One of the most eagerly anticipated movies for brides-to-be and indeed, women of all ages, is the film Bride Wars, starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Just like a real wedding, the first thing that everyone wonders is, “What will the bride be wearing?” The fashion in this movie is double the fun because you have two times the brides.
When the two best friends in Bride Wars, Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway) become engaged at the same time, their supportive friendship devolves into an ugly competition that tears them apart. Gentle Emma is a people-pleaser who is often run over by others with more forceful personalities, including her dear friend Liv. As a special surprise for her mother, Emma decides to wear her mom’s wedding dress instead of buying the Vera Wang that catches her eye.
When Emma passes over the Vera Wang gown, Liv snaps it right up. It was a frothy fantastic creation, that many real life brides will no doubt be looking to find for their own weddings. The gown was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice is covered with a white lace, and the gown is a customized version of one from Vera Wang’s 2009 bridal collection. The real focal point of the gown is the enormous tulle skirt which falls from a basque waistline. In addition, the gown has a lavender ribbon tied into a bow at the natural waist, with long tails falling over the skirt.
Liv finished off her Wang creation with a full veil worn on the top of her head. Her bridal jewelry was simple and classic: a pair of pearl drop earrings. The character’s pearl bridal jewelry was from Tiffany, but brides without a movie star budget can get the same stunning look with a pair of Swarovski crystal and pearl drop earrings. Take my advice, and add a classic pearl necklace to the ensemble; strapless gowns always look better when worn with a necklace, in my opinion.
Emma’s dress was supposed to be her mother’s vintage gown, although in actuality it was also designed by Vera Wang. Her gown was a beautiful ivory off-the-shoulder style with an assymetrically draped neckline. The gown is fitted to the knees and then flares out into a fuller skirt. The style was stunning on Anne Hathaway’s tall and slender frame. I actually thought it was more flattering on her than the tulle gown was on Kate Hudson – there was something about the basque waist that did not work for her. Brides looking for Emma’s gown will have a harder time finding it, as it was from a 2005 Vera Wang collection. No doubt there will be other designers creating replicas in the near future, for brides who have their heart set on that bridal gown.
In keeping with the more simple style of the character, Emma’s accessories were fairly low-key. She wore a long plain veil that was attached at the back of her head (so no pouf on the top). Her earrings were tiny studs (they could have stood to be larger, frankly), and a diamond line bracelet. The fact that Emma wore a bracelet helped to balance out for the lack of a necklace. The only other accessory that she wore was the most important one of all: a blue flower hairpin that she and Liv had found when they were girls peeking at a wedding at the Plaza Hotel. It was the special treasure that started their obsession with weddings in general, and the Plaza in particular. Not to give too much away, but in the end, it was Liv who got to wear the blue hairpin as she exchanged her vows.
Fashion is important to brides everywhere, just as it was in Bride Wars. The movie has an important lesson, though, that all brides would be wise to heed, and that is that friendship matters even more than fashion or externals. In the end, who stands beside you at your wedding matters more than anything else.
