From the romance of its evolution to the splendor of its design, the wedding
dress is unlike any other garment, a talisman from a fantasy world, the
manifestation of dreams coming true. This book draws on wedding garments in
the V&A’s renowned collection along with photographs, letters, memoirs, and
newspaper accounts to explore the history of the white wedding dress and the
traditions that have developed around it from 1700 to today, when designers
from Vera Wang to Vivienne Westwood continue to challenge the aesthetic.
Paintings, drawings, and wedding photos depict queens, princesses,
celebrities, and everyday women―including Kate Middleton―in their gowns. The
text considers the dress in the context of the commercialization of weddings
that began in the Victorian era. The Wedding Dress is not only about costume,
but also about the cultivation of the image of the bride. Read more