Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week offered a look for every taste – and type of wedding – whether you’re on the hunt for a knockout ballgown, chic city dress or something wild for a destination wedding. Here are 20 looks from the catwalk that offer a taster of what brides will be wearing in seasons to come
Words: Libby Norman
Images: Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week
Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is always eagerly awaited by international buyers and trend spotters, offering a showcase for some of the biggest designers on the planet, along with up-and-coming talent. Barcelona is also a city synonymous with weddings, since some of the most respected names in bridal have their headquarters here.
This season’s shows were true to form, offering a rainbow of options – from edgy hotpants to classic slimline styles to lavish ballgowns, and everything in between. Strong themes for 2019 emerged across the collections. Ballgowns remain an essential part of the mix, but designers are exploring the design possibilities. Some have tapped into a 1950s theme (also evident at London Bridal Week shows), while many of our favourites have a more relaxed style that would be perfect for a destination bride. Fantasy ruffles are big news, offering an alternative take on glamour, while floaty or structured capes and bold and voluminous sleeves are a feature of many collections. And shorter lengths are definitely on the design radar – we spotted everything from minis to demure coat dresses and sexy transparent gowns.
Exquisite textures remain strong looks for 2019. As to colour, pink to lilac shades are in many collections. For something more restrained, grey is the colour – with everything from frosted silvers and soft dove tones to deep gunmetal. While grey might not seem the obvious wedding-day choice, it has a sophisticated edge and there’s a shade to flatter most skin tones.
Our shortlist of 20 gowns (and we could have easily picked out many more) showcase looks we think brides will be wearing in 2019 and beyond.
1. Divine diva – Pronovias
One-shoulder gowns were a feature of several collections at both Barcelona and London shows, but this Carmen gown from Pronovias had true star quality. We love the form-flattering cut, sexy front split and lace side panels. This would be a fantastic gown for a destination bride. pronovias.com
2. Fifties glamour – Cymbeline
Cymbeline showed a wonderfully diverse collection at Barcelona, but this glamorous strapless gown stood out for its lavish silvered texture and elegant 1950s debutante lines. cymbeline.com
3. Fringe benefits – Isabel Sanchis
Valencia-based designer Isabel Sanchis is known for her sophisticated take on occasion dressing and this stunning slimline high-necked wedding gown is super contemporary. We love the cold shoulder and gold fringes to add flow and movement to a plain gown. isabelsanchis.com
4. Let’s dance – YolanCris
Perfect for sashaying up the aisle and for dancing at the after party, this full slouch skirt with chunky belt from YolanCris has more than a dash of 1980s club-scene style. It’s paired here with a sexy bralet top and the combination just oozes glamour. yolancris.com
5. Fade to grey – Marco & Maria
Marco & Maria always wow the crowds with their unusual ethereal gowns, often featuring subtle marine and floral hues. For 2019 they have embraced the trend we spotted across the Barcelona catwalk shows for silver to gunmetal greys. This gown has empire lines, lovely puffed sleeves and a sparkling band in gunmetal grey. The gradated use of sparkle creates a sumptuous back reveal. marcoymaria.com
6. Cool separates – Mar Rodriguez
Many collections are featuring variations on the bridal jacket – generally relaxed and with a distinctly 1980s flavour. This separates combination of long-line jacket and flowing skirt from Mar Rodriguez stood out for its fresh take on bridal separates – just perfect for the cool city bride. marrodriguez.com
7. White magic – Cristina Tamborero
Cristina Tamborero offered a masterclass in style with her convertible sheath-to-ballgown Diane design. Featuring a bateau neckline and slimline skirt it’s dressed up with a gorgeous silk overskirt with slouch pockets. We love the subtle floral detailing on the bodice. cristinatamborero.com
8. Short work – Carla Ruiz
