wear, we are also eschewing tradition when it comes to our bridal attire. Trish Peng is leading the charge with her new bridal store ‘Yours Truly.’ The dresses are pre-loved, stunning and a fraction of the price of buying new. Outdated superstitions that wearing a pre-loved dress will bring you bad luck are just that, outdated. The modern bride sees wearing a dress that has already been a part of such a joyous occasion as the ultimate representation of ‘pre-loved.’ While renting clothing for an event isn’t a new concept, renting your bridal gown is becoming increasingly popular. There are numerous NZ-based websites offering stunning gowns that save you money and reduce textile waste. For some of us, our earliest memories involve discovering our mother’s wedding dress and playing dress-up. For those of us with sentiment at heart…having these or other vintage dresses re-worked might be the perfect option for your big day! Other brides are changing the face of the traditional bridal gown by opting for less formal attire. Jumpsuits, suiting and separates are becoming a popular way for brides to re-wear their special ‘gown’ after their big day.
SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DRESSES A big white gown you only wear once is becoming a symbol of unsustainability - Harper’s Bazaar. Words Jess Raffills | Photos Emily Raffills - Point and Shoot Ltd
Traditionally, finding ‘the one’ has referred to not only the perfect husband but also the perfect dress. The dress that shines for one day before spending the rest of its beautiful existence hanging in a dry-cleaning bag in the back of one’s wardrobe! These traditional dresses carry a far heftier price tag than time or money. According to the Green Bride Guide, the average
wedding produces 63 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, alongside 180kg of rubbish! But the face of weddings is changing and so are the dresses. Secondhand or pre-loved fashion is set to be twice the size of fast fashion by 2030, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar. So it makes sense that as well as opting for more climate conducive fashion choices for our everyday
With so many modern brides opting for multiple outfits, it makes sustainable and financial sense to opt for something more transitional. Maggie Marilyn, a NZ designer leading the charge on uncompromising style coupled with a climate-positive status, is fast becoming a popular choice for ‘bridal’ wear as well. Maggie also offers a bespoke service allowing her customers to personalise some of her popular pieces. So, whatever aisle you choose to walk down, pre-loved, non-traditional, rented or re-worked, one thing is for sure - the ‘big white gown’ is fast becoming the ‘Wear whatever you love outfit’ that sees the light of day on more than just one occasion. www.facebook.com/thefinderslife www.thefinderslife.co.nz
The Finder’s Life is all about Sustainable Styling. Having a personal stylist doesn’t need to cost the earth or the planet. This is especially true if you, like me love pre-loved pieces and the unique flair they can give to your personal style. I offer a range of Wardrobe and Personal Styling options to help you achieve your style goals and feel great in what you are wearing! www.thefinderslife.co.nz
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