6 Amazing Trends from Barcelona Bridal Week

We’re extremely jealous! Katerina from Vanila Wedding Boutique was lucky enough to bag a seat at Barcelona Bridal week and got a glimpse of all the wedding dresses that brides will be coveting and wearing in the next year or two. Today she’s sharing 6 of her favourite trends from the catwalks for UAE brides. Over to Katerina…

It’s spring time and I am so excited to be a part of the main European wedding fashion week, the Barcelona Bridal Week. This is always one of the greatest events and I’d like to share some of the best experiences from it. So, let’s take a look at some of the main bridal fashion trends coming up in the next couple of years…

1. BIG SKIRTS

Rosa Clara Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

The big European Spanish brands such as Pronovias Group, Rosa Clara and Jesus Peiro showcased lots of wedding dresses with beautiful big skirts in various cuts. A departure for European brands, I think it will bring a lot of excitement to our brides in the Middle East who have a penchant for gorgeous princess style dresses. However, brides need no worry about being weighed down – these creations were still very light and airy and on the simple side. The main thing about skirts for 2o17 is the fabric itself, they’re moving away from heavy embellishment and decoration and instead showcasing exquisite fabrics such as lace and tulle, lace and mikado or pique. It’s all about chic simplicity.

2. OPEN BACKS

Rosa Clara Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Christina Tamborero Collection, image courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Open backs first appeared on bridal catwalks three years ago and brides have LOVED them ever since! Open backs are still at the peak of bridal fashion and are revived every year with exciting new elements and cuts. In 2017 collections, we’re seeing more and more rectangular cut-outs and very low ovals decorated with beads and rhinestones. Open backs are now also being paired with ball gown skirts and A-line silhouettes, rather than just plain sheath style dresses as was previously the case.

3. SEPARATE TOPS AND SKIRTS

Christina Tamborero Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Jesus Peiro Collection, image courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Rosa Clara Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Many brands also presented a number of models with separates – designers paired shorts with short tops with sleeves reminding us of t-shirts, and revealing just a glimpse of the nude waistline. It’s quite provocative and more fashionable rather than bridal, but let’s see how the trend goes in the next few years. It could be a good idea for the second or even third wedding garment!

4. TRENDY CREMONA

Pronovias Collection courtesy of Barcelona Bridal Week

Lots of the 2017 collections had designs made of cremona (crepe) and wedding dresses in this fabric look exceptionally elegant, feminine and regal! Brides can look forward to offerings from Spanish brands San Patrick, Pronovias Group and Rosa Clara, where simple bridal dresses made of cremona are embellished with luxurious decor details on the shoulders and the back.

5. UNUSUAL CUTS and FITS

Rosa Clara Collection, image courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Rosa Clara continues to push the boundaries for brides and presented a beautifully stylish ivory jump-suit with a mini-skirt flounces, which created quite a sensation during fashion week. Of course, Rosa Clara is still all about the lace are renowned for their tulip-form satin, mikado or pique skirts.

Yolancris Collection courtesy of Barcelona Bridal Week

Yolancris’ collection has always been considered on trend and quite extravagant. For instance, this year I noticed a lot of fringe, vivid geometrical design elements and almost nude and extremely transparent fabrics presented by the designer sisters Yonalda and Cristina. The whole catwalk was presented in disco style, with a disco-ball in the background, bringing us right back to the early 70s.

6. ‘MIRTILLY’ BY JESUS PEIRO

Chic, luxurious and simple – the main three adjectives that would describe the Jesus Peiro collection ‘Mirtilli’. Each dress from this renowned Spanish designer was a masterpiece. Natural fabrics, amazing cuts and to die for ‘complementos’ (as they call it in Spanish – ‘accessories’ or ‘décor elements’) were beyond belief incredible: smoky beadings of different shades and shapes, sequins of different forms and sizes, feathers and golden threads. Jesus Peiro truly devoted a lot of love and attention to the accessories and some of these could even be worn after the wedding. We’re seeing more and more brides opt for ivory dresses with colorful elements and even full color wedding dresses as opposed to a second or complimentary dress. We at Vanila Wedding Boutique in Dubai are extremely glad to be presenting this wonderful brand exclusively in the Middle East!

Jesus Peiro Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

Jesus Peiro created a showstopping finale – for the final showdown we saw a bride in a powdery pink wedding dress called Candy. This beautiful dress was fully decorated with sequins and instead of a standard bridal bouquet, she held a floristic creation with a big colorful lollipop in the center. Designer Merche Segarra was inspired by blueberry and raspberry desserts and all kinds of sweets, and this can be seen through the fun backdrop and through the collection’s dress details. We can’t wait for this incredible Jesus Peiro collection to arrive to our Dubai store in 2017.

Jesus Peiro Collection, images courtesy of Vanila Wedding Boutique

7. SENSUOUS DETAILS

Sexuality is another trend popping up in 2017 wedding dress collections and the concluding show from Pronovias played on this trend. Russian super-model Irina Sheikh unveiled a stunning transparent fitted lace wedding dress while walking down the catwalk to the one of the best wedding love songs of all time, ‘Purple Rain’, to commemorate the recent loss of a great singer Prince. What an end to the show.