From mini dresses to colorful hues, wedding wear shuns convention for 2022

Spring means the start of the wedding season. After two years of pandemic -- leading to postponements and cancellations -- 2022 could prove a bumper year, with millions of weddings expected to take place around the world. And this year's ceremonies could prove surprising in several ways, starting with outfit choices that break the mold and turn their backs on tradition.

The global fashion search platform Stylight* looked at the new wedding trends for 2022 and, more specifically, at the outfits coveted by brides and their guests for their long awaited big day. And unconventional aesthetics seem to be at the forefront once again, with searches up sharply for brightly colored suits (+125%), two-piece ensembles (+31%), mini dresses (+28%), and even beaded chokers (+20%). All of which is a far cry from the traditional princess-style gown that's the stuff of little girls' dreams.

But the report also highlights a certain fairytale aesthetic, which has already infiltrated our wardrobes. This is reflected in renewed interest in floral details (+250%), corsets (+225%) -- which have become a must-have in recent months -- as well as bows (+116%) and tulle (+20%). These details and materials seem to be closer to traditional wedding attire, although they now feature in ultra-modern cuts and styles.

The aesthetics of the 1920s and Lady Di's look are also trending this year. The first is expressed with a profusion of feathers and slip dresses, accessorized with headbands. The second sees the return of puff sleeves, square necklines, evening gloves and Swarovski crystal jewelry.

*The data in this report is based on the analysis of search and purchase data from Stylight's 160 million annual shoppers. It has been compared to the previous year's data for the period of January 1 to February 22, 2022, and is complemented by the analysis of Google search interest for early February 2022 compared to early February 2021