeves with gathering at the shoulders. The bodice was constructed of several layers of flowing silk chiffon revealing little of the bride's figure. Beading, lace and embroidery were freely used on the bodice and the headpiece, giving the bride a feminine and romantic look.
The Silhouette
In 1918, the impossibly narrow waist of the previous era was no longer in style. As a result, the waistlines of wedding gowns were rising, giving way to empire waistlines. The skirts of the gowns were less full, using less fabric. Hemlines were rising and you could now see the foot and ankle.
Necklines were cut high and were modest, some rising just below the chin. Sleeves were no longer full and gathered at the wrist. Instead, they narrowed below the elbow and were fitted to the wrist. The train was less full and elaborate than in the prior Victorian period.
The Bretelle
Definitive of the Edwardian-style wedding dress was the bretelle, which resembled a waistcoat applique atop the bodice. The fabric on the bodice formed a "V" in the front and sometimes in the back of the dress. This was gathered and tucked in at the waist. Often the bretelle was embellished with beading and embroidery. The bretelle would be added on top of other layers of fabric that formed the bodice.
The Fabrics
Fabric of wedding dresses worn in 1918 tended to be light and flowing, not heavy and crisp. Many dresses were constructed primarily of silk chiffon. The dresses had several layers of fabric and the overlay fabric would be silk charmeuse. The layers were intricately embroidered and beaded.
The Headpiece
The bridal veil in 1918 was no longer constructed of heavy lace that simply fastened to the head. The 1918 style lace was sewn on top of a cloche or cap. The cap would then be elaborately decorated with pearls and it fit tightly to the head. Another style was a brimmed hat with tulle sewn onto it instead of lace. Fabric flowers were used to decorate both styles of headpieces,
Source: www.ehow.com
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