Iconic Celebrity Wedding Fashion From The '60s That's Still Completely Chic Today
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Few fashion eras were as electrified as the '60s. This decade bridged the formality of the '50s and the freedom of the '70s, which means styles during this period could be anywhere from traditional to avant-garde. Nowhere is that more evident that within the realm of wedding fashion, and it might be why this period remains such a wonderful source of bridal inspiration. "Women in the '60s looked so modern!" wrote one Reddit user. "I don't know how to describe it but there were certain looks from the '60s that always made them look like a filter has been thrown in and they've just been taken."
The incredible range of options from the '60s means that these looks, especially for celebrities with expressive personal style, feel creative and personal. "I love this era of weddings where everything wasn't such a production and women chose dresses that were fun," wrote one Reddit user. "I love the short wedding dresses." Wedding gowns came in all varieties as a result, so whatever your bridal style, there's probably a '60s look to inspire you.
For her wedding to Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley wore a statement veil
When Priscilla Presley walked down the aisle in 1967 to marry Elvis Presley, she wore a loose gown with elegant sheer sleeves. In contrast to many bespoke celebrity wedding gowns, she purchased the dress from a department store. "It wasn't extravagant, it wasn't extreme — it was simple and to me, beautiful," Presley said (via Vogue). But the restrained dress is offset by her signature eyeliner and enormously teased hair, as well as a fairy-tale veil that tied the ensemble into an iconic look. "Her veil was the star," wrote one Reddit user.
Elizabeth Taylor wed Richard Burton with an incredible flower-embellished braid
To marry Richard Burton in 1964, Elizabeth Taylor wore a showstopper look featuring a yellow chiffon dress with long sheer sleeves and wide-lapel collar. Most memorably, she also had an intricately braided hairstyle with white flowers incorporated into it. "What a woman to have the guts to wear that incredible yellow and all those hyacinths and lilies in your hair on your wedding day!!! Amazing!" wrote one Reddit user.
Mia Farrow pulled this silk suit from her closet for her nuptials to Frank Sinatra
For her 1966 wedding to Frank Sinatra, Mia Farrow wore pieces she already had in her wardrobe, including this collarless skirt suit. The pale pink suit, which featured rhinestone buttons and a bow, paired beautifully with her trendsetting pear-cut diamond ring, which is among the most iconic Old Hollywood engagement rings. At the time, the skirt suit offered an alternative to a bridal gown; and it's an option that still looks incredibly fashion-forward today — like when Dua Lipa ditched a traditional wedding dress for a bridal suit.
Pattie Boyd ditched tradition to marry George Harrison
The centerpiece of model Pattie Boyd's bridal look when she married musician George Harrison in 1966 wasn't a dress; it was a luxurious fur coat. Her iconic, unconventional look, including the colorful dress underneath, was created by one of the '60s most dominant designers. "I bought a Mary Quant pinky-red shot-silk dress, which came to just above the knee, and I wore it with creamy stockings and pointy red shoes," she recalled in her autobiography, "Wonderful Tonight" (via Vogue). "On top, because it was January and cold, I wore a red fox-fur coat."
Jacqueline Kennedy wore a modern style to wed Aristotle Onassis
For her second wedding, to businessman Aristotle Onassis, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wore a dress that was dramatically different from her first. Instead of a classic bridal gown, her second outfit for the 1968 nuptials was crafted by Valentino and featured a short skirt, dropped waist, and high neckline. Both dresses are certainly among the best wedding dresses from the Kennedy family ladies, but the Valentino dress is far more modern, and would be a boldly stylish choice for any bride today.
Eartha Kitt married John William McDonald in a classic chiffon dress
Eartha Kitt married real estate investor William MCDonald in 1960 wearing a simple chiffon dress with a V-neckline, satin trim, short sleeves, and a flared skirt. She accented the understated dress with a multi-strand pearl collar and a mesh-adorned hat. Don Loper designed the dress, which is so classic it could easily be from almost any decade — and that's part of why it's still so chic today. "Eartha Kitt looks fantastic," wrote one Reddit user. "I love the sweet simplicity of her dress with the pearls."