Traditional Wedding Dresses

Modern brides think that white wedding dress – is one of the inviolable wedding traditions, rooted deep in the past. And many brides are trying to tear down stereotypes in his triumph, since it is a color wedding dress – anything but not the traditional white. Read more about Guests Wedding Dresses

In fact, the custom of marrying in white by historical standards is not so old – it is less than 200 years. Precedents, of course, met before, but those were isolated incidents and not a tradition. Let’s see, what does the white wedding dress and when he was considered a traditional marriage ceremony.

The history of the wedding dress is amazing and very interesting. Some particularly interesting facts from the history of the wedding dress, we offer you and to read.

Peasant girls ages 17-19 beginning to prepare their own dowry for the wedding, including the wedding dress, as soon as they received the necessary sewing skills (sometimes for clothing fabric they had not to buy, and do everything themselves – to grow flax, spinning and weaving ).

In ancient Greece, home of the European wedding dress, the bride wore a long light dress fastened by buckles on the shoulders ( “peplos”). White dress and bride groom color was a symbol of youth and purity, and a laurel wreath on the head girl pointed to her chastity. In general, the ancient Greeks most prized clothing simplicity and harmony of lines.

In ancient Egypt the bride of chest to ankles clothed (or rather – wrapped) in a long piece of cloth on the straps. The main role in the suit played no Egyptian dress and various decorations with religious symbols – bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings, tiaras and waist.

In the Middle Ages to replace the culture of beauty and sensuality of the human body came the era of austerity. Dresses were made from heavy fabrics, completely closing figure. The beauty of the body was considered sinful, and enjoying it – taboo. Heavy, fully enclosed wedding dresses (sometimes with high collars) have a variety of colors and shades, their richly decorated with embroidery, gold thread and precious stones and pearls. So for wedding, women continue to choose the best and most expensive clothes.

But a woman’s desire to look attractive to the opposite sex can not be eradicated, so early as the late Middle Ages (14-15 th century) there was some softening of the harsh manners and clothing has become more tight. In Europe, women wore long, narrow dresses of brocade or velvet with a large number of fasteners – such clothing is very difficult to move. At the wedding the bride that time were in scarlet, red or purple dresses. In vogue deep neckline, trains and veils, as well as long, floor-sleeves with slits in the middle.

In the Renaissance, the wedding dress was again taken into account the proportions of the body and its natural curves. Top it delicately hugs the female figure, without restricting movements, but from the waist diverges light folds. Chic dresses of white satin and silver brocade embroidered with pearls and precious stones. Bride of the Renaissance wore many pearl jewelry and weave it into the hair, because I believe that it strengthens family ties.

A century later, in the Rococo era, tailoring dresses become more complicated, a lot more details and sinuous forms. High wigs, frilly hair, huge hats, deep neckline and corset firmly in vogue, first in France and then throughout Europe. crinoline decorated with lace, ribbons, bows and flowers. Cable length wedding dress indicated the social status of the bride. The era of the playful artifice, which were to support women.

By the way, the fashion for white wedding dress, according to one version, introduced Anne of Austria – its snow-white wedding dress was so good that all the secular French ladies. and then to other European countries, began to repeat after her. According to another version, it is made by Queen Victoria in the mid-17th century. But in any case, a white wedding dress with time has become a tradition, symbolizing the purity of the bride.

In the late 18 early 19 centuries, there was another change of taste – Empire style revived the ancient severity of forms. In fashion dress became the figure of a ton of flowing fabric with a high waist. Deep neckline emphasizes the shape of the breast, short sleeves and open shoulders. The main matter for a wedding dress – white satin and transparent fabric, going down on top of it. Must-have accessory of the bride are white gloves to the elbow. The image of the bride embodies romance and lightness.

