As the curtain falls on another electrifying week in Paris, the Spring 2025 Haute Couture shows have once again left us spellbound, showcasing a runway rife with creativity and daring detail. This season, adventurous silhouettes, sheer fabrics, and expert tailoring took center stage, challenging conventions with a dramatic flair. Echoes of historical opulence were woven into modern designs, with nods to Victorian bustles and flapper-esque fringes making a spirited comeback. As these trends make their mark on the world of high fashion, their influence is poised to cascade into bridal fashion. Here’s a look at our favorite trends emerging out of this year's haute couture showcase.
Tiered Ruffles & Frills
This season, tiered ruffles are making a grand entrance, cascading down the runways with a delightful drama that feels both nostalgic and novel. These playful layers add a dynamic twist to traditional gowns and skirts, infusing a movement and volume that dances with each step. Tailor-made for the bride aiming to make a sweeping statement, this trend marries classic elegance with the romance of a bygone era, ensuring her walk down the aisle is a breathtaking spectacle.
Christian Dior, Valentino, Giambattista Valli,
Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Valentino
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Alessandro Lucioni, Isidore Montag
Regal Ruff Collars
Somewhere between period drama and high fashion, ruff collars are making an opulent return. These voluminous, pleated neckpieces—straight out of the Elizabethan era—are proof that castlecore is here to stay. From delicate, lace-trimmed versions to bold, exaggerated structures, these collars frame the face with a touch of aristocratic grandeur. Whether paired with a sleek, minimalist gown for contrast or enhancing a fully regal ensemble, this look is for the bride who wants to feel like she stepped out of a Renaissance painting.
Christian Dior, Valentino, Valentino
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Alessandro Lucioni
Sea Witchery
A vision of bridal enchantment, this season was like a whisper from the ghost of the sea. Silhouettes were draped from dishevelled, tattered silks and frayed tulles, wrapped in pirate-inspired accents and mermaid-worthy treasures. The siren bride vision—mystical, luminous, and untamed—stepping forth as if from the depths of a dream, her beauty as captivating as the tide. Perfect for an oceanic, beachside wedding or to make an impactful statement amongst a minimalistic warehouse affair.
Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Schiaparelli, Ludovic de Saint Sernin,
Gaurav Gupta, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Christian Dior
Photography: Stuart Winecoff
Hooded Elegance
Hoods have made an unexpected yet undeniably chic entrance onto the couture scene, offering a regal alternative to traditional veils. From sculptural draping to soft, scrunched textures, these designs frame the face with a mysterious allure, lending a Saint-like glow to the wearer. The sheer iterations feel ethereal, while more structured versions add a modern edge. For the bride looking to channel otherworldly grace or a contemporary take on bridal headwear, this trend is a revelation.
Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Alexandre Vauthier
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Christina Fragkou
Sultry Sheers
This season, designers are embracing barely-there elegance with sheer gowns that exude an effortless sensuality. Diaphanous fabrics like tulle, chiffon and beaded netting skim the body, creating an ethereal, weightless effect that feels both sultry and sophisticated. Whether it's a delicate overlay trailing beyond the hemline or a fully sheer skirt revealing just a hint of structure beneath, this trend is all about subtle allure. With strategic lining and soft transparency, these sheer slips offer a modern take on bridal minimalism—daring yet undeniably dreamy.
Giorgio Armani, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Schiaparelli,
Gaurav Gupta, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Giorgio Armani
Photography: Zoe Joubert, Stuart Winecoff
Tea-Length Revival
The ‘50s are calling, and tea-length dresses are back with a vengeance. With their signature mid-calf hemline and vintage allure, these gowns strike the perfect balance between playful and polished. Think Audrey Hepburn twirling in a cinched waist and voluminous skirt—ideal for brides craving a retro-chic moment. Whether adorned with intricate lace, pearls, or minimalist tailoring, these dresses prove that sometimes, less length means more impact.
Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Schiaparelli
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Gorunway
Old-World Lace,
New-World Charm
Lace is a bridal mainstay, but this season, it’s getting a vintage refresh. Designers are leaning into antique-inspired patterns, from delicate crochet-style embroidery to full gowns that feel like heirloom pieces. There’s a homespun romance to these intricate designs, a touch of nostalgia that feels both timeless and effortlessly cool. Whether woven into subtle accents or making a bold all-over statement, this is lace at its most poetic.
Valentino, Christian Dior, Schiaparelli,
Schiaparelli, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Valentino
Photography: Elena Dottelonde
The Cape Crusade
This season, capes are taking on a life of their own—dramatic, sweeping, and unapologetically grand. Whether they’re enveloping entire looks in a cloud of mystery or lightly skimming the shoulders in sheer, weightless fabric, capes are the ultimate power move. A sheer cape creates a floating, almost angelic effect, while structured versions in silk or taffeta add regal sophistication. Brides seeking an alternative to a traditional train can embrace this statement-making layer with open arms.
Giambattista Valli, Giambattista Valli, Valentino
Photography: Fillippo Fior, Alessandro Lucioni
Supersized Skirts
This season, volume is everything. Skirts are reaching dramatic new proportions, with layers upon layers of tulle, silk, and organza creating sweeping silhouettes worthy of a grand entrance. Whether in full ballgown form or a mermaid-tail explosion of cascading frills, the bigger, the better. Designers are embracing architectural draping, exaggerated ruffles, and oversized pleats, proving that maximalism is having a major bridal moment. It’s all about movement, opulence, and making sure no one forgets your dress.
Giambattista Valli, Giambattista Valli, Valentino,
Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Valentino
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Alessandro Lucioni
Featherlight Whimsy
Not quite full-feathered extravagance, but rather a whisper of softness—this season’s feather trend is all about delicate, airy textures. Wisps of weightless plumes peek out from sleeves, hemline trims, and even floating along necklines, creating a dreamy, barely-there effect. The look is playful, romantic, and just the right amount of ethereal. Think less Las Vegas showgirl, more heavenly soft touches of couture.
Chanel, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Schiaparelli
Photography: Filippo Fior, Stuart Winecoff
Wasp Waists
Fashion is tightening its grip—literally. Corseted waists and meticulously laced-up silhouettes are redefining structure, embracing an ultra-snug, hyper-cinched aesthetic that celebrates the power of femininity. Whether layered under sheer fabrics or paired with extravagant skirts for contrast, this trend channels historical romance with a bold, commanding edge—proving that strength and softness can coexist beautifully.
Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Ludovic de Saint Sernin,
Schiaparelli, Schiaparelli, Ludovic de Saint Sernin
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch, Stuart Winecoff,
Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone
Voluminous Hips
Go big or go home—that's the mantra for hips this season. Designers have fully embraced exaggerated forms, from crinoline-inspired cages to boldly squared 18th-century silhouettes. These striking shapes are paired with tops that range from form-fitting corsets to sleek bustiers, all designed to accentuate a dramatically cinched waist. For the bride ready to make a bold, sexy, and unforgettable entrance, these hip-centric designs promise to turn heads and define the big day with unparalleled style.
Valentino, Schiaperelli, Schiaparelli
Photography: Alessandro Lucioni, Daniele Oberrauch, Style du Monde
Fringe Fantasy
When it comes to high-impact details, tassles and fringing are stealing the spotlight. Shimmering strands of crystals, fabrics and beaded embellishments are turning skirts and gowns into show-stopping spectacles. The effect is somewhere between Gatsby-era glamour and Studio 54 dazzle—a dazzling choice for the bride who wants to sparkle with every step. Whether dripping from sleeves, flapping from hems of skirts, or accenting a sleek silhouette, this trend is a celebration of movement and light.
Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Armani Prive,
Ashi Studio, Schiaparelli, Schiaparelli
Photography: Daniele Oberrauch
