The Royal Wedding must have put everyone in the mood as 2011 seems to be the year of the wedding. This has had a knock-on effect with the S/S12 collections through an eclectic mix of bridal looks gracing the catwalks of London, Milan and Paris. Jil Sander, Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood, Viktor & Rolf, Valentino, Emilio Pucci, Meadham Kirchhoff and Comme des Garcons all embraced their version of the catwalk bride in a finale of white gowns. Most surprisingly were the four crisp white looks that closed the Jil Sander show in Milan. Worn by super models Natasha Poly (who got married this year), Kasia Struss, Alla Kostromichova and Daria Stokous, it was perhaps not such an obvious take on bridal wear, but they nevertheless had the impact and ending the show with a white dress surely translates as bride!

The entire Comme des Garcons collection was a bridal feast of solely white looks- although some were decorated with graphic black graffiti. Girls were bound with bows, veiled in elaborate headwear, layered with multiples of giant crinolines; and then smothered with flowers towards the end of the show. The ultimate Bridezilla was born. Other designers decided to simply nod to the bride and end with just the one, Emilio Pucci’s Peter Dundas, who closed with a sexy gypsy bride with a chunky black crucifix. Viktor & Rolf presented their doll bride with the super cool fresh face of Julia Nobis and ‘something blue’ choker. Yohji Yamamoto also closed with a bride but she was accompanied by a groom – a girl with a pageboy haircut. The catwalk bride was a staple for designers in the 80s and 90s... Christian Lacroix, Westwood, Chanel, Versace… we welcome her back with open arms.