It's not uncommon for Haute Couture designers to end their runway spectaculars with a bride.
Giambattista Valli sent down a parade of ivory confections yesterday, while Ralph & Russo ended their show with Elsa Hosk as their bride of the season; and, while not explicitly bridal, even Maria Grazia Chiuri graced her runways with a handful of ivory pieces worthy of an aisle.
At Chanel, an ornately-decked bride is the expected finale to each otherworldly collection, set in the scene that inspires Lagerfeld and his design team for the season. For Haute Couture Spring 2019, guests entered the Grand Palais from the snow-covered streets of Paris, and were seated poolside in the garden of an Italian villa. The show began with Chanel's statement suiting, followed by cocktail dresses in shades of pastels. A black-and-white section gave way to eveningwear in the candy-colored hues of the collection, punctuated with exceptional embroideries and plays on volume.
While a bride in soft color, or with an exaggerated skirt seemed the clear finish, Chanel is never about the expected. A bride clad in an embellished one-piece swimsuit and a bridal swimcap with a trailing cathedral-length veil finished the show, giving beach bridal a whole new look.
While we at BAZAAR feel the modern beach bride is anything but basic, Chanel's fully-encrusted swimwear paired with an over-the-top veil proves that bridal doesn't always include a ballgown–or even a dress for that matter.
Coco Chanel famously said, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off,” and “It is always better to be underdressed.” Chanel's Couture bride of the season is case in point.
Carrie Goldberg is HarpersBAZAAR.com’s Weddings & Travel Director. She oversees the site’s BAZAAR Bride channel, travel & dining content, and styles fashion and bridal editorials for BAZAAR.com. When she’s not traveling, she spends her free time in her hometown–New York City–where there is no shortage of new places to shop, eat, drink, see and explore.
