The spring 2011 wedding trend, took traditional textures and juxtaposed them with rougher versions of classic shapes and finishes. Silk was hammered into voluminous, unexpected shapes; tulle skirts were distressed; and many designers abandoned entirely feminine aesthetics altogether, choosing to introduce menswear-inspired details into their collections.

Wedding Dresses Get The Tulle Treatment

One of our favorite wedding trend from spring 2011 is Paloma Blanca’s (price available upon request; palomablanca.com) style 4115 (fig. 1), an almost cake-like confection with a classic, strapless bodice that transformed into a work of art as eye-catching layers of tulle cascaded from the upper thigh down. Marchesa (price available upon request; marchesa.com) treated tulle similarly, with style Vanessa M (fig. 2), a draped tulle strapless column wedding dress, arranged into a perfect storm of a low full skirt. Kenneth Pool ($6,195, kennethpool.com) took a comparable approach, although his (Knockout, fig. 3) tulle periphery began just before the knee; he topped it with one layer of crystal-and-lace overlay to adorn the mermaid-style hem.

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Wedding Dresses With Unexpected Finishes

Many bridal designers seemed to have run thick silk through tools you might find in a woodshop classroom; roughly treated material was par for the course at nearly every show. One of Angel Rivera’s ($3,200, angelriveracouture.com) most striking looks was Pilar (fig. 4), a modified organza a-line bridal gown with three-dimensional ribbon, lace and crystal appliqués worked into the skirt. Amsale ($4,300 and $3,990 respectively, amsale.com) utilized austere silk skirts hammered ever so slightly to add volume and a touch of originality on (Carine, fig. 5) and (Alliya, fig. 6). Ambitious brides should opt for Oscar de Renta’s ($7,290; oscardelarenta.com), an asymmetrical one-shouldered creation, (Style no. 22N52, fig. 7), including a magically vertical, floral silk strap and rose-like belt built into the bodice.

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Wedding Dresses Meet The Menswear Trend

Speaking of bold brides, the menswear trend provided a slew of borrowed-from-the-boys options that still said “bridal.” Tara Keely ($1,969; jlmcouture.com/Tara-Keely) showed our favorite all-black gown, (Style no. 2052, fig. 8), a lacy column complete with a thin, silky nod to the cummerbund as a belt and matching black tulle veil. Carolina Herrera (price available upon request, carolinaherrera.com) included tuxedo-like pieces as well, our favorite being (fig. 9), a two-piece borderline-costume ensemble with a silk, deep V-neck vest and feathered top hat. Her (fig. 10), another two-piece casual look, had a long-sleeved lace top accessorized with a lacy, feminine take on the ascot. And any cold-weather brides looking to use this trend should consider Herrera’s sweet silk trench coat (fig. 11), which reached the ankles and featured delicate details, like almost-invisible white buttons.

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