Summer bridesmaid dresses for 2022
You might be surprised to hear that this summer’s on-trend bridesmaid dresses are not all in ice cream-inspired pastel colours. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a mint green or a lemon meringue among them. Summer 2022 is all about cowl necklines, neutral colours, and the hot, new trend – 'cottagecore'. In this blog, we’ll give you our take on the summer’s trending bridesmaid dresses with examples from our collection.
Hot new trend cottagecore (or countrycore)
Cottagecore exploded in popularity last year, thanks to its many thousands of fans on TikTok and Instagram. This look (and way of life) is inspired by the idea of living on a farm in the traditional English countryside. Charming floral dresses have played a big part in this movement, and this trend has spilled over into bridesmaid dresses.
Patterned dresses like the floor-length Hatty print dress with delicate pink and blue flowers tick all the right boxes for cottagecore. Its three-quarter-length lute sleeves, cinched waist and long, fluid skirt give this dress a soft feminine look.
Crafted from pure chiffon, it has a luxuriously lightweight feel – perfect for the hot summer months (or cooler temperatures if you're getting married in the UK!).
Regency-inspired blue bridesmaid dresses
From one new trend to another, and this time it's the turn of Bridgerton. This popular Netflix show has thrust regency blue (or 'Daphene blue' as fans call it) into the limelight. We talked about the trend for pale blue and green bridesmaid dresses last year in a piece on spring trends, and it looks set to continue into summer 2022.
Lots of the Maids to Measure dresses can be ordered in a pale blue, but our favourite powder blue bridesmaid dress is the Elle dress – one of our most popular designs.
Fashioned from bubble crepe, this dress has a little stretch to it, which makes it both flattering and easy to fit. The v-neckline, cinched waist and long skirt are all on-trend but it's the stunning back design that really gives this dress its wow factor.
Nudes, like cream gold bridesmaid dresses
You might normally associate ivory or pearl with a wedding dress, but this summer you can also expect to see these types of neutral colours in bridesmaid dresses. Whether yours is a vintage-inspired wedding or an elegant, contemporary affair, nude tones are incredibly versatile. Oyster, cream soda, taupe, or even dove grey, all fit the bill.
We like the Isla fitted champagne dress for its elegant boat neck at the front and open back that comes together in a V. Made from chiffon with a satin sash at the waist, this dress has a luxuriously lightweight feel to it that flatters all body types.
The Isla has small capped sleeves, but if you're looking for something in a neutral colour with long sleeves, try the Suzannah dress in cream soda. Every style of dress on the Maids to Measure website is organised by colour, so you can look at everything available in your favourite shade, from pale peach bridesmaid dresses to navy blue.
Cowl necklines (think Pippa Middleton's dress)
When Prince William and Kate tied the knot in 2011, it was Pippa Middleton's bridesmaid dress that really caught the attention of viewers everywhere. The fitted body and cap sleeves have all gained in popularity since then, but it's the cowl neckline that has had a heavy influence on this summer’s bridesmaid collections.
The Penelope grey bridesmaid dress combines a cowl neckline with a floor-length fitted body in chiffon, that is both flattering and easy to wear. Pale grey bridesmaid dresses, like this one, suit most skin tones, but if this shade doesn't fit with the palette you've chosen for your big day, there are eight other colours to choose from.
Mix-and-match is back for 2022
The mix-and-match bridesmaid dress trend has been big for a while now, and that looks set to continue into spring/summer 2022. The idea isn't that you let your bridesmaids have complete free rein over the dress they pick, but rather their personal style is reflected in the dress you choose together. There are three ways to do this:
- Same colour, different style
- Different colour, same style
- Different colour, different style
Having your bridesmaids in different (but linked) dresses is a great way to celebrate their individuality, and more importantly they get to help pick something they feel comfortable wearing. This includes your flower girl, because there's nothing worse than a sulky child refusing to wear a dress they really don't like!
To make sure that your maids still look like they belong to the same bridal party, pick one thing that ties the whole look together. Without a unifying feature, you risk the whole thing looking disjointed – read our blog on mismatched bridesmaids for our top tips on making it work.
Summer 2022 - the trends to look out for
Once you've got the dress nailed, it's time to move on to the other details that complete the look – hair accessories, shoes, jewellery, and of course, the floral arrangements your bridesmaids will be carrying. Here's our take on the trends to look out for this year:
- Hair vines that can be bent into different shapes or worn like a headband
- Combs, clips, and hair pins are still big, especially those with pearls
- Sentimental jewellery that has a story behind it – think family heirlooms
- Creative florals with mismatched colours and lots of texture
Knowing what's trending is a great way to find inspiration, but don't let it limit your choices. The winning formula is to find something that you like and stick to it. Have faith in your own style - whether it's hot or not - and your confidence will show.
