After she struggled to find an off-the-rack dress that suited her taste,Forth made her own,with help from her mother. But not every bride is handy with a sewing machine,or wants the full made-to-order experience,which as well as being costly can take six months or more. Even post-lockdowns,she thinks there’s a broader trend for more relaxed,flexible weddings. “That classic,princess-style wedding is falling by the wayside,” she says.
Acler’s collection,which will cost from $320 to $1200,will debut on the runway next month at Australian Fashion Week. Forth says it will appeal to a range of brides,from those wanting multiple outfits to those entering their second marriage,budget-conscious brides and couples holding “flash weddings”,a term coined in a recentNew York Timesarticle for weddings planned in less than three months.
“The second-dress trend is a lot of fun,and it’s great we have items that are playful and a shorter length,” Forth says. Also in the range:pleated dresses that echo the brand’s love of that technique,and suiting,for the bride who isn’t feeling the dress vibe.
Last weekend’s wedding of Richie,daughter of singer Lionel Richie,and Grainge,which took place on the French Riviera with a guest list including Paris Hilton and twins Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte,who also performed,featured the bride in multiple couture looks by Chanel.
While the bridal outfit-change trend isn’t new,it’s gathering momentum in Australia. Dani Connor,editor of wedding websiteHello May,says about one in three “real wedding” submissions to the online magazine features a bride in multiple outfits. And though men haven’t adopted the trend in big numbers yet,Connor has started to see the odd groom changing into a “party” shirt.