Set in the famous Royal Hall, attending the Fashion Shows is a true Bridal Week Harrogate tradition. World-renowned brands showcased their top gowns on our runway, bringing their freshest bridal designs to the forefront as guests filled the front rows to be amongst the first to view some of the latest trends.
The Bridal Week Harrogate preview shows were a hit with retailers, as thirteen of our finest brands hit the catwalk to show off their latest creations: Dando London, Ellis Bridals, Evie Young, Gaia & Believe by Gaia, Kate Fearnley, Kelsey Rose, Loré, Madi Lane, Rachel Allan, The Perfect Bridal Collection by Kay Heeley, True Bride, Rachel Elizabeth and Victoria Kay. We want to extend our thanks to our wonderful models, alongside The Perfect Bridal Company for providing veils and shoes, Poirier for providing headdresses, Propress Steamers for steaming all dresses, and MG Hair & Makeup. A huge thanks goes to MM Agency for putting on such a fabulous runway show.
Trend 1 – Daring Necklines
One of the biggest trends from this year’s runway was its variety of deep V necklines. GAIA, Dando London and Loré were just some of the brands featuring daring and dramatic bodices. Fresh, modern, and making a bold statement, the V-necked bridal gown wowed the crowd at Bridal Week Harrogate as plenty of dresses took the plunge. GAIA’s soft capped sleeves perfectly balanced against the angular cut of the bodice to create a feminine and confident piece. Dando London’s slinky silhouette added a spark of sexy, featuring cut-out detailing to cinch the waist and illusion mesh with scattered embroidery. Loré played to the whimsical and romantic, contrasting the sharp bodice split with cuffed soft bishop sleeves to highlight the décolletage, and introducing lace detailing to soften the bridal look brought a stunning A-line gown to this year’s runway.
Trend 2 – Sheer Drama
The catwalk also played host to one of the most ubiquitous trends this season: sheer detailing. Adding high-drama, putting a seductive spin on an otherwise traditional silhouette, or adding an ethereal effect to a sweet and romantic piece, transparent detailing was the way to go. The Rachel Allan dress held frothy sheer lace layers to the bottom of their mermaid gown, finished with a stunning transparent bell sleeves, making for a regal and striking look. This Evie Young gown is nothing but sexy, with a stretch jersey lining stopping short just above the knee, and giving way to a sheer, circle-cut skirt which drapes effortlessly to the floor. Rachel Elizabeth opted for a sheer puff sleeve with their bardot neckline, with scatterings of floral embroidery for a truly romantic look.
Trend 3 – Vintage Charm
A sprinkle of vintage charm was also seen on this year’s runway. Ruffled bustles, full embroidery and fringing caught every eye and made a particularly bold statement on this year’s runway. Taking inspiration from vintage styles and renewing some of the most-loved dress features from the past were True Bride, Ellis Bridals and Kate Fearnley: True Bride introduced a ‘Gatsby’ inspired bridal gown, with a blouson style bodice featuring delicate sheer sleeves encrusted with hand beaded pearls and crystals. Ellis Bridals’ modest bridal gown evoked old-Hollywood, with gorgeous polka-dot mesh sleeves, high mock neck and draped scarf detailing. Kate Fearnley’s tasselled sleeves, drop waist and lively fringing made this simple and sleek silhouette a stand-out design on this year’s runway, with clear inspirations from the roaring twenties.
Trend 4 – Satin Dream
Bringing an ultra-luxurious feel to the runway, our brands showcased the silkiest satin gowns on their catwalks, sure to be a big hit in the season ahead. It’s hard to ignore the pure elegance and sophistication that traditional satin bridal gowns exude! Victoria Kay featured a pointed, strapless silhouette in a gorgeously buttery fabric. True Bride showcased a stunning off-white satin gown, complete with straight neckline and full skirt. Evie Young opted for a twist on the traditional satin gown, introducing cut-out sides, full dropped sleeves and a deep neckline slit, a contemporary spin on a classic shape.
Trend 5 – Detachables
For the season ahead, designers are ditching the need for a second dress by offering bridal gowns with detachable pieces, taking the bride from the altar to the afterparty with a tug of the overskirt. We’ve noticed a big comeback of the detachable sleeve/cape/skirt on the catwalk this year: The Perfect Bridal Collection by Kay Heeley used a stunning illusion cape with botanical embroidery to enhance the deep neckline of their gown. True Bride opted for a shorter, slip on sheer capelet to complement the dress, draping delicately over the shoulders for a simple, graceful look. Victoria Kay’s bardot fishtail gown was completed with a detachable cape, highlighting the décolletage and sweeping to the floor for a dramatic veil alternative.
Trend 6 – Edgy Alternatives
From mini-dresses, to bridal suits to dramatic pops of colour, we also saw a more contemporary, edgy spin on the traditional wedding look. Short on hemline but making a big statement, Madi Lane introduced the mini-dress for brides who aren’t afraid to show a little skin on their big day. With puffed sleeves and frothy skirt, this gown embraced the fun and flirty, and offered a comfortable alternative. Rachel Allan made an especially bold statement on this year’s runway, opting for a luxurious black wedding dress with illusion lace sleeves and full skirt. Kelsey Rose showcased a tailored ensemble, figure-flattering and edgy. The cropped, angular embroidered jacket complemented the wide, flared trouser, offering a cool and contemporary bridal look.
