How to Read a Wedding Dress (Paperback)

Lydia Edwards

ISBN 10: 1350293032 / ISBN 13: 9781350293038

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. Lavishly illustrated in full color, How to Read a Wedding Dress displays annotated images of historical garments that outline important features and highlight how styles have developed over time, offering a fascinating overview of changing bridal trends over three centuries.In this ideal companion to her bestselling guide, How to Read a Dress, Lydia Edwards offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of bridal wear around the world, from the Renaissance up to the modern day. This guide explores prevalent trends and developments, including how the Victorian fashion for white silk (a break from the previous 18th-century tradition of the bride simply donning a best dress) over the course of the 19th century developed into the now familiar and indeed ubiquitous cultural icon of the white wedding dress and veil. Finally, she explores how today, brides worldwide are reimagining the past and incorporating vintage style as an integral part of their big day and considers style choices influenced by gender identity fluidity and same-sex marriage.Equipping the reader with eclectic examples of bridal wear over the centuries, this is the ultimate guide to the wedding dress for students, researchers of fashion history, and anyone looking for inspiration for their big day. An invaluable companion to the bestselling How to Read a Dress by the same author, this is the ultimate visual guide to how wedding fashions have evolved over the centuries and the ideal tool for identifying historical styles. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781350293038

Bibliographic Details

• Title: How to Read a Wedding Dress (Paperback)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1350293032
• ISBN 13: 9781350293038
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Lavishly illustrated in full color, How to Read a Wedding Dress displays annotated images of historical garments that outline important features and highlight how styles have developed over time, offering a fascinating overview of changing bridal trends over three centuries.

In this ideal companion to her bestselling guide, How to Read a Dress, Lydia Edwards offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of bridal wear around the world, from the Renaissance up to the modern day. This guide explores prevalent trends and developments, including how the Victorian fashion for white silk (a break from the previous 18th-century tradition of the bride simply donning a 'best' dress) over the course of the 19th century developed into the now familiar and indeed ubiquitous cultural icon of the white wedding dress and veil. Finally, she explores how today, brides worldwide are reimagining the past and incorporating 'vintage' style as an integral part of their big day and considers style choices influenced by gender identity fluidity and same-sex marriage.

Equipping the reader with eclectic examples of bridal wear over the centuries, this is the ultimate guide to the wedding dress for students, researchers of fashion history, and anyone looking for inspiration for their big day.

About the Author

Lydia Edwards is a Lecturer at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.