The Best Wedding Dress 2011: Traditional Japanese Wedding Dress

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Traditional Japanese Wedding Dress

Western-Style Kimono Fabric Wedding Dresses from Setsuko Wakatsuki

While we're on the topic of kimonos, I thought I'd show you the genius work of bridal fashion designer Setsuko Wakatsuki.who is known for remaking heirloom kimono fabric into modern, Western-style wedding gowns.

Kimono remakes are popular these days, which isn't at all surprising since the garment plays a huge role in Japan's history and it's only natural that young women don't entirely want to let go of their cultural heritage while embracing the contemporary style of dressing. When it comes to modern Kimono dresses, Setsuko Wakatsuki's designs come to mind because she beautifully infuses traditional kimono elements into her Western-style gowns - be it through the use of kimono fabric or through incorporating traditional kimono-style stitching and folding techniques into her work - resulting in a wonderful marriage of East and West.

Below are photos of her work so you can see what I mean:

Modern kimono gowns featuring a mix of contemporary and traditional elements: note the obi sash knot on the first gown and the flared kimono style sleeves on the gown on the right.

Western-style wedding dresses (and a mother of the bride dress) with kimono-inspired details.

More takes on the modern kimono wedding dress.

Soft flowy bridal gown constructed out of kimono fabric with chiffon overlay (right) and a kimono fabric serpentina-cut bridesmaid gown

Modern bridal gown made from kimono fabric with obi knot and train at the back (left). Kimono fabric gown with chiffon overlay (right)

Fun, flirty and girly wedding dresses from The Treat Dressing

The Treat Dressing is a Japanese wedding boutique that carries brands by popular bridal fashion designers Reem Acra, Vera Wang, and Ramona Keveza (among others) as well their own collection by in-house designers.

I took a peek at their collection and fell in love with the array of sweet, feminine and girly wedding dresses. Have a look at them below:

Flowy girly wedding dress with straps adorned with girly ribbon bows

Super-cute ruffly tiered bridal mini-dress

Strapless dress with a puffy ballroom skirt and a playful bow at the back

Off-shoulder bridal dress with an Audrey Hepburn-esque nostalgic feel.

Strapless gowns in white and champagne with flouncy layered skirts

Pretty and pink strapless wedding gown. Skirt is composed of soft chiffon layers.

Empire cut Goddess gown in pale yellow. Has a soft, shirred bodice and charming cap sleeves

Sweet and flirty 60s-style wedding dress. The waist is cinched with a ribbon belt decorated with rosettes.

See?! Aren't these dresses absolutely adorable?! I love them, and I definitely want to wear second and third, but mostly the third ;) AH! I love them so much! By the way, my credits are due here...