There is a specific kind of bride who walks into our Santa Monica showroom asking for something that feels like it came out of her grandmother's closet, if her grandmother happened to have impeccable taste and access to French lace. She wants a corset bodice that holds its own, a drop waist that nips in at the hip, a skirt with real body to it, the kind of silhouette that photographs like it already has history behind it. We built an entire collection around her, and these six gowns are the ones our stylists reach for first.
What makes a wedding dress read as vintage inspired
A vintage inspired wedding dress borrows its shape from decades of bridal history rather than from one specific era. Think corset bodices boned for structure, drop waists that sit at the hip instead of the natural waist, bubble hems and taffeta skirts with real volume, and necklines like off the shoulder or sweetheart that have been bridal mainstays since long before any of us were born. Natural fibers do a lot of the work too. Silk wool, taffeta, and heavy satin hold a shape and catch light in a way synthetic fabrics rarely manage, which is part of why these gowns photograph the way old wedding portraits do.
Six vintage inspired wedding dresses to shop right now
Naiara gown, Théoro
Naiara pairs a hand finished lace corset bodice with a silk wool skirt that has real weight to it, the kind of fabric that holds a line instead of collapsing. It is made to order by Théoro, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Naiara gown, from $6,900.
Barbara gown, Rouvell
An off the shoulder ball gown in ivory satin, Barbara is close to what we picture when a bride says she wants to feel like a bygone era film star without looking like she is in costume. It is made to order by Rouvell, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Barbara gown, from $2,500.
Faith gown, Rouvell
Faith sits at the lower end of this roundup price wise but not in presence, a corset bodice in light ivory mikado that drops into the hip the way the best vintage ball gowns do. It is made to order by Rouvell, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Faith gown, from $2,000.
Eterna gown, Monetre
A silk ball gown with a drop waist corset bodice, Eterna is the one we point to when a bride wants princess without costume. It is made to order by Monetre, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Eterna gown, from $2,900.
Princess Taffeta gown, Monetre
Taffeta is doing a lot of the vintage heavy lifting here. This drop waist gown has a bubble hem skirt that holds its shape without a single layer of tulle underneath, and it is the most accessible price point in this roundup. It is made to order by Monetre, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Princess Taffeta gown, from $1,900.
Elizabeth Diptych gown, Monetre
A strapless satin corset bodice with a drop waist ball gown skirt, Elizabeth Diptych is the most formal of the six, the kind of dress that holds a cathedral length aisle. It is made to order by Monetre, available at Mae Bridal. Shop the Elizabeth Diptych gown, from $4,300.
How to style a vintage inspired wedding dress
Let the dress set the era and build out from there instead of the other way around. A corset bodice like Faith or Eterna pairs beautifully with a simple drop veil and a low bun, nothing competing with the boning lines. A ball gown silhouette like Barbara or Elizabeth Diptych can carry long gloves or a statement earring without looking overdone, since the dress itself is already doing the drama. For hair, we tend to steer these brides toward soft waves or a classic low chignon over anything too modern or undone, it keeps the whole look cohesive instead of pulling in two directions at once.
Shop the full collection
These six are only a start. Browse the rest of our vintage inspired wedding dresses collection for more corset bodices, drop waists, and taffeta ball gowns from Théoro, Rouvell, and Monetre.
Vintage inspired wedding dresses, answered
What decade do vintage inspired wedding dresses usually reference?
Most of what we carry pulls from the 1950s through the 1980s, corset bodices, drop waists, and ball gown skirts in taffeta and satin. It is less about matching one specific decade exactly and more about the structured, hand finished details that read as timeless rather than trend driven.
Are vintage inspired wedding dresses the same as vintage wedding dresses?
No. A vintage wedding dress is an actual garment from a past decade, often one of a kind and not sized to order. A vintage inspired wedding dress like the ones above is made new, to your measurements, borrowing the silhouette and detailing of earlier eras.
How long does it take to receive a vintage inspired gown?
These gowns are made to order, so plan for a production lead time before your wedding date. Our team will walk you through the exact timeline for each designer when you come in for a fitting.
Can a vintage inspired dress be altered for a non traditional venue?
Yes. Many of our brides wearing these silhouettes are getting married outdoors or somewhere unexpected. A heavier taffeta or silk wool skirt like Naiara's actually holds up well outside, since the fabric has enough structure not to drag or wilt the way a lighter chiffon might.
Ready to see them in person? Book an in-person fitting at our Santa Monica showroom, or book a live virtual shopping session from wherever you are.
Book your appointment
Searching for wedding dresses near you? Come find us in Santa Monica. Our showroom is minutes from LA but a world away from the typical bridal salon, come see why Mae Bridal is where modern, non-traditional brides find their dress in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Book appointment