#BridalCheatSheet: Steal These 7 Styling Ideas From The Fall 2016 Couture Shows

Stephanie Williams Photography for This Modern Romance

In our last post we shared some of the most stunning looks from the Fall 2016 Couture collections, and now, for all you ladies who are getting married soon, we are further breaking down the looks and dissecting trends that can be used as bridal inspiration. If you are confused and tired of scouring through bridal magazines, you will be surprised at just how many new fashion and beauty ideas you can discover from couture shows that would translate equally well on a bride.

Check out 7 trends that we spotted on the runway below, and don’t forget to click on the bridal iterations of those trends that we have personally curated for you!

SHORTER SILHOUETTES

We are all for comfort when it comes to fashion, and when there is a wedding dress we can easily walk and dance in, we’re pretty much sold! We saw a lot of tea-length dresses on the runway, which would look lovely at a vintage-themed wedding, high-low gowns continue to be a rage, whereas a short sheath dress (as seen at Encore by Watters, Angel Sanchez, Caroline Hayden, etc.) would be perfect for the modern bride who likes to keep it minimal. Our favorite part about this trend? We also get to show off those dazzling bridal shoes!

Splurgerina Loves: Rosa Clará // YolanCris // Angel Sanchez
Christian Siriano for Kleinfeld // Moonlight Tango

HOOP EARRINGS

No, we’re not referring to those casual, everyday hoops we saw on JLo or Nelly Furtado in the 90s; hoop earrings are back on the fashion scene and their new luxe makeover will have you forget those “done to death” diamond studs and chandelier earrings in no time. Whether you chose to wear your hair down or in an elegant updo, hoops can easily look good with any hairstyle, and we particularly love the way they draw focus to the neck and collarbone area—a great choice for those opting for a strapless or off the shoulder gown, we must add!

Splurgerina Loves: Rosantica’s ‘Atena’ Earrings // Aurelie Bidermann Talitha Hoop Earrings
Wouters & Hendrix Bird Hoop Earrings // Isharya Pyramid Mirror Hoop Earrings

STATEMENT CAPES

Capes have been immensely popular among celebs on the red carpet in the last couple of years, and with each passing year we are seeing more couturiers include them in their designs. If you are one to make a dramatic entrance, reconsider that ginormous veil or train and opt for a full-length cape instead; it still makes a statement but feels trendier and modern. Plus, most designers make detachable versions, so there’s that added bonus of having two looks in one—wear the cape while walking down the aisle and then take it off during the reception, change up your hair, and voila, you have a new look! If you like the layering aspect of a cape but are not into the full-fledged “superhero” kinds (click Pronovias link below), you can also opt for capelets/ponchos or pick something softer and ethereal in lace or tulle.

Splurgerina Loves: Reem Acra // Mira Zwillinger
Marchesa // Pronovias // Krikor Jabotian

CHOKER NECKLACES

If you don’t want to go the hoop earrings route, here’s another piece of jewelry from the 90s that your wedding guests won’t be able to take their eyes off of; if you’ve seen this video by Ariana Grande, you know what we mean! But if you’re only thinking those casual black tattooed versions, then think again! We are seeing everything from chunky chains and collar pieces to edgy leather ones that would be perfect for the rockstar bride. For the classic brides, there are antique pieces studded with crystals and precious/semi-precious stones, beautiful pearl chokers, and dainty gold chains that can be used as layering pieces. They are a delight as far as styling is concerned as well. At the couture runway shows, we saw chokers paired with everything from strapless and off-the-shoulder gowns to gowns with deep-V plunging necklines and even high collars and crew necks, and surprisingly enough, they complement everything!

Splurgerina Loves: Amrapali Silver Gold Plated Textured Zircon Leaf Motif Choker
Isharya Origami Gold Choker Necklace // Outhouse The Palatine Cape Choker
Madina Visconti di Modrone Necklace // Etro Choker

FREE FLOWING TRESSES

Lazy brides, rejoice because this one is for you! Barely-there makeup has been trending for a few seasons now, so it was only a matter of time before hair stylists also caught up and created something that felt natural and easy-chic. At majority of the Fall 2016 couture shows, we saw models walk down the ramp with their hair down, lightly styled, so to let the dress do all the talking, and we have to admit, we’re in favor of it! As much as it’s fascinating to look to the runway to find intricate new hairdos, there is something relieving about having to worry about one less thing while planning a wedding, isn’t it?! The only thing to remember here is that the trick to nailing this look is to not fight against the natural texture of your hair; just tell your hairstylist to work with what you’ve got and subtly enhance it to look more graceful. If you aren’t entirely convinced by the simplicity of the look, you can always elevate it by adding in a hair accessory, like a whimsical headpiece, a delicate hair chain, or an elegant barrette.

Splurgerina Loves: 1 // 2 // 3
4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9

BELTED WAISTLINES

The iconic Coco Chanel once said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Well, if you were to follow her advice today, let that one thing not be your belt! In the past, we saw plenty of wedding gowns with built-in ribbon ties and sashes that effortlessly blended in with the dress, but now it’s all about belts that stand out. Get anything in metallic or leather, with bold accents and embellishments that draw attention to your waist—after all, you do want to show it off after all those months of intense body workouts and healthy eating! We recommend scrolling through Etsy for affordable, yet one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces that will really kick your wedding look up a notch!

Splurgerina Loves: Miu Miu // Oscar de la Renta // Judith Leiber
Misty Albion // Anthropologie // Chanel // Vasundhara

ACCENTUATED SLEEVES

Strapless gowns were a “thing” for a very long time, so when full-sleeved dresses came into the picture, we embraced them wholeheartedly. Since then, with each consecutive year, we are witnessing designers becoming more and more creative with sleeve designs. Off the shoulder is a huge trend right now—be it in ready-to-wear or couture—so it’s no surprise that it’s seeping into bridal wear as well. Besides that, look for one-shoulder gowns, dresses with fluttery or ruffled sleeves, cutout or bell sleeves—basically, anything that features the sleeves as the focal point of the wedding dress! If you ask us, we’d love a gown like Ziad Nakad (featured below) that has floor-grazing sheer sleeves that split in the middle and give the illusion of an angel’s wings.