Bridal pantsuits are officially in, according to Chanel
Dress-detesting brides, rejoice! Chanel just solidified the pantsuit as an alternative to bridal gowns.
As tradition has it, fashion houses showing during Paris Couture Fashion Week feature a wedding look for the finale. This year, Karl Lagerfeld veiled Dutch model Luna Bijl the bride-to-be — but there was no gown in sight. Instead, the designer made a major statement by putting her in a white pantsuit.
Bijl strutted down the garden-themed runway in a tuxedo — white tapered pants, vest, and oversized bowtie — with ostrich feathered sleeves, fascinator, and train and skirt cape combination, giving the structured look a feminine vibe. Don’t let the feathers fool you — this was one of the most androgynous bridal looks out there. It fits right in with the more inclusive world many in the fashion industry are aiding to create.
Eschewing gender norms even further, the show featured a flower boy: Hudson Kroenig, Karl Lagerfeld’s godson who has made cameos in every show for the past few seasons, waltzed down the runway in white tossing pink petals.
While this isn’t the first time Lagerfeld put a bride in a suit. In fact, Kendall Jenner wore a white wedding pantsuit in Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2015 show. That look featured faintly flared pants and a blazer with a deep v-neckline. The jacket had a veil spilling down from Jenner’s shoulders.
Both of these ensembles prove that suits are fit for just about any occasion, considering they’re glamorous, and gorgeous, with an ounce of femininity for those who want it.
Carolina Herrera jumped on the pants bandwagon when she debuted a crepe suit for her Spring 2017 bridal collection. As did Sachin & Babi, Lela Rose, and Oscar de la Renta all in 2018. Lucky for nontraditional yet non-loaded brides, those aren’t the only designers who acknowledge your existence. Danielle Frankel designs stunning suits for the bride seeking something similar.
Jumpsuits have been considered appropriate bridal attire for a few years now, with designers like Theia, Christian Siriano and Viktor & Rolf showing wedding one-pieces on the runway.
It isn’t surprising that pantsuits have gone from groom to bride. Female suits have been having a major moment in fashion over the last few years. And we probably have Hilary Clinton to thank for that (among other things). As first lady, then as secretary of state, then as Democratic presidential nominee, she became famous for her pantsuits. Clinton’s look became a standalone phenomenon, even inspiring Beyoncé to wear one while performing at one of Clinton’s campaign stops. Everybody onstage was wearing a pantsuit, for that matter, right down to those backup dancers. Her supporters wore pantsuits to the polls.
The once solely professional trend has bled onto the red carpet. Eva Longoria adopted the look long ago, making it sultry by skipping a shirt almost every time. At last year’s Golden Globes, Evan Rachel Wood made menswear her own in a sexy tuxedo. But it was at this year’s Golden Globes when the pantsuit felt fitting for many women. While those representing the advocacy organization Time’s Up made a visible statement by wearing all black, it would appear pants held the same power. Stars like Alison Brie, Laurie Metcalf, Rita Moreno, Christina Hendricks, Kyra Sedgwick, and Susan Sarandon ditched the dress for what some might perceive as a more masculine look.
All of that brought us to Chanel’s Haute Couture big bridal reveal. And if Chanel says OK, it’s here to stay.
But if you still can’t find the right bridal suit, just swap outfits with your significant other, like this awesome couple did.
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