How to Choose the Perfect Shade of White for Your Wedding Dress
Finding the perfect wedding dress is about so much more than just the style and cut. You also need to think about the shade of white that is best for your complexion and skin tone.
Pale skinned brides can often look washed out in a stark white, so opting for a bridal gown in ivory or a slightly off-white shade like natural white (also known as eggshell) is usually better.
Wedding dresses are traditionally white, symbolizing purity and innocence, a trend popularized by Queen Victoria. Choosing the perfect shade involves considering your skin tone, wedding theme, and personal preference for a flattering look. For more details, visit Winsome Brides.
Warm Shades of White
White is a classic wedding dress color and represents purity. However, a bride can often feel washed out or even sickly in stark white gowns. For this reason, many brides choose to pair their wedding dresses with warm-toned shades of ivory.
Ivory, also referred to as eggshell, is a warm shade that complements most skin tones, including medium and olive skin. This shade can even highlight lace, embroidery and other details in the gown to make it stand out.
If you are shopping for an ivory wedding dress, be sure to try on a variety of shades to find the perfect one for your skin tone. A light ecru shade will be flattering for fair skin while ivory with pinker tints can look lovely on medium and olive skin. Try a deeper version of this shade, which is sometimes called candlelight white, to add richness to sallow or olive complexions. This shade can even show a blue tint in some lights and HD photos, so it may be best for indoor venues.
Cool Shades of White
As the popularity of white wedding dresses continues to rise, brides aren’t just worrying about their neckline, train and skirt – they’re also trying to find a gown that will complement their skin tone. While the shade of white can seem like a simple, standard choice, there are actually a lot of variations that are considered to be “wedding white.”
The brightest of all wedding dress shades, pure white gets its brightness from bleached fabrics and often exhibits a blue tint when photographed in HD. This color can look very stark on fair skin tones and may wash them out.
To avoid this, try to find a white that has a slight hint of yellow. This will add warmth and complement your warm undertones. A great option is our Elysia dress, a dreamy latte-shade white with crimped stain.
Light Shades of White
When it comes to picking the right white shade for your wedding dress, there are many options. Some shades are brighter, others have a subtle sheen and still others appear almost beige or tan. The key is to find a shade that compliments your skin tone and looks gorgeous under the lighting of your venue.
The most common bridal dress color is pure white or stark white, which gets its brightness from bleached fabrics. This is a classic option for brides with warm undertones and can be a great choice if you’re planning a spring or summer wedding. However, this shade can also wash out brides with fair complexions, so it’s best to test it out before purchasing a dress in this shade.
Another popular shade is natural white, which has a softer appearance and may have a slight yellow undertone. This shade can look stunning on brides with olive or sallow skin. It’s also a good option for those who want a lighter shade than ivory but don’t want to risk looking washed out in photos.
Dark Shades of White
The most popular shade of white for wedding dresses is ivory, sometimes also called natural or silk white. This warmer hue has yellow or golden undertones and is known for creating a classic, timeless look for gowns. It flatters a variety of skin tones and avoids the risk of washing you out like some stark white dresses can. Ivory also highlights the details of a dress well, ensuring that any lace or embellishments will shine.
Fair complexions look radiant in a natural ivory color that has a hint of yellow undertones. This shade is also a good choice for women with pink undertones because it will help to downplay their redness. Medium complexions are complemented by ivory shades that are slightly creamier than pure white, such as candlelight or diamond white. These shades will look especially stunning if you’re planning an outdoor or low-lighting wedding day. A softer shade of white is also a good option for tanned or olive skin tones.