While New York Bridal Fashion Week showcases new designs from the most popular brands in the American wedding market, Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week offers a more global vision of the world of weddings. With designers primarily from the European and Asian markets showcasing collections on the runways—and hundreds more displaying designs in an enormous trade show in the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc convention site—buyers have the opportunity to see bridal gowns to fit every aesthetic and price point to fit their customers around the world.
There’s no denying that the trends from New York’s recent presentations like drop-waist silhouettes, party looks, and bows had a presence on the runways of Spain—but there were a few key styles that made frequent appearances across the international collections shown in Barcelona. Take a look at the bridal trends that will be making waves at weddings in all four corners of the globe next year.
Grecian Draping
Sumptuous draping inspired by Grecian goddesses was present in many collections from Spanish designers this season. Valencia-based designer Isabel Sanchis embraced this aesthetic with multiple toga-influenced looks with tied fabric and gilded fasteners in her latest bridal line, while Jesus Peiro and Pedro Palmas both embraced billowing, asymmetrical fabric to create Greco-Roman looks. These designs are the perfect choice for to-be-weds looking for a slightly more dramatic take on a minimalist silhouette.
Coats
Hosting a wedding in a cooler month doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for comfort. The coat is the outfit with many of the designs heading down the runways in Barcelona. Yolancris designed the perfect lace-adorned coat to coordinate with a gown, while Isabel Sanchis designed a shorter jacket to perfectly pair with flowing pants for a courthouse or reception look. Lorena Formoso took a softer approach to the trend with a floor-length mohair sweater with embellished details along the back. For the larger shows held by Pronovias and Giambattista Valli, each designer showcased bold coat designs that newlyweds might not even want to take off to say “I do,” including a beautiful design accented with diaphanous tulle and an iridescent lace.
Dramatic Ball Gowns
Ball gowns fit for a grand cathedral wedding floated down the runways of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. Full hoop skirts abounded within the collections of Julia Kontogruni and The Atelier by Jimmy Choo, complete with embellished fabrics fitting for a royal wedding. There were some not-so-traditional takes on the ball gown, too. Yolancris stunned with a drop-waist gown with a bold cutout over the torso and a full skirt, while voluminous tulle gowns and grand overskirts over minis stood out in Giambattista Valli’s bridal runway debut.
Sheer
Gauzy tulle and see-through lace made their way into many collections in ways that go beyond the veil. Some designers, like Yolancris, left lace fabric unlined to create a romantic, yet revealing boudoir vibe to dress designs. At Sophie et Voilà, sheer tulle was used throughout the line to create cool details like ethereal flowing sleeves that turned into a train, as well as minimalist, yet sexy translucent pants. Pronovias also embraced sheer, dotted tulle to create a peekaboo moment with a gauzy oversized layer revealing a petite white bra top underneath. While these see-through moments might lean more towards party attire, they show a shift towards the wedding world’s embrace of second, third, and sometimes even fourth ensembles for newlyweds.
Unexpected Colors
While there’s no denying that the runways were filled with a sea of white, color also made a splash throughout the shows this season. The bride (sometimes) wore black across the collections, with many chic black details like bows and gloves popping up to accentuate cream gowns. Pastels and vibrant shades also infused romance into many designs. Both The Atelier by Jimmy Choo and Vietnamese brand Joli Poli brought a colorful palette to their gowns, incorporating beading and embellishments to add an ethereal, fairytale feel. Spanish designers Marco & Maria also infused color in dreamy ways throughout their new collection, using soft tulle and floral touches to create a romantic aesthetic that makes color feel more bridal.
1920s
There was a loud call for an Art Deco revival at Barcelona Fashion Week. From straight, shift silhouettes at Lorena Formoso to short, bubble skirts at The Atelier to fringe-inspired cuts of tulle and bold, floppy hats at Yolancris, we can see a Jazz Age feel making their way into celebrations around the globe.