The Ying and Yang, jewel and feather accents all wrapped together in a big classic bow and silhouette – these are the trends that summed up New York Bridal Fashion Week.

Bridal designers constantly balance keeping tradition, detail and luxury alive whilst challenging those same traditions with designs that show a line between innovation and simplicity.

Running from 15 to 19 April, New York Bridal Fashion Week once again showed us plenty of options through cuts, styles, sleeves and necklines, whilst pushing the boundary in colour palettes and appliques, and paying homage to the true classics.

Read the trends we’ve picked up on below!

Gothic Touches

They say, in relationships, opposites attract, right?! Nothing could have rang truer at New York Bridal Fashion Week, with a slew of our favourite designers introducing black on white in every way imaginable – from a full on black ostrich feather skity at Kelly Faetanini, to inky accessories (our favourites being the lace socks!) at Marchesca, edgy wigs at Vera Wang, and out-there wide-brim hats and shiny belts at Justin Alexander. Black adds a touch of edginess, sexiness, or a serious Melburnian wardrobe fashion statement to your wedding day – truly the bold and the beautiful!

Corset Detail 

This is the epitome of a modern take on a classic style. There’s not many fashion elements that stretch further back than the Elizabethan era, is there! Not only are corsets all over street fashion styles at the moment, but they’ve made their way to wedding dress trends too. Designers such as Hayley Paige, Kelly Faetanini and Berta incorporated strapless corset bodices into their gowns – some more subtle, while the others sheer; exuding sexiness.

New Classic

It was so pleasing to see a return to structured silhouettes - mermaid fishtails and A-line skirts, and classic necklines – boatneck, bardot and pussybow – in beautiful satin and silk materials in almost every designer’s collection at New York Bridal Fashion Week. Sottero & Midgley cited the inspiration behind their collection as Old Hollywood, while Oscar De La Renta paid homage to a true modern pop culture classic - Carrie Bradshaw’s famous Sex and the City tulle gown

All That Glitters

A trend that’s proving its longevity is beading. Jenny Packham took it to infinity through a daring red, fully sequin wrap mini dress, while others featured bead detail in more subtle ways, either on boleros, capes or shoulder accents. Another notable mention goes to Naeem Khan, who’s silver sparkle jumpsuit spun a masculine feel on a feminine fabric.

Festival-Vibe Fringing

It appears that almost every week there’s a new music, arts, culture or food festival cropping up, and this movement has certainly impacted fashion – first street wear labels, then designer runways, and now the bridal world. Designers embraced the unusual this New York Fashion Week, with Hayley Page’s collection’s inspiration drawing from Ginger Rogers at Burning Man; David’s Bridal and Berta both sporting feathered skirting in pastel and nude tones, while Vera Wang took street wear in her stride with back slits, cool off the shoulder details and fits. Accessories such as beaded headbands, alternative head scarves and detailed veils also exuded that festival-feel throughout the week.