Short wedding dresses are so cute and perfect for the Caribbean. A few years ago, it was really hard to find a wide variety of alternative length dresses that were fun but still sophisticated enough to suit a modern bride. That has changed considerably in recent times and designers have more than met the increased demand for cocktail and tea-length gowns by producing a multitude of stylish, swoon-worthy designs.
If you love this year’s trends in bridal collections you’ll be happy to know you can find them at any length.
Trend: High Low Hemlines and Transformer Gowns
Emilio Pucci, Lazaro, Tara Keely
High Low Hemlines and Transformer gowns (two-in-one gowns with detachable trains) are a great option if you want to stride the line (albeit boldly!) between traditional and non-traditional lengths.
Trend: Peplums
Hayley Paige, David’s Bridal, Reem Acra
Peplum silhouettes really show off a woman’s curves and add a playful, romantic element to any design. This is such a perfect trend for cocktail gowns as, in my view, they’re more attractive on shorter dresses.
Trend: Ruffles, Lace Nouveau
Monique Lhuillier, Romona Keveza (3), Watters
Ruffles are here to stay and that’s not a bad thing- especially if you’re a girly girl who wants to look dreamy on her big day. For shorter gowns, ruffles add a stylish sophistication. The texture can be quite artistic as seen in the gowns above.
Lace Nouveau is such a pretty trend, influenced by Duchess Kate’s royal wedding gown. Designers have added lace to fitted silhouettes and modern designs updating this previously considered ‘vintage’ element and transforming it- nouveau’ is simply French for ‘new’. I think that in this case however, using lace in shorter designs actually lends itself a bit more to a classic look, which gives such dresses an air of timelessness.
Trend: Illusion necklines
Illusion necklines, often done with a lace overlay, are a popular way of adding interesting detailing.
Trend: Sparkly Details/Accessories
I love that sparkly details are trending in wedding gowns this year. Michelle Obama’s 2nd Inauguration dress by Jason Wu is the perfect example of how to do it right.
Even if you’re not big on this year’s trends it’s still easy to find the perfect dress for you- like this soft, romantic number from the marvelous Sarah Seven. Check out loads more short and sweet options here on Pinterest!