Carla Ruiz is best known for her cocktail and mother of the bride collections, but we just loved this shorter length gown with full length coat-cum-train. It tapped into two new trends for new season’s bridal – shorter gowns and lavish textures. We think it would make a sophisticated choice for a destination bride. carlaruiz.com
9. Grecian line – Inmaculada Garcia
Elegant Grecian style gowns never go out of flavour and this lovely example from the new-season Inmaculada Garcia collection features soft draping, a crystal belt detail and crystal-trimmed cape train. inmaculadagarcia.com
10. Flower crush – Alejandro Resta
Flowers bedecked the catwalk at both Barcelona and London bridal fashion weeks and, while some are textural details, we love the continued inclusion of colour. Alejandro Resta’s Azaleas catwalk show was a stunning garden of colour and this romantic gown featured one of the new season’s hottest shades – salmon pink – alongside bolder fuschia. alejandroresta.com
11. Texture luxe – Isabel Zapardiez
Isabel Zapardiez’ glamorous off-the-shoulder gown marries wave texture and pearl beading along the length of the gown with fabulous feathered sleeves and hem. A perfect number for the bride who wants to make a dramatic entrance. isabelzapardiez.com
12. Smooth operator – Sophie et Voilà
We love Sofia Arribas’ edgy and sculptural take on bridal and the new season collection previewed at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week was full of rich pickings. This gown caught our eye for its combination of sporty long-line bodice, relaxed bow-tie waist and gauzy full skirt – casual chic that’s perfect for the destination bride. sophieetvoila.com
13. Sun seeker – Jesús Peiró
Jesús Peiró can always be relied on to give a fresh take on bridal and in a lovely new-season collection shown at Barcelona, this gown stood out for its clever merging of the glamour of a full and floaty skirt with the simplicity of a sundress. The bandeau neckline, black straps and bikini-style back detail with black bow add edge to a timeless white wedding gown. jesuspeiro.com
14. Cut above – Maggie Sottero
This slimline cocktail-style gown from Maggie Sottero is all about pared-back glamour. While the fabric has minimal detail, focus is on the flattering curved waist crystal belt and lovely cutaway neckline with necklace trim. maggiesottero.com
15. Ballroom belle – Demetrios Bride
One of the standout ballgowns of this season’s catwalk shows was by Demetrios Bride. Everything about this gown puts us in mind of the golden years of Hollywood. The flattering off-the-shoulder plunge neckline and jewel-encrusted bodice are sophisticated and glamorous, while the sparkling full skirt is pure magic. demetrios.com
16. Ocean line – Rosa Clará
Rosa Clará can always be relied upon to deliver refined tailoring and details and this new-season collection offered all her hallmarks. It was hard to choose just one gown, but this stood out as perfect for the beach bride with its flattering plunge neck, gauzy underlayer and split front skirt. We love the simple silver belt detail. rosaclara.es
17. Ethereal edge – Reem Acra
New York designer Reem Acra showed a collection of fairytale gowns at Barcelona, many with exquisite matching veils. This slimline sleeveless features an exquisite bejewelled plunge bodice, with the same floral embellishment picked up on the tapered veil. reemacra.com
18. It’s a wrap – Marylise
Marylise does different – and always brilliantly – and this new-season collection has both individuality and a spirit of fun. This gown would be perfect for a summer or tropical bride with its clever bikini-effect top. We also love the hot pink and silver belt and matching long wrap. marylisebridal.com
19. Shake your booty – Laura Riera
We saw shorts on the runway at last year’s London shows, so have been eagerly awaiting more. Young Barcelona talent Laura Riera rocked the runway with her Motor Maids collection, inspired by Route 66 and female bikers. These hotpants paired with over-the-knee boots make a bold bridal statement. We also love the frothy cape fastened with a chunky buckle. notjustalabel.com
20. Going gold – Simone Marulli
Italian designer Simone Marulli won us over with a satin slip gown, transformed into something special with a gold lace overlayer. The high neck and epaulet details add a rather regal flourish. simonemarulli.com
MORE BRIDAL FASHION TRENDS?
Check out our pick of 2019 wedding gowns from London Bridal Week
