A Cool Fashion Girl Talks Pre-Loved Bridal Style

One of the traps you want to avoid with vintage is looking dated. I have a very intuitive sense of my own personal style, so whatever I'm gravitating towards – vintage or new – it has to feel like me. I have to see it as part of the vision or part of my wardrobe. If anything feels retro, it probably won’t make the cut. I try not to think about the decade its from or even the designer – it has to feel like something I’d wear, even it just came out.

What's been really helpful is looking at my closet and thinking: “What are my all-time favourite pieces or outfits I’ve ever worn?” Then I try to find it in white or if not, then that’s forced me to think about whether I’m okay wearing colour to my wedding. It all helps to build the vision.

You can make vintage feel modern by looking for details that are trending in fashion now. Equally, if the dress feels quite vintage, think about how you style it – maybe it’s teaming it with more modern jewellery or some cool shoes from a more recent collection. There are plenty of ways to make something that isn’t new still feel relevant. Don’t be afraid to lean into unique styling choices – that’s the point of shopping vintage… to end up with a look no one else has.

Try not to be swayed by relatives insisting you wearing vintage pieces or hand-me-downs. If they really don’t feel like you, my instinct would be to try and let people down gently. There might also be a way for you to incorporate it in the other wedding events – like a bridal shower – rather than the big day itself. Alternatively, if you do want to incorporate it somehow, see if people might be open to you repurposing something. Could you change the length on something? Could you lose a sleeve or change the neckline? There’s probably a way to make something feel more like you. It’s each to their own – so lean into your intuition. I was so lucky that I loved my mum’s wedding dress, so I wore it to our engagement party last year.

It's also not a good idea to panic buy things. The problem with vintage is there's probably only one of whatever it is – so there’s a risk it will sell out. But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt with bridal shopping is not buying something too early. I started accumulating things very early on because I thought I couldn’t live without it but I still have a good few months to go and I’m still looking. There’s a real delicate timeline at play here – and I’ve had to learn the value of planning before I buy anything else. Trust me: the moodboards will change! It fits with the whole ethos of vintage shopping anyway but these should be conscious purchases where possible. 

Some of my favourite vintage finds ever include my older Ralph Lauren pieces. Not only do I love the brand but the quality is amazing – something it really carries through to its current collections. I found a Ralph Lauren pony-hair zebra jacket from the 90s – unworn with the tags still on – and it’s just such a special piece. It fits me so well. It’s also so great that pony hair and zebra are trending right now. I also found some Gucci loafers that are some of the most comfortable shoes I own. That’s also the beauty of vintage – that worn-in look. I share these purchases, not because they’re right for my wedding, but because they have the kind of details I look for in all vintage purchases: good quality, exceptional fit and that one-of-a-kind vibe.

Fit can be hit or miss – so that’s something else to bear in mind. Even the Gucci loafers – I ordered them in a size too small because I knew the fit would work better for me. Sizes were just so different, 15, 20 years ago. Make sure you’re purchasing from sites that have a designated returns policy or try things on in person where you can. It’s trial and error but you’ll eventually get a sense of which brands suit you in which size, depending on the era they’re from. 

I'm not hiring a bridal stylist but I do think they can be worth their weight in gold – especially if you want to incorporate more vintage into your wedding wardrobe. In addition to helping you curate looks, they can help you create the vision around your entire wedding. There’s a lot of storytelling to be done around the pre- and post-wedding events too, and they can make that process easier. Cohesion can be tricky to get right without some professional help. Names that come highly recommended include Little White Looks, Gabrielle Hurwitz and Lauren Burke. They know everyone and everything.