Every year, the wedding industry looks to the runways of New York Bridal Fashion Week in April and October to get a sense of the trends that brides will be coveting. This year’s shows were all about glamour and drama. And it wasn’t just the dresses – the accessories made a splash too! In fact, bold accessories are a great way to turn a traditional gown in to a fashion-forward one, even if it’s just for part of the day. But which accessories really stood out? And how did the designers style them in terms of hair and makeup? Consider this your front row seat to the collections! Here are the three key accessories trends for 2023 from NYBFW.
Dramatic & Colourful Veils
Over the past few years, veils have been back in vogue, after several seasons where brides leaned towards flower crowns instead. Now veils are making a major fashion statement all their own. The Fall 2023 collections featured details like intricate, colourful embroidery, and a wide variety of hues from champagne to blue to Barbie pink. Designers also created veils for specific dresses, extending the details on the gown to the veil. And long, cathedral-length veils were definitely the look, rather than shorter styles.
Monique Lhuillier’s garden party embroidered veils were paired with a natural glamour aesthetic, with models sporting casually pulled back locks and wild natural curls. Makeup was also natural, with a flush of colour on the cheeks and lips. At Nadia Manjarrez, models wore ultra-long braids with face-framing pieces around the face, and eyes had pinky-nude shimmer to match the champagne-coloured veils. At Reem Accra, it was all drama, with braids and victory rolls embellished with flowers and vintage-style jewels and bold headpieces.
Chandelier Earrings
Luxurious chandelier and drop-style earrings were another accessories trend seen on the bridal catwalk, adding a dose of old-school glamour to any ensemble. At WONA Concept, models wore mismatched earrings at different lengths, which added a modern edge. Jenny Yoo’s collection featured sparkling chandelier earrings and drop pearls, and Theia also included both diamonds and pearls.
If you choose to wear statement chandelier earrings on your wedding day, you want to make sure they stand out rather than getting lost in your hair. So they’re not the best match for boho waves, for example. Instead, ask for an updo or a sleeked back hair down or half up half down look. Chandelier earrings are also ideal for short-haired brides and will really add something extra special to this look.
Gloves
The gloves are on! You may have noticed celebs rocking opera gloves at recent red carpet events and next year, brides will be doing it too. At NYBFW Fall 2023, designers features a range of gloves, from sheer organza and lace to Galia Lahav’s bejewelled beauties. Many were designed to coordinate with specific dresses, mirroring detail or colour. Fingerless gloves were also a look, featured by designers like Julie Vino and Andrew Kwon.
While you can of course wear any style with glove accessories, if you’re opting for classic opera gloves (like those seen at Houghton), you may want to consider an old school glam style to match, like a classic chignon, Hollywood waves, or a red lip.
Which of these 2023 bridal accessories trends do you like the most?
