bridal fashion’s big problem
The bridal industry has a big problem: sustainability.
This isn’t unique to bridal fashion specifically. Fashion is actually one of the biggest contributors to climate change issues including waste and emissions. But what is particularly worrying is that wedding garments have become synonymous with one-time wear. Not just the wedding dress itself - but accessories such as purses embroidered with “BRIDE” on the front or sparkly white dresses for bachelorette parties.
Climate change is a huge topic at the moment - as it should be. And there is a way to work on the wedding industry’s impact, while also helping brides’ budgets.
Rather than spending money on lots of items that will sit in your closet, get donated (or worse - get tossed!), what if we looked at weddings as an opportunity to invest in high quality pieces that we can have a permanent place in our closets. If you’re going to spend that money, you might as well get a lot of use out of it. Plus, those garments will have lots of positive memories attached to them.
A few ideas to implement this:
Accessories
Rather than accessories specifically labeled with the word “bride” or “mrs” you can find purses that are still that classic bridal white, but have pearl accents, making them wearable to other functions. An example I am crushing on here: Abigail Pearl Handbag
For jackets, skip a denim jacket that has sequins and “MRS” scrawled across the back. Instead, consider purchasing a white leather moto jacket! Very stylish for daily use and versatile for more than just one bridal event: Levi’s Faux Leather Moto Jacket
SHOES
The go-to for a bridal shoe is often a white stiletto. Stylish, chic and classic, they’re a great choice and are definitely able to be reworn. But if you’re looking for something even more versatile for other events (and less at risk for stains), Badgley Mischka has several gorgeous options in bridal blue or pastel pinks. I love these Everley Satin D'orsay Heels in whisper blue.
One of the best things I did for my wedding was exchange sneakers with my groom for our wedding gifts - which we changed into for the reception so we could dance all night! But we’ve worn them repeatedly after the fact, and they always bring a smile to my face from the memory. Ted Baker is one of my favorite options for white sneakers that are subtly bridal, like these floral embroidered sneakers.
DRESSES
Dresses can be tricky as white is very bridal and therefor eliminated as an option to rewear as a wedding guest. But one way to mitigate the issue is to get a white dress that has a pattern on it. It still might not work for someone else’s wedding, but would be a great option for Easter brunch or a baby shower. This House of CB dress would work for a bridal shower and beyond!
If you’re willing to go in a less traditional direction, you could also choose a theme for your bachelorette that isn’t classic white. You could go with a trendy Barbie theme and wear a pink dress or veer towards a western look with a denim outfit. How do you identify yourself as a bride? Easy, just wear a short veil or a sash - which you can pass on for your next friend who gets hitched!
