Sempre Sposa
Devin Hilt

“Sempre Sposa” is a bridal collection that explores the idea of multi-use wedding dresses. Bridal gowns are known for couture quality, elaborate construction and detail, and making a woman feel beautiful on her big day. The bridal industry has developed a tradition of one-time- use garments, which ends up limiting the value of the dress to only one day. If the life-cycle of a wedding dress can be extended, the bride can receive a greater value for the cost of her gown. How can designers change this one-time-use culture and create wedding dresses that can be used long after the ceremony? How can customers get the full value of their dress?

The development of this thesis began with researching traditional bridal construction techniques, styles, and trends, as well as market analysis. After the initial research, design ideas were exercised through sampling of beading and embroidery. Garment deconstruction and transformation methods were also tested through trial-and-error investigations. The final line-up of the collection was created after several peer and instructor critiques, followed by a process of redesign and problem-solving through muslin construction. After the designs and experimentations were completed, the final garments were constructed in fashion fabric, with all surface detail.

The results of this thesis are an 8 look collection of bridal gowns that can be converted into about 85 different garment pairings. These findings are an example of how a wedding dress can be designed for multi-use and allow the bride to receive the full value and use of her dress.