Help I Accidentally Fell In Love With Vivienne Westwood Bridal Collections
You will not believe what has come across my table, by table I mean my Tiktok For You page. The one and only ‘Vivienne Westwood Bridal Collections.’ It is something to die over and I will tell you why. I am sorry to be so late to the game on this one. I tend to forget Bridal Collections exist, see planning a wedding is not on my radar as a 21-year -old. Even so, this has been placed across my table and we must discuss it.
When my friends and I first downloaded Pinterest in high school. Naturally, we planned out our futures from our outfits, to our weddings, to our homes. Some would call it manifesting, others just girls who didn't want to do their school work. Probably the latter. The wedding board was something I never put any effort into, it didn't feel relevant or maybe realistic to me at 15. However, the dream home board that had a huge pool and garden didn’t seem that too far out of scope. I digress, I never really felt drawn to wedding gowns. There could be many reasons why girls feel both connected and disconnected to wedding gowns. Weddings are something we were taught to want, from the fairytales we read to the media we have consumed. Leading us to all feel differently about them and that is okay. However, when I saw these Vivienne Westwood gowns I might have fallen in love. Before I even fell in love with a person. That might be the true fairytale, to fall in love with things around us that are an extension of ourselves.
Back to the main event, Vivienne Westwood Bridal Collections. These are the first wedding gowns that I have been infatuated with. I think I watched the TikTok video about 10 times in a row, then proceeded to show both of my parents. My dad said, “You need to find someone first.” Wrong. What first drew me to Vivienne Westwood’s gowns was a personal element. Despite the different styles in the collection, they all had a personal element that carried throughout the gowns. The element is a type of feeling that tells us the details were thought about. These gowns are to be worn with love, for love, made my love. Every single detail is romantic. On top of the romantic feeling, there is the Vivienne Westwood edgy touch, mixed with elegance. Something that I would want not only in a wedding gown but in my everyday wardrobe.
This year's collection BRIDAL 2024 by Vivienne Westwood is inspired by the theme of Companionship. Particularly an individual's perspective of what companionship is in our current social landscape (News and Projects Vivienne Westwood, 2024). A beautiful YouTube video was released about the Couture Collection on Vivienne Westwood’s YouTube account. It captured the very essence of different perspectives of companionship and love. One woman said ‘I have someone in front of me that speaks the same language that I speak”(Vivienne Westwood, May 2024). Another woman said, “The wedding dress is about love and Vivienne is all about love” (Vivienne Westwood, May 2024). My personal favourite from the Made to Order collection is the ‘Grand Camille’ with the untraditional slit and off-the-shoulder straps. As well as the ‘Nova Bagatelle’ with its cowl neck and long almond shaped train. Last but not least the ‘Nova Cocotte,’ which I could see Audrey Hepburn wear in the film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s.’ (Collection link here)
The Bridal Collection of 2022 is one of my favourite collections. BRIDAL 2022, the theme was based on “a sense of new beginnings”(Vivienne Westwood, 2022). The Made To Order collection has exquisite gowns. A favourite of mine is the ‘Hera’ which has the most perfect bow on the front of it, the detail ties the dress together. The gown ‘Minerva’ is a simple dress that uses a vale to elevate it. Finally the ‘Cora Cocotte’ has stunning sparkly details that would have been arduous to put together. Personally, sparkles are not for me but if I were to wear sparkles on a wedding gown I would want it to be this (Collection link here). If you have seen the film ‘Sex and the City’ you would know that Carrie Bradshaw played by Sarah Jessica Parker wears a Vivienne Westwood gown for her wedding. Parker looks absolutely incredible and it suits her character perfectly. Vivienne Westwood knows how to make a wedding gown.
So this is how I accidentally fell in love with Vivienne Westwood Bridal Collections as a single 21-year-old who won’t be getting married anytime soon. What can I say, I have expensive taste, it serves me well, but leaves me broke. Though at the very least, I think it’s okay to admire pretty things.
References:
News and Projects Vivienne Westwood, BRIDAL 2024: AN ODE TO AFFINITY (Vivienne Westwood Website, London, 23 Jan 2024) (Website Link).
Vivienne Westwood, Bridal Made to Order 2022 Collection (Vivienne Westwood Website, London, 2022) (Website Link).
Vivienne Westwood. (2024, May 17). The Vivienne Westwood Bridal Couture 2024 Collection [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VBs0JhQWgw.
