Wedding dress 1986

There is something about the way those pearl strands drape across the shoulders that makes this dress feel genuinely different from anything else on the rack.

The silhouette is an A-line, relaxed enough to walk on sand or cobblestone without a second thought, with a floor-length chiffon skirt that trails into a chapel train. The bodice is fitted with a sweetheart neckline and covered in floral lace appliqué that extends past the natural waist, blending into the skirt. At the neckline, a separate sheer high-neck piece frames the collarbone with lace leaf motifs, giving the front an almost jewellery-like collar effect while keeping the shape of the sweetheart beneath visible.

The real conversation piece, though, is the back. It is fully open, with the lace collar and shoulder pieces connected only by cascading strands of pearls that drape across the upper back and shoulders. Those pearl drapes catch every bit of light as you move.

The chiffon skirt is clean and unstructured, letting the bodice do the talking. This dress suits a seaside ceremony, a garden reception, or any outdoor setting where you want movement and air rather than structure and volume.

Light to wear. Impossible to forget.