If “bridesmaid dress grievances” were a Family Feud question, the top five survey responses would include cashing out only to never wear the dress again, an unflattering fit, and having no say in the matter. It’s safe to say that everyone has finally received the memo that one-size-fits-all bridesmaid dresses do not need to be the norm and that our friends simply deserve more.
To get the lowdown on better options for brides and their best friends, I spoke with Bhldn’s general merchandising manager, Lori Conley, to get her expert opinion on the bridesmaid dress trends that we’re actually excited to wear in 2022. The continuous thread running through all the trends is more consideration for bridesmaids’ budgets and individual styles on the big day. We all want to still be friends after this!
Keep scrolling for the bridesmaid dress trends that will assure your best friends you have their back, along with my favorite picks from Bhldn and others across the internet.
Some say the ’90s are back; I say they never left. “There’s nothing to make your maids look sleeker than a grouping of your closest girls in satin dresses,” says Conley. “Think Posh Spice in her heyday.”
Plus, “satin charmeuse, especially when cut on the bias, is figure-flattering, especially when styled in clean, modern silhouettes like the iconic ’90s slip dress,” she adds. Make your bridesmaids feel comfortable by letting them customize their look with minimalist details like “square necklines, spaghetti straps, and lace-up backs.”
Pop culture’s undeniable influence on fashion has manifested in romantic ruffles and Victorian-inspired styles that will be everywhere this spring. Conley cites last year’s cultural obsession with Bridgerton as a key influence, adding that this trend will “run the gamut of soft and romantic to structured and architectural, ensuring that your maids get to have a fashion moment of their own.”
After years of solid dresses walking down the aisle, one of Conley’s favorite trends that brides are embracing is the mix-not-match trend. Conley suggests pairing “prints and solids in a complementary palette” to create a cohesive look among your bridesmaids. High on her list of prints are “grand millennial-inspired wallpaper prints in sleek modern bodies. Think Versailles-meets-flirty fitted midi columns for the freshest take on the trend.”
One of Conley’s favorite trends is neutrals because “they work in any location and season, giving you the ultimate flexibility should your plans change.” After years of wearing traditional bright and bold bridesmaid dress colors that we’ll never be able to wear again, “champagnes, grays, and especially our newest shade, Sand Dune, feel like a breath of fresh air,” says Conley.
I am apprehensive calling this one a trend because, well, it is the most evergreen bridesmaid dress option I’m aware of. If you decide to go this route, I suggest cross-checking the black dresses with each other to make sure they photograph well together. One shade of black that is slightly different than the rest can ruin the vibe.
Next up, If You Too Are Meeting the Family Over the Holidays, Stick With These 7 Outfits