Randy Brooke/Getty ImagesWe asked Keija Minor, editor in chief of Brides, to share her favorite trends from Bridal Fashion Week.
It's been a gorgeous week in New York City! The sun is shining at last, tulips are blooming and—best of all—the top designers in bridal unveiled their new collections at spring 2017 Bridal Fashion Week. We're about six days into a jam-packed schedule of shows and presentations, and a handful of standout trends have emerged. Here are a few of my favorites.
Show Some Skin: If the new collections are any indication, brides want a little—or a lot—of sexy. Cutouts, plunging necklines, drop shoulders, bare backs and sheer everything often left little to the imagination. Done well, it was absolute perfect
Bows: They popped up everywhere, in all sizes and shapes. Oscar de la Renta gave us a statement twist at the nape of the neck. Carolina Herrera presented two memorable versions: a soft, ethereal bow at the base of an open back on one (love!) and a more-structured, modern twist on another, giving both gowns that all-important wow-factor from behind. (After all, that's the view guests spend most of the ceremony looking at!) At their best, bows added a romantic-but-not-too-girly vibe to a classic silhouette. Bravo to the standouts!
Pastels: In a sea of whites and creams, several designers peppered their lines with whispering pastels like rose, peach, lavender and ice blue. At Angel Sanchez, Mira Zwillinger, Hayley Paige and Houghton, subtle color lent an air of originality to classic silhouettes in a way that could win over even a traditionalist. And then, for the bold, Project Runway alum Christian Siriano debuted his first-ever bridal collection at Kleinfeld Bridal—and closed his show with a frothy ruffled-tulle ombré pink confection that sparked big applause and an Instagram frenzy from the audience.
3-D Florals: Appliqué blooms continued their dominance, championed by Monique Lhuillier (who used color for added pop), Peter Copping at Oscar de la Renta (who put them on shoulders to brilliant effect) and Elie Saab, in his first official bridal line. And Marchesa's collection, one of its best ever, included spectacularly cool "cascading blooms" that appeared to be just barely attached to tulle gowns, as if they could catch a breeze and send the bride floating down the aisle.
For more updates from Bridal Fashion Week, follow Keija on Instagram.