However, by the mid-19th century, almost forgotten style of crinoline entered again. Wedding dress decorated with numerous bows, lace and ruffles. With the help of a special pad or frame visually enlarge the back of the dress

By the end of 19th century fashion again made a sharp turn – now the bride flaunts a comfortable elegant dress with a high neckline and slightly flared bottom. Embroidery, ribbons and hoops are irrelevant.

In the 20th century the wedding dress was a lot of changes. Since the beginning of the century to the 1960s, the length of the wedding dress has been steadily decreasing, especially with the emergence of a radical and daring at the time of mini. The ideal of beauty, and therefore kind of wedding dresses, also repeatedly changed.

In 20-ies of this teenage girl in a modest dress with a low waist and a hat bowler

in the 30 years it returns to femininity.

In the 40th clothes again becomes more rigorous, with straight clean lines.

In the 50 years of light, romantic look is back in fashion. Christian Dior, then trendsetter, puts women in a form-fitting dress with a fluffy skirt midi.

In the 60s of the 20th century dresses getting shorter and acquire concise form – without ornaments and superfluous details.

Style hippie 70s brought into fashion folklore motives and passion knitted things. After 80 long existed retro style, and then he was replaced by a comfortable sports clothing style – a symbol of independence, a confident attitude and an active lifestyle.

Fashion of the 21st century on the wedding dress has become very flexible – now it just joined and mixed all the styles and trends of the Rococo to the avant-garde. The choice of color and cut wedding dress is now entirely dependent on the taste of the girl, her mood and imagination. On the wedding day, depending on what kind of dress she will choose, the bride can stand before the bride and the guests almost forehead image – from the ancient goddess or air dreamer to modern business woman

In Europe

The white color is not always considered a solemn, moreover, it is not associated with anything positive. In Europe, mainly to get married in red, green, and other colors are met. White also has long been the color of mourning and grief. No wonder the European queen wore white during the mourning, for which they were called White Dames. Of course, put on a white garment is a happy event like a wedding. Few dare.

 

Nevertheless, history has few examples of such eccentricity royals.

For the first time a white dress on the wedding ceremony put on the Duchess of Brittany and Queen of France Anne of Brittany, in 1499 married to Louis XII. It was the first herald of the nascent tradition that one has not only maintained a century the most daring bride.

In 1613, she excelled in her wedding day the Anglo-Scottish Princess Elizabeth Stuart. Her wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses as well, is made of silver-white brocade. Elizabeth dress with a train, decorated with silver lace and embroidered with diamonds, there were her father, King James I, a fortune.

White dress at a wedding, and would prefer the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I) Archduchess Marie Louise, who married the emperor in 1810. In the XIX century, wearing a white robe could afford only people with large incomes, because the dirt is noticeable light is best, and washing in those days was a very onerous occupation. Therefore, white for the wedding the bride wore rich, to emphasize their status and origin.

Triumphant breakthrough in the world of fashion white wedding dress took place in 1840 thanks to the remarkable marriage of the XIX century – the British Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort. Luxurious Victorian dress was decorated with white flowers orange trail behind it stretched 5.5 meters long. Photos from the ceremony were published in the press, after which many brides all over England began to imitate his queen.

In 1853, strengthened the position of the white wedding dress last Empress of France, Napoleon III’s wife Countess Eugenia de MONTIHO- first beauty and trendsetter, recognized throughout Europe.

Modernity

If Queen Victoria may be called the founder of the tradition of the white wedding dress, the man who coined this phenomenon in a mass fashion, Coco Chanel became. The First World War brought about changes in the habitual for Europeans peaceful life, many aspects of which were much more modest, including weddings. And the great Coco has adapted these changes by creating a fashion trend – the truncated wedding dress. It was a white, knee-length, but with a very long train, making a very unusual style of dress. Traditional veils are also attached.

But the real heyday of wedding fashion started in the West after the Second World War, in the 50s.

