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Where to find the most stylish bridesmaid dresses
With the bridal market modernising at a remarkable speed, there are now dozens of brands catering to the adult bridesmaid, offering flattering cuts and sophisticated details. Here, see the brands we always recommend.
The bridal market has come far from the days when it was a given that bridesmaids would all wear the same dress in the same colour from a narrow choice of retailers; our options today are thankfully more bountiful. A number of fashion brands are offering modern, stylish options that enhance the individuality of the woman wearing them. Whether you're after an effortlessly elegant gown a lá Vince or Galvan, a dress so statement it always sparks joy (here, Cecilie Bahnsen is a must), or a flattering design that suits any shape or size like Rixo, there's an abundance of designers out there ready to add that extra special touch to your day.
The best thing about all these brands? You can wear them as a bridesmaid and beyond, thanks to their versatile and timeless designs. "We have always designed our collections with longevity in mind: we love the idea that a piece can be worn in lots of different ways and hopefully treasured for years to come," one half of Rixo, Henrietta Rix, previously explained to us, when the brand's first bridesmaid collection launched.
Whether your bride is tying the knot in the beautiful UK countryside, jetting off to somewhere warm or opting for a city wedding, here we round up our favourite bridesmaid brands perfect for any wedding destination.
The best bridesmaid dresses from fashion's chicest brands
Staud
Staud founder Sarah Staudinger is the former fashion director of Reformation, which explains how each design delivers modern elegance with a vintage feel – many of which making perfect bridesmaid dresses.
Since its inception in 2015, the LA-based brand has filled a gap in the market for "a high-end aesthetic at an accessible price point," Staudinger previously told us. "We wanted to create collections that were not overly trend driven that had a timeless quality and remain affordable."
Self-Portrait
Every fashionable celebrity, from the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales to Alexa Chung, is a fan of Self-Portrait. The brand is known for its use of lace, colour, and print – and its ladylike designs are perfect for a wedding day, whether you're a guest, bride or bridesmaid. Self-Portrait is praised for its timeless approach to fashion, meaning your bridesmaids will love their dresses for years to come.
Galvan
Season after season, fashion editors and influencers head to Galvan for chic pieces that tap into trends, without falling victim to them. It's not a label that's bridal-focused, but you will find a lot of strong options in its dresses and jumpsuit sections that will be perfect for walking your best friend up the aisle: may we suggest the classic Pandora gown.
Rixo
Rixo offers easy-to-wear styles in timeless silhouettes that flatter every shape, ideal for bridesmaid shopping, as it's unrealistic to expect every different shape or size to feel comfortable in the same style. Browse from Rixo's extensive range of styles, shapes and patterns to ensure you're feeling as confident as possible on the big day – and make sure to check out the brand's special bridesmaid range too.
Silk Laundry
If you're a minimalist bride on the hunt for a collection of simple, inclusive slip dresses, head straight to Silk Laundry. The pared-back Nineties silhouette is the brand's speciality, and as such, it comes in a host of gleaming silk shades. Even better, there's a silhouette to suit every bridesmaid, from long sleeves to wider straps (ideal for those who can't forgo a bra) and floor-sweeping lengths.
LoveShackFancy
For something frothing over with fun, feminine energy, it's Loveshackfancy you need. The New York-based brand excels at crafting beautiful floral gowns – ideal if you want your bridesmaids to look individual yet cohesive – and finishes every piece with flirtatious, intricate detailing.
Reformation
Head over to Reformation and be prepared for a true test of willpower – every look is so expertly styled you'll want everything. While its offering goes beyond bridalwear, the wedding and occasionwear category serves up plenty to choose from. From mini dresses to long-sleeve dresses, there's something for all tastes and shapes.
Significant Other
Australian label Significant Other creates effortlessly elegant dresses you can celebrate life in.
A traditional bridal brand, each collection features a bridesmaid and wedding guest offering with a focus on draping techniques that flatter the silhouette. When it comes to its designs, anything bought for a wedding day would make a great wardrobe investment.
Ghost
A long-term frontrunner in the chic bridesmaid dress arena, Ghost's feminine gowns are characterised by their signature bias-cut, form-fitting, fluid silhouettes, as well as the brand's garment-dyeing process which results in a vintage-satin effect.
Sleeper
Sleeper was launched in 2014 by two former fashion editors, Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa, after one of them had a dream about standing in the middle of a pyjama factory. Their first collection debuted in the following winter and ever since then, the label has been adored by the fashion industry and beyond. Sleeper's recent bridal collection features the perfect candidate for a bridesmaid dress, as do many of the label's other designs. We love this fun take on the classic slip with a feather trim.
Cecilie Bahnsen
Owning a Cecilie Bahnsen dress is like owning a piece of art. Each garment sparks so much joy, whether it's felt by the wearer or those who spot you wearing it. The most beautiful thing about Bahnsen's designs is the fact that you can wear them for a special occasion, like a wedding, but also, far beyond.
"You could put one of our dresses on and wear it to a party, but they are not just for these occasions, they are also just for the enjoyment of life, for dressing up every single day. This is what inspires me. It is dressing up just for living,” the designer previously told Bazaar.
Vince
Inspired by the founder's hometown of Los Angeles, Vince offers elegant and timeless dresses for the chicest of weddings. With pieces made from luxury fabrics, the brand focuses on intricate detailing and design that's built to last, meaning you'll be the most stylish bridesmaid around in one of their silk pieces.
Needle & Thread
Needle & Thread's intricate embroidery and beautiful tulle shapes have made it a favourite for bridesmaids who want to wear something special, feminine and modern. If lace, ornate floral detailing and sequins are your game, then this is the bridesmaid brand for you. Think ballerina meets bohemia.
The Own Studio
Minimalist, understated and contemporary, The Own Studio offers brides and bridesmaids sleek options that they'll actually re-wear. Inspired by luxury fashion and vintage pieces, founders Jess Kaye and Rosie Williams focus on clean silhouettes and beautiful fabrics. Styles vary from halterneck dresses and silky slips to pared-back camisoles and matching column skirts. Read more here on how The Own Studio is reinventing the experience of wedding dress shopping.
Rewritten
Just as its name suggests, Rewritten aims to rewrite the rules of traditional wedding attire. Choose between 10 existing styles, each available in a number of different colours and with UK sizes from eight to 30. Either you and your fellow bridesmaids could opt for the same shade but a different style to best suit your shapes, or the same style but in varying colours to work best with different skin tones. The point is inclusivity and designing dresses that will work hard for you beyond the wedding. If you're unlikely to wear a floor-length option more than once, then Rewritten will happily shorten it so you get more mileage.
Grace Loves Lace
Grace Loves Lace counts romantic bohemia as its signature. The Australian label is famed for its French lace, relaxed shapes and easy timelessness. Expect a lot of bare shoulders, pastel shades, scalloped hems and floaty sleeves.
Vanessa Cocchiaro
Vanessa Cocchiaro strongly believes that a bride's closest women should be viewed as 'heroines' in their own right. With a mix of separates, dresses and jumpsuits, the brand is a go-to for subtle, chic and feminine looks.
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