The Ella Dress - Vintage Ivory Bridal Gown

At first glance, I thought this gown was from the 1980s, but on closer inspection during cleaning, I began to believe it may be an earlier piece, possibly dating to the 1950s.

The silhouette certainly has that wonderful mid-century glamour, although the statement sleeves and dramatic proportions could easily have you guessing 1980s.

The structured corset-style bodice creates an incredibly flattering, feminine shape, drawing the waist in beautifully.

Delicate leaf detailing travels down the pointed V-shaped corset, catching the light against the softly sparkling fabric.

The sweetheart neckline gives the gown a timeless bridal silhouette, while the back is wonderfully dramatic, finished with an oversized bow, matching leaf detailing and long trailing ribbons.

And then there are the sleeves — truly the star of the show. The large, romantic puff sleeves create that exaggerated fairytale shape you might expect to see in an old Cinderella film. They rise beautifully over the shoulders before narrowing towards the hands, giving the gown an extraordinary presence.

The full, voluminous skirt falls gracefully to the floor, creating the ultimate princess silhouette while still maintaining a beautifully feminine shape through the fitted waist and bodice.

This is honestly one of my favourite pieces in my collection. It is an unusual and very special gown, perfect for a bride looking for something completely different from a modern wedding dress.

Stitched into the gown I also discovered a small silver souvenir, which will be included with the dress. These little silver tokens were sometimes associated with wedding-day luck very popular 1940s to 1960s and were used as a lucky omen.

Details

✧ Handmade

✧ Era: Possibly 1950s — exact age uncertain; 1980s influence/style

✧ Colour: Ivory

✧ Neckline: Sweetheart

✧ Material: Silk

✧ Details: Structured corset bodice, delicate leaf detailing, pointed V-shaped waist, oversized back bow, long trailing ribbons and dramatic puff sleeves

✧ Silhouette: Fitted, waist-defining bodice with a full floor-length princess skirt

✧ Condition: Excellent vintage condition