When it comes to bridal inspiration, there are certain wedding dresses that live on in the public imagination for years. From Bianca Jagger’s statement-making Yves Saint Laurent skirt suit, to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s perfectly minimalist Narcisco Rodriguez slip dress, brides today are still taking inspiration from the style icons of decades past. Here, five brides share how they recreated the wedding-day looks of the women on their fashion moodboards.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
Jewellery designer Emily Nunns first discovered Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s iconic Narcisco Rodriguez slip dress when she was at school in the ’00s.
Emily Nunns.
Benjamin Wheeler
“I did a fashion collage-making project in my art class. I had to source images of style I admired from the past and remember poring over images of Carolyn. Years later, when I came to get married, I knew that I wanted to go for something similar. I never wanted a Princess Diana meringue moment. Lots of wedding gowns are very busy – think ruffles, organza volume or diamanté details. None of that appealed to me. I love clean lines and elegant shapes in my everyday wardrobe, so I was drawn to that for my wedding day too. It was really important to me to find a wedding dress that I would look back on in 50 years’ time and still love and find timeless. Even seeing a photo of Carolyn’s dress today, it still looks so captivating. I think you need to wear the dress, it shouldn’t wear you, and that’s so true of how she wore it.
Surprisingly, it was incredibly difficult to find such a simple wedding dress. Some dresses I tried on didn’t feel bridal enough. It couldn’t just be a beautiful slip dress. I needed to feel like a bride wearing it, and it needed to feel wow enough. I tried on quite a few dresses, but when I found Galvan’s gorgeous satin gown, I knew it was the one. It was cut on the bias, with a classic V-neck. I think the cut is what truly sets this dress apart. It hugs, not clings, and has a lot of movement. I love the scooped cowl neck of Carolyn’s wedding gown, but didn’t feel that neckline would best suit my figure. I also accessorised my dress with a cream ostrich feather boa, which felt like a nod to Old Hollywood glamour, which I loved.”
Bianca Jagger
Fashion PR Amelia Penfold has always loved a suit, so it was a no-brainer for her to draw inspiration from the woman who made an ivory suit ubiquitous: Bianca Jagger.