With millions of people watching around the world, it should come as no surprise that the royal wedding has spawned a whole host of trends, from dresses and veils to flower, cakes, jewelry, and even venues (at least this time we won’t see the copycat trend of trains a mile long). But whether or not you were one of the many watching as William and Kate exchanged vows, you’re bound to witness many of the trends they’ve already made popular. Here are just a few to be on the lookout for in the coming months.
1. Retro dresses. The style of Kate’s Alexander McQueen dress (designed by Sarah Burton) was loosely based on the wedding gown worn by Grace Kelly (also married into a royal family – she became the Princess of Monaco). The lace bodice, sweetheart neckline, and full, flowing skirt are all decidedly classic and 100% flattering to just about every feminine silhouette, so don’t be surprised if you see a resurgence of this “retro” look.
2. Spare jewelry. It would be pretty hard to get your hands on an antique Cartier tiara, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of girls out there won’t go for the glittery replicas. And when you’re wearing that amount of bling on your head, you really don’t need too much in the way of other jewelry. Kate kept it simple with a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings that were gorgeous and understated. Let’s hope this is one trend that takes off!
3. Bridesmaids in white. It has long been the tradition that only the bride wears this chaste color on her wedding day, but Kate flouted tradition by surrounding herself with a sea of white dresses. Traditional girls may not want to copy this risqué move, but it certainly does provide for some balanced photos (with black tuxes on one side and white dresses on the other).
4. Hats galore. This has more to do with the guest list than the wedding party, but after seeing so many high-society ladies donning hats for the ceremony, girls everywhere may be giddy to get to their local millinery (that’s a hat shop, for the uninformed or anyone under the age of 80). Let’s just hope they go for some of the softer, simpler sort (a la Joss Stone and Mrs. Beckham), rather than the ones that look like they’re about to attack your face (William’s cousins Eugenie, Beatrice, and the Spencers provide prime examples).
5. Outdoors indoors. Most people are content to line the pews with garlands or strategically place a couple of vases near the altar. But not William and Kate. With the royal gardens at their disposal, they lined Westminster Abbey with enough greenery to make it look like they were having an outdoor wedding, including not only flowers, but maple trees lining the aisle.
