Brides. Tradition and fashion in Greece
The variations in local Greek bridal costume present the most interesting sartorial “ensembles” of each region. The composition with which most of these dresses are known must have been finalized by the end of the 19th c. After this theoretical time designation there have been changes in their look and composition, changes which led to their simplification and to the end of their use.
Bridal dress must be new. Notably in Florina, Macedonia they are referred to as the “new clothes”. All the same, there are villages like Menidi in Attica where the bridal chemise, “foundi”, was lent to poor brides who could not pay special women who knew how to embroider in gold. Nowadays many believe that a bridal dress must be lent three times or not at all.
In the beginning of the 20th c. in most parts of Greece the older bridal headdress was replaced by a white veil. Many brides although they still wore the everyday local costume chose to be married in a white fashion wedding gown. The veil was worn over the local bridal headdress often in combination with a white crown, red roses or other imitation flowers etc. The whole face was covered by a red veil, a left over custom from the Roman era. The “revelation” of the bride after the wedding was performed by the mother in law in different ways.
The white wedding gown was established by choice in Greece as well as in all Western world countries by Queen Victoria of Great Britain. She was married to Prince Albert of Saxony in 1840 and chose to use her favorite white lace for her wedding dress. The official bridal photograph was published and became widely known.
Until the 1960s the bridal dress was in all shades of white or in other pale colours. By the 1970s bridal dress design most of the time became nostalgic reminiscent of past times.
With establishment of bridal houses, simpler styles developed which could be adjusted to different body types. Strapless with full skirt gowns became popular. In fashion houses today anything goes regardless of the sanctity of the church wedding. After the World War II in Greece weddings are not performed in private homes anymore. Civil weddings are now popular.
Ioanna Papantoniou