It’s now officially autumn which means three things: 1) It will start to get colder; 2) The nights will draw in; 3) It will soon be Halloween.  Which makes me very happy indeed.  I love Halloween.  Partly because I love, love, love fancy dress and trying my hand at gruesome special effects makeup and partly because it marks my favourite time of year.  I love the autumnal colours as the trees all turn; I love wrapping up warm and getting outside (*come back to me on that one after my first encounter with bitter winds and rain!…); I love the excuse to get all cozy and indulge in comfort foods…

…But probably my very favourite thing about this time of year is the way it’s time to turn to rich, deep colours; be it in clothes or makeup. A number of designers have really embraced these darker looks in their recent collections using rich, luxurious fabrics like velvets and duchess satins in deep shades of burgundy; green; midnight blue and black. The creations are just so stunning they got us thinking about how Brides after something really dramatic and different, could take inspiration from these collections.

Our favourite ‘Gothic Romance’ inspired gowns include this beautiful black lace dress by Yolan Cris. While part of the red carpet collection rather than the Bridal line – the illusion sleeves; sheer silk tulle skirt and elegant embroidered floral border would make a stunning statement on the aisle!

We’re huge fans of Gemy Maalouf and have featured a few of her more ‘classic’ bridal designs on the blog – however, Brides wanting to embrace their darker side should look at her “Couture a Porter” range rather than the Bridal collection where they’ll find a range of exquisite designs.  We love this black gown in particular with the lace neckline, low plunge back and sheer overlay skirt.

Teamed with dark lips and dark flowers (like the Hellebores we featured in a ‘Quick Guide to’) we can see this Claire Pettibone Notre Dame dress taking on a Gothic-vibe. The stained-glass beaded illusion back is on a whole other level! Breathtaking!

And finally for a more budget-friendly gown take a look at Enzoani.  The Oleda dress by Enzoani Blue is available in classic ivory but choose the mocha colour with black tulle overlay embroidered with black lace, and it becomes a whole lot more dramatic!

*ONE FOR FACT FANS* In  some Spanish cultures, Roman Catholic brides wore black to symbolise their devotion to marriage till death. If you want more facts, check out our post on Wedding Traditions.

Yey or Ney to a darker colour or gothic romance inspired wedding dress? xx