The Best Vintage Wedding Dress Patterns

Carolyn Bessette's Narciso Rodriguez wedding dress changed fashion. It was 1996. And she rejected all the bells and whistles for somethingbold in its simplicity. It looked perfect on her. And it was pure white. Who wears white any more?

Nobody.

But she did. And it looked amazing. And it made brides move away from things like illusion tops toward a more streamlined look.

The problem was and is that very few women can get away with a bias-cut sheath gown. You have to be model thin and really, really gorgeous. It's just not right for "Everywoman."

So, in an effort to be simple, we've had 15 years of strapless gowns. Strapless ballgown. Strapless box pleat. Strapless a-line skirt. And even though it was pretty and refreshing for awhile, can we please have some new looks? It's time for some trend-forward brides to have some guts and show us something new. A new silhouette. A new vibe.

But it's all been done. Hasn't it?

Jan's sister-in-law thinks so. She is a cool girl with her own style. And she can't believe the lack of originality in today's bridal stores. What is one to do when all the dresses are just not doing it? Since she doesn't want strapless, there are only about 10 dresses to choose from. There are some beautiful dresses that she loves, but they are out of her price range.

She doesn't want a swan costume, but something refined and elegant. Something that NOBODY else has. Something that makes just enough of a statement and makes people think "Why didn't I think of that?"

If this sounds like your or someone you know, there's one sure way to get an original dress at a decent price. Have your dress made. Find a dressmaker like this one in Minneapolis. You will probably spend $1000-1500, but you will have a dress that is made for you. It will fit like a glove. And you will get what you want without having to deal with a bridal shop.

Think outside the box. Forget about bringing in a photo from a bridal magazine. Find something really cool and go for it! It's time to bring back some amazing looks from the past. Wouldn't you just fall over if you saw a bride in a cool retro dress from the 1960s? Can somebody have the balls to bring back the bellskirt that Carol wore at her wedding

We are in LOVE with this pattern. Perfect for a winter bride with that cool overcoat. And it actually goes with some of the babydoll/empire looks we are seeing today.

We also love this look for a traditional Princess bride. Love the stiff fabric, waistband, and neckline:

Here's a similar look...this has the side pleats that were so big in the mid-sixties before the mod movement.

For more cool patterns, check out this website. Go to the sidebar and click wedding patterns. Most patterns run $50-100. Lots of inspiration!