The Brides Wore Vintage: The Best Archival and Vintage Dresses From the Replica Handbag Store Weddings Archive
Something old, something new; something borrowed, something blue—so the saying goes. For some brides, the first of those auspicious points might mean securing a pair of antique pearl studs into your ears. But for the daring, it means a 1979 Azzaro gown with exaggerated semi-sheer sleeves—as was the case for Chloe Kernaghan.
For others, like Grace Morton, it means wearing a vintage pink Chanel haute couture skirt set from 1999 to your rehearsal dinner. A scroll back through our Vogue Weddings archives reveals a collectsion of brides wearing everything from precious couture to thrift store lace slips. The appeal? A bride not only gets to exhibit her fashion prowess with an archival IYKYK piece, but she can also almost guarantee that no other bride will be in her dress.
Though a vintage wedding dress comes with strings attached—there might be repairs, unalterable elements, or imperfections due to age, the upside is endless. “Thanks, it's vintage” feels utterly cooler when it’s said on your wedding day.
Below, a look back at some of our favorite Vogue Weddings brides who wore vintage wedding dresses to tie the knot.
Photo: Elena Stanton1/20Caroline Margaret Day wore exclusively vintage to her wedding at Rosecliff Mansion in Newport Rhodes Island. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Elena Stanton2/20"When I saw my dress, I knew it was perfect—it was the only thing I found that made sense in such a grand space,” says the bride of the gown, which featured lace appliqué.
Photo: Jose Villa3/20For her backyard wedding in Los Angeles, actor Kat Dennings wore a vintage dress by Alexander McQueen. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Jose Villa4/20The ivory-hued dress featured lace all over with a peplum detail.
Photo: Chris Lensz5/20For her wedding at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, Tish Weinstock wore several vintage looks—here, an antique lace gown and veil by Jane Bourvis. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Chris Lensz6/20She then slipped into a beaded bias-cut gown by Galliano for Dior, sourced by Timeless Vixen.
Photo: Courtesy of Amy Merrick7/20For her elopement in Zurich, Amy Merrick wore a yellow silk twill suit. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Courtesy of Amy Merrick8/20She said she found “almost nothing” before they even knew that they were going to elope.
Photo: Norman & Blake9/20For her rehearsal dinner in Jamaica, Grace Morton wore a vintage pink Chanel haute couture ensemble from 1999 purchased from Lily et Cie. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Norman & Blake10/20She accessorized the look with a vintage white Chanel Kelly mini bag from 1994 and fresh purple orchids in her hair.
Photo: Meredith Heuer11/20For her wedding in Pitney Farms, Trinity Mouzon Wofford wore a vintage lace dress from Lucia Zole. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Meredith Heuer12/20She layered the vintage piece over a celery green silk slip from Kamperett and paired it with Ferragamo pumps.
Photo: Daniel Arnold13/20For her wedding in Longueville House in Cork, Alex Prager wore a vintage 1960s dress by La Roche of Beverly Hills. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Daniel Arnold14/20She finished off the look with a Tiffany & Co. diamond necklace and earrings.
Photo: Jes Workman15/20For her backyard wedding in Los Angeles, Alexis Novak wore a 1920s chiffon gown to her wedding. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Jes Workman16/20Novak is the founder of Tab Vintage and wore a collectsion of vintage looks to her wedding events.
Photo: Jillian Mitchell17/20At her Laurel Canyon wedding, Emily Jane Fox wore a lace-and-yellow-bow vintage dress from Happy Isles. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Jillian Mitchell18/20The two-piece dress made her feel like a “’60s Bride Barbie.”
Photo: Bailey Beckstead19/20For her wedding in New York, Chloe Kernaghan wore a vintage Azzaro from 1979 sourced from Shrimpton Couture. See the full wedding here.
Photo: Bailey Beckstead20/20Sophia Loren wore the black version to a ball in Monaco back in 1979.
