The spring 2011 runways proved that brides can show off a bit of leg with style—and elegance. From daringly short hemlines and removable trains to peek-a-boo combinations of long and short, designers’ playful takes on the mini dress is one of our favorite trends.

Modesty Rules

For the more modest bride, Priscilla of Boston’s collection was full of demure versions of the mini-dress trend. One standout: a retro silhouette (fig. 1) ending just below the knee, echoing Audrey Hepburn’s aesthetic. Adele Wechsler offered a more modern version with the eco-friendly Twilight (fig. 2): a silk strapless gown with a ruched hemline from her Eco Couture V collection. David’s Bridal showed a similar strapless silk dress (fig. 3), but in a shimmering silk to create a perfectly simple column shape.

The Rising Hemline

Hemlines were also on the rise. Monique Lhuillier’s Jules dress (fig. 4) adapted another spring trend into a decadent floral confection with a voluminous cloud of sumptuous tulle. Romona Keveza’s (fig. 5) looked similar in shape, but this one-strapped gown’s skirt came off as less flowery and elegantly reminiscent of a feathery ivory ostrich. Not all ultra-mini dresses were so daring—Ines Di Santo (fig. 6) managed to create an above-the-knee silk strapless column with a prominent yet chaste ruched attachment clipped at the hip, with embellished crystal detail. For a twist, Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija’s Fifi dress (fig. 11) was a one-shouldered reengineered lace stunner with a tulip-fluted skirt. And just in case none of these styles were risqué enough, consider Marchesa (fig. 7), who showed a paper-thin silk and lace showstopper best suited for either an elopement or barefoot beach wedding without any über-conservative grandparents in attendance.

Luxe Details

Mini dresses were given far more regal treatments as well, as designers like Reem Acra and Badgley Mischka created a peek-a-boo aesthetic. Trains were long in the back and cut off in the front for a leggy look, a trend perfect for brides who want photos in both a teeny-tiny mini and a monarch-worthy gown without the wardrobe change. We recommend Reem Acra’s (fig. 8) flirty tulle masterpiece and Badgley Mischka’s Tory (fig. 9), a more sophisticated take on the trend. And any bride planning on going straight from the altar to the dance floor with flair should look to Romona Keveza (fig. 10): The removable train is ideal for stripping off formal layers in order to get the party started.