The intimate civil ceremony of pop superstar Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner recently captured attention, not just for the celebrity couple, but for the bride’s striking bridal attire. Opting for a custom ivory cady skirt suit by Schiaparelli couture, complemented by a dramatic, wide-brimmed hat from milliner Stephen Jones, Lipa channelled a timeless elegance. Her ensemble drew clear parallels to Bianca Jagger’s iconic YSL suit worn at her 1971 wedding to Mick Jagger in the French Riviera, signalling a significant trend in bridal fashion.
The Resurgence of the Bridal Suit
This sartorial choice by Lipa is more than just a nod to a fashion icon; it reflects a growing movement towards suits for civil ceremonies, particularly when grander celebrations are on the horizon. Reports suggest Lipa and Turner are planning an elaborate three-day wedding festa in Sicily, making their courthouse wedding a more restrained, yet equally stylish, prelude.
The trend of brides choosing suits for their nuptials has been steadily gaining momentum, propelled by high-profile endorsements. Amal Clooney, for instance, set a precedent in 2014 when she donned a chic Stella McCartney suit for her civil ceremony with George Clooney in Venice. This move helped elevate the suit from being perceived as merely secondary wedding attire, a category it previously occupied, as seen with Princess Anne’s choice of a short dress and jacket for her 1992 wedding to Timothy Laurence.
Wendy El-Khoury, the founder of wedding planning website Wedded Wonderland, observes this shift keenly. “With micro weddings, elopements and the rise in vow renewals, the classic suit is definitely making a comeback,” she states. El-Khoury further notes that suits are also proving popular for destination weddings. “It’s difficult to get legally married in another country, which is why you have the likes of Dua Lipa also having courthouse weddings, which are suited to more restrained outfits.” She elaborates, “It’s more about saying ‘when the big party takes place, we’ll wear the big frock’.”
Designer Endorsements and Personal Style
Australian designer Christopher Esber, known for his undulating, sculptural creations frequently favoured by Dua Lipa, has also embraced the bridal suit. His bridal collection last year featured a range of tailored pieces, underscoring the versatility and appeal of this alternative to the traditional gown.
Esber himself highlights the inherent power of a white suit for brides. “A white suit can feel incredibly powerful on a bride, and for some women, feels more authentic than a traditional dress ever would,” he explains. He perceives a broader shift in bridal preferences: “Brides are much less interested in following a formula than they once were. They’re choosing pieces that reflect their own style and personality, whether that’s a gown, a suit or a combination of both across different wedding moments.”
The Craftsmanship of the Wedding Suit
In Melbourne, dressmaker Sonia Cappellazzo, whose Hawthorn atelier expertly balances precise tailoring with embellished gowns, has long catered to brides seeking bespoke suiting. While not as commonplace as wedding gowns, Cappellazzo notes a distinct demand for impeccably tailored jackets with statement lapels, elegant wide-leg trousers, or chic A-line skirts reminiscent of Dior’s iconic styles.
She likens the bespoke process for a wedding suit to that of a traditional dress. “It is the same bespoke and personalised experience for a bride as having a dress made, and just as challenging,” Cappellazzo explains. “To get the perfect arch of a sleeve, fold of an elbow, wadding and fabric takes experience.”
Cappellazzo views the resurgence of the wedding suit as a positive sign of a more considered approach to fashion, particularly for brides opting for a singular, impactful outfit rather than an extensive bridal wardrobe. She sees it as an intentional choice, evoking the understated elegance of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy at her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. “Suits don’t look loud. Some brides just want to look effortlessly elegant and beautifully considered,” she concludes.
