Wedding dress 1955

There is something almost architectural about the way this dress is put together, and it works completely.

The silhouette is a fitted mermaid, close through the hips and flaring into a soft chapel train that moves beautifully from the back. The skirt is cut from smooth, plain crepe, which is exactly the right choice here because the bodice does all the talking. That bodice is a structured sweetheart corset covered in floral lace appliqué with what appears to be fine beading woven through it, finishing with a sharp peplum point at the front hip. The back of the corset closes with a lace-up detail, which is both functional and genuinely pretty from behind.

The dress also comes with a separate sheer tulle halter collar, embellished with the same floral lace motifs from the bodice. Worn together, it reads formal and architectural. Without it, the sweetheart neckline gives the whole look a more open, modern feel. Two very different moods from one dress.

This is a dress that suits a church ceremony or a grand ballroom setting, somewhere the train has room to trail and the structured bodice gets the light it deserves.