Jenny Packham Bridal Spring 2017

 Is red carpet or is it bridal?  With Jenny Packham it is always beautiful, still, was her spring 2017 a true bridal collection or something else?

Well, one thing for sure Packham’s spring 2017 collection was a little bit country. That said; this season Jenny Packham proved that bridal can be a lot of things; red carpet, country music–inspired and of course, bridal.

With Packham’s fashion collections there is always lots of embellishments, beading, sequins and red-carpet fabrications. That also carries over to Packham’s wedding collections. One of Packham’s signature aesthetic sequined caped sleeves carries over to this spring 2017 bridal collection. Still, what stands out about this collection is that the bridal gowns this season could also work as red carpet gowns. Additionally, Jenny Packham used a Country Western theme as the setting for her spring 2017 collection with bales of hay, a Midwestern general goods store and Country Western music as a backdrop.

You may ask what this Country Western–motif have to do with a bridal collection? That relationship may be hard to fathom. However, modern bridal collection go way behind white bridal gowns and the modern draws her inspiration from lots of references. Jenny Packham with this Country Western–theme has tapped into that bride. And if you closely examine Country Music Award shows many of the red carpet looks are heavily embellished gowns with lots of sequins, crystals and beading. Not a wide stretch from Packham’s signature DNA, and there is some symbiosis there!!

There was also a bohemian gypsy spirit to the collection evidenced in some the loose, billowing quality of the gowns, bell and Dolman sleeves, and the models slightly mused hair. Though there was a bit tongue-and-cheek to the collection, Packham’s exquisite tailoring and the sparkling brilliance of the gowns helped keep the collection solidly in the category of a modern bridal collection.

—William S. Gooch