21st Century weddings

Despite being in no rush to get married and who does STILL want to get married?! Weddings are so O.V.E.R that it seems not getting married is the new fashion! The subject of marriage comes up quite often but the only thing women have to say about it now is 1. 'i do not believe in it' and 2.'But, ok if I did get married one day, my dress would have to be a Chanel one'. A designer wedding is the only one on the cards.
2009's wedding dresses are a reflections of our time: uncluttered, modern and delicate. It's part of a modern fairytale with no OTT lace all over the gown. 21st Century women don't care about crinolines, long veils or trains you always accidentally step on as the main goal is to look good, not to fit in with our parents' traditions. So Goodbye huge meringue dresses and Hello LWD (Little White Dress), evanescent dreams, smart women's suits and immaculate sheaths...
Fashion has no influence on chosing the Big Day's dress, the only thing that counts is the perfect harmony between body and the gown's silhouette. Still, the designing of the dresses is undeniably influenced by , even if they are not 'fashion', they are clearly tendencies linked to the evolution of our societies. It is therefore more than common to say "yes" without a veil nowadays, when wearing a suit that will be worn time and time again, or even in a cute little Prêt à Porter dress.

It is easy to notice that no designer puts as much emphasis on the wedding gown as was done before at the end of each and every show. Dior designed a crimson dress, while Valentino and Givenchy didn't even have any at their shows: the wedding dress is no more the climax of the presenting of each collection. Still, the traditional white wedding dress hasn't disappeared (yet!), it's as present as other dresses during the catwalk presentations and fits in the crowd of cocktail dresses, making it more natural and wearable.

-Valentino: Flocks of white silhouettes strut on the catwalk as the show starts. Fabulously chic, timeless and elegant. The designer seems to have prefered sobriety to any kind of OTT detail, enabling those who will slide into them to making even Jacky Onassis grow pale!
- Just like a Oriental-Valentino, Elie Saab has designed every silhouette with an unequalled glamour. His ultra-light chiffon dresses are as graceful as beautiful. The only negative point would have to be his sculptural side to the dresses, his"sober" dresses being more wearable. Just take a look at this antique sheath dress, draped and falsely simple: it would be any modern woman's ideal!

- Givenchy's dresses are conceptual and furiously modern as its model walks veil-faced, bearing a town-looking dress rather than a nuptial one! Emphasis is put on the material's originality, certain elements's double funtion and the purity of the whole design.

For some, customs and tradition remain important: the bride closes the show and represents the Fashion House's image. The dress then can't be said to have been designed to be worn, it is more of a walking symbol of a luxury brand.

- Chanel, Lagerfeld unveiled one of his most successful (press wise) Haute Couture collection. Freja Beha therefore walked in an outfit made of a pair of white irridescent, geometrically (Oh So Chanel) designed trousers and an oversized Camelia (Coco's favourite flower designed by Kamo) around her head (!): clearly NOT wearable.

- Jean-Paul Gaultier still played Fashion's bad-boy by revealing a nuptial dress that could only suit Dita Von Teese...