Non-traditional brides are rocking the ombre look with their wedding gowns, incorporating dip-dyed, blended colour palettes and layered styles that really show off their uniqueness.
What is ombre?
Ombre means ‘shaded’ in French. It’s the gradual blending of one colour into another, usually transforming from light through to dark. It’s a method that’s been used to colour hair and adorn nails and make fashion accessories stand out for many years, and just recently, it’s a look that’s being adopted by the bride who is striving for anything but the traditional white wedding gown.
Different ombre styles
Ombre can be subtle, but ombre can also be bold. That’s the great thing about it. Not only does this style make a unique statement, but it can also be tailored to suit your true personality. So how can you make ombre your own? Here are a few ideas.
“Ombre can be subtle, but ombre can also be bold. That’s the great thing about it.”
Think seasons: when are you getting married? If it’s in the spring, how about blending your ombre shades from pale to rich green as a nod to the budding of the fresh new leaves? For a summer wedding, a fade of subtle sunshine yellow flowing into your train, and for autumn ceremonies, in honour of the spectacular hues of autumn, a bold statement of orange to copper and red. Winter wedding? A wash of frosty blue is bang-on for the time of year.
Think layers: if you’re going for flow with your wedding gown, here’s an idea. Go dark and bold with your under-gown ombre, then layer over some lace in a more subtle shade, or just simply white. Tiers also work well. Think 1980s ra-ra, with each layer fading through your ombre colour palette.
Think theme: got a colour theme for your wedding? Blend it in ombre style by splashing a hint of your core hue into your gown, then follow it through to your bridal party outfits.
Think back to front: remember that when you are getting married, there’s a whole lot of people glimpsing your back view! So why not give them something interesting to look at with an ombre train? It doesn’t have to be all about the front of the gown after all.
Go ombre!
If you’ve got your heart set on an ombre wedding dress, why not go all out ombre and bring the whole look together by matching your hair, your nails and your accessories?
Ombre shoes and bags are not difficult to find, and ombre nails are just stunning. Go glitter, go bright or go natural with your colour transition; that’s what we love about ombre: it’s all about you and your own individual style.
“Why not go all out ombre and bring the whole look together by matching your hair, nails and accessories?”
How to make your own ombre wedding dress
If you love the whole ombre idea, and you’re the creative type, then why not have a crack at making your own ombre wedding dress? Fancy crafting your own wedding gown? We’ll take a look at how, but first a word of warning: if your wedding dress is super-expensive, think about getting some professional help. Alternatively, head to a wedding dress boutique that specialises in dresses for unique brides, in other words, ready dip-dyed!
OK so if you’re feeling confident, here goes but make sure you practice first - get yourself a piece of fabric the same as your wedding dress and follow these instructions to check how it turns out. If it works, and only if it works, then you can go for it.
Step 1: Choose your dye. You’ll need one that is designed to work with the fabric of your dress, and that won’t damage it. Do your homework, because not all dyes work with all fabrics, especially those that are dry clean only.
Step 2: Fill a bucket with hot water. Don’t be tempted to do this in your bath or sink, because the dye is likely to stain it. Use a container you are happy to throw out afterwards.
Step 3: Add calsolene oil at half a teaspoon per gallon of water. This will promote even dyeing.
Step 4: Add your dye to the water in strict accordance with the instructions on the dye label. Stir using a wooden stick.
Step 5: Stir in some salt and vinegar. The salt will help the dye adhere to the fabric. Use one cup per gallon of water. The vinegar helps the dye bond permanently with the fabric and is usually considered safe to use with silk and other fibre-reactive dyes.
Step 6: Dip the dress into the dye, but only up to the point where you want the colour to start. Leave for a few minutes. As soon as you see the colour start to change, gradually lift the dress out of the bucket a few centimetres at a time every two or so minutes. The depth of the colour gradient will depend upon how much of the dress you remove from the dye and how often. For a stronger contrast, haul out bigger sections every five minutes.
Step 7: Rinse the dress in cold water until it runs clear.
Step 8: Wash the dress in warm water then hang it up to dry naturally.
Step 9: Wear, and enjoy your big day!
Unique dip-dye wedding dresses for alternative brides from Lucy Can’t Dance!
Unique brides love the Lucy Can’t Dance wedding dress collections, which include stunning dip-dyed ombre styles. All gowns are hand tailored for the ultimate in personalised style.