 

Traditional wedding dresses of different nations

India

In Indian culture, the bride traditionally wears a red or pink. Brides from the north are easily recognizable by the red dot in the center of the forehead.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, home to 250 different ethnic groups and are used more than 500 languages! Therefore, wedding ceremonies vary from tribe to tribe. However, Nigerian brides prefer bright colors and often put on the gel – a traditional headdress.

Ghana

In Ghana, the wedding is very bright; Each family uses a pattern for the bride and groom outfits.

Mongolia

The traditional Mongolian wedding ceremony and the bride and groom wear dil – patterned wedding suit, wearing which is a centuries-old tradition of the Mongols and other nomadic peoples of Central Asia.

Japan

Bride Clothing for traditional Japanese wedding – white kimono, symbolizing purity and chastity. After the ceremony, the bride may dress in red kimono, which is a symbol of good luck.

Kazakhstan

On the Kazakh wedding the bride wears a traditional headdress – saukele – along with the veil. Saukele are made long before she enters into marriage age.

Scotland

Men get married in Scotland in kilts with a pattern of their clan; After the ceremony the bride wears a scarf of the same color, to show that they belong to the family of her husband.

Hutsuls of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Hutsuls – Ukrainian ethnic group for centuries lived in the Carpathian region. Traditional Hutsul wedding dresses – a bright and colorful, and the ceremony itself involves a lot of games, fun, songs and dances.

Romania

It looks like the bride of the north-western part of Transylvania. Wedding here – high-profile events that will organize parents newlyweds. The organization includes many rituals, including the preparation of costumes.

Mountain Region (between Kosovo and Macedonia)

The people residing in the region Mount – Muslims, but their rituals include many pagan elements. The bride arrives at the wedding on a white horse covered with a scarf, with an ornate umbrella.

China

In China, red symbolizes good luck and ward off evil spirits, it is not surprising that both the groom and the bride in a dress the color is present.

Nationalism Yakan

This ethnic group lives on the Philippine island of Bazil. Traditional wedding consists of two ceremonies – Islamic and pagan. A wedding organized by parents for the ceremony and the bride and groom designs applied to the face.

Hungary

In traditional Hungarian wedding bride dress decorated with beautiful floral pattern and decorated with three bright colors. In addition, the bride wears a large number of petticoats and a magnificent headdress.

Norway

Traditional wedding suit in Norway called “byunad”. His worn not only for weddings but also for other special occasions – such as a baptism.

Peru

The dress of the bride in the Andes – a cape, a poncho and a flat hat, decorated with colorful ornaments and tassels. Embroidered shirt and wearing a poncho and groom.
Japan

Japanese bride traditionally prefer white and pale blue colors wedding kimono, which is not spared expensive silk or brocade fabric, where there is an elegant embroidery with gold or silver threads. The headpiece is called siromuku. Top wedding kimono are covered with a special cape called uchikake. They are quite long with a weighted hem, which serves as a beautiful plume.

Thailand

The bride traditionally two or three wedding dress. First -Traditional Thai pha nung wedding dress made of chiffon and silk with the exquisite embroidery. This dress is traditionally go to church to receive blessings from the monks and receive blessings from the most senior relatives. Externally pha nung traditionally resembles something Indian saris – long skirt with pleats, flip the fabric over her shoulder.

Morocco

Moroccan wedding dress – a coat, or, if you prefer, a long robe, which is custom made of silk, satin, chiffon, organza and other expensive fabrics and decorated with luxurious embroidery in ethnic style. Over the long jacket worn from more dense material. Often caught in a coat embroidered waist wide belt, which in itself is a true work of art.

Vietnam

The traditional dress is considered robe of silk ao dai decorated with expensive lace, a variety of jewelry, embroidered with gold thread. Ao dai consists of two elements: broad long trousers and dresses with high collar, long sleeves and narrow side slits up to the waist. Side section varies by region, age, and also changed during the history of the country. For example, the southern section of women on the ao dai above the waist. Ao dai – one of the most elegant and feminine dresses, Vietnamese characters, emphasizing profitable figure and slenderness woman.