It is interesting to look at past, present and future trends to get different ideas about design. Five designers give us their opinions on what those trends are.

Do you remember the fishtail?

Lucy Anastasiadis of St Lorient says that in the 80's women were quite conservative in terms of revealing flesh, except for the off-the-shoulder look, which was very popular. The most common design was the ballgown, with the late 80`s seeing the rise of the 'Mermaid' or 'Fishtail' dress which was tight fitting and then flared out at the knee.

Mother of Pearl sequins and organza, with lots of frills were a big feature, as were big puffed up sleeves and long trains with lots of bows.

Getting daring in the nineties

"In the nineties," says Lucy, "women started to show more flesh, especially backs and tummies." There was also a move towards more alternatives with colour. Gold and maroon were very popular. Later into the 90's, styles simplified, using a lot of Guipure lace. Dresses also became less fussy, with less detail.

Chantal Rudman of Chantal Fashion Studio saw a lot of experimentation. "Painting on fabrics was one innovation, an example being angels painted on silk. At the same time everything became simpler and more classical."

What now?

Chantal says that in the millennium we are seeing less beading and more delicate detail. The main emphasis now is on designing dresses to suit the bride's figure, colouring and personality.

'Boobtube' dresses and strappy shoulders and backs are in. Trains are less popular and are likely to be made of soft chiffon. "Tiaras seem to be making a big comeback," says Jane van Heerden of Bridal Cottage. Dresses are also still showing a tendency towards being more revealing and sexy.

Odile Przybyl of the Wedding Box comments that it is also more the quality of the fabric that carries the dress, giving a more understated look.

Future frills and fancies

Jane sees dresses becoming simpler, with more focus on comfort and on designs that can easily be worn after the big day. Colour will also be more important with the focus on what suits the bride rather than on traditional white.

Shaun Remus of St Lorient envisions glamorous gowns, because the nineties were so simple and minimal. Chantal sees the future heading towards the more daring wedding dress where women will go for shorter skirts or a more flowing and romantic look.

Timeless classics

People have very fixed ideas of how a bride should look, so almost all the designers agreed that the ballgown is one of the most timeless designs. Odile and Jane see the simple a-line dress as being a classic cut because it is flexible and flattering for most shapes.

Whatever your preference, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and beautiful. It's your day!