Vivienne Westwood’s 2022 Wedding Dress Collection Is Perfect For The Modern Bride

The pandemic has undoubtedly altered the wedding landscape, with countless ceremonies and receptions postponed or scaled back over the past two years. So, what comes next? Will more intimate, low-key affairs remain? Or will there be a yearning for the glamour and maximalism we’ve largely missed out on over the last 24 months?

All these considerations have to be front of mind when creating bridalwear today, including at Vivienne Westwood. “We approached the design for this collection with a sense of new beginnings and renewal,” Brigitte Stepputtis, head of bridal and couture, tells Vogue. “Our brides are free-thinkers and with the 2022 collections they are empowered to sculpt their own look.”

In fact, Vivienne Westwood’s bridal offering for 2022 is split into three capsule collections: made-to-order, couture, and Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood. “The corsetry and silhouettes [from our Paris shows] inform and influence our bridal collections, which we offer to our clients as made-to-order or fully bespoke couture,” Stepputtis explains. “The Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood offering comes directly from the spring/summer 2022 runway collection. It only seemed right that these bespoke gowns sit within our bridal offering this year, as they represent the future.”

An Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood wedding dress inspired by Marilyn Monroe. 

© ROB RUSLING 

For those looking for full on drama, the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood collection includes a Marilyn Monroe-inspired gown featuring a statement ruffled neckline and feather train, as well as a frothy tulle and lace confection that references Marie Antoinette’s court dresses from the 18th century.

The couture collection, too, delivers a series of sensational gowns, from a delicately-embroidered 1920s inspired dress to a crystal-encrusted halterneck number. Bridal tailoring is also on offer, including a modern two-piece that pays homage to Bianca Jagger’s famous white suit. “We developed the bridal tailoring especially for this collection, which is totally unisex,” Stepputtis says. “Double-breasted jackets combine Savile Row tailoring with our signature pattern cutting, embellished with crystals and pearls.”

Meanwhile, the made-to-order collection (which starts from £2,050), comprises classic Vivienne Westwood bridal gowns featuring her famous corsetry, alongside shorter and more slinky options. A number of the styles offer sleeves, capes and train choices that allow you to customise your wedding day look. “The Rhea, Freyja and Grace with removable and transformative elements really showcase our approach to bridal this season,” Stepputtis adds.

A Bianca Jagger-inspired suit from the couture collection. 

© ROB RUSLING

Of course, many brides come to Vivienne Westwood for the brand’s eco-credentials. The made-to-order pieces are available in ivory recycled tulle and FSC-certified viscose, with all pieces handcrafted in England. On top of that, the brand’s couture team is now offering a bespoke post-wedding service, allowing you to transform your bridal gown into a piece that you’ll wear for many years to come.

“The most environmentally-conscious way for us to approach bridal is to prioritise quality and longevity in the design phase and to really think about the gown’s life post-wedding,” Stepputtis explains. “This will be our focus going forwards, transforming previously-loved bridal gowns to make them completely individual to the owner and wearable time and time again.”

After all, why should a Vivienne Westwood wedding dress be for one day only?