Top trend takeaways from Bridal Week Harrogate

Set in the famous Royal Hall in Harrogate in September, world-renowned brands showcased their top gowns, 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 the 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.

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 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 and 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 lace detailing to soften the bridal look with this stunning A-line gown.

Sheer drama

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 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. And Rachel Elizabeth opted for a sheer puff sleeve with their Bardot neckline, with scatterings of floral embroidery for a truly romantic look.

Vintage charm

Ruffled bustles, full embroidery and fringing caught every eye and made a particularly bold statement. 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 with clear inspirations from the roaring twenties.

Satin dream

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.

Detachables

We’ve noticed a big comeback of the detachable sleeve, cape and skirt on the catwalk this year taking the bride from the altar to the reception with a tug of the overskirt.

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 and 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. 

Edgy alternatives

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, opting for a luxurious black wedding dress with illusion lace sleeves and full skirt and 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.

About Bridal Week Harrogate

Bridal Week Harrogate is part of Ocean Media Group’s Bridal portfolio. Ocean Media Group has been established as the leading event organiser and publisher in the UK and European bridal sector for more than 30 years. Its full wedding and bridal portfolio includes Bridal Buyer, bridalbuyer.com, The Bridal Buyer Awards, Bridal Week London, Bridal Week Harrogate, White Gallery, Global Gallery, The National Wedding Show, Confetti and confetti.co.uk.

Bridal Week London will take place on 19 to 21 March 2023 at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

Further reading: Top tips for finding your dream bridal gown