Tying the Knot
An exhibition of bridal gowns, accompanied by photos and stories from many of the brides who wore the gowns on display.
Tying the knot. The origins of the phrase are obscure, but in many cultures knots symbolize a lasting pledge, so the figurative connection of the phrase to marriage and the wedding ceremony itself is immediately understood. Of course, knots also have literal importance to apparel construction: lines of stitching are anchored, embellishments are secured, seams do not unravel, and fastenings bind separate elements together.
The symbolic and the practical use of tied knots intersect in one garment in particular:
The Wedding Dress
A wedding dress is an extremely symbolic article of clothing for one of the most important events in a person’s life. Whether the dress is an over the top display of wealth, or a simple everyday frock, it serves as a physical record of this specific life-changing event. In contemporary western cultures, tradition has evolved that the dress is worn only for the wedding day, further cementing its mythical symbolism. This has not always been the case. For centuries, brides who were not wealthy simply wore their best dress, or purchased a new dress for their wedding and continued to wear it and alter it throughout their lives. Adding further meaning to the phrase “tying the knot”, generations are braided together as symbolic garments are passed down through families and friends.
Historically, a marriage was frequently more than a simple union between two people. It could be a political or financial merger of two families, two businesses or even two countries. A bride was not only representing herself during the marriage ceremony but also her family, and was expected to dress in a manner befitting the family station, possibly in luxurious fabrics, lace, furs and jewels. Tying the knot secured alliances that were sometimes personal, but more often calculated above all to be practical. A fortunate few were both.
A wedding dress can also serve as a reflection of a bride’s personal style. The modern tradition of the “white wedding dress” began in 1840 when Queen Victoria of England wore a white lace gown for her marriage to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg (now a part of Germany). The color white had been worn for weddings before 1840, but, the trend began to grow in popularity with the wide circulation of images of the Queen’s wedding attire. Since then, the color white has become ubiquitous with the marriage ceremony in western culture. Some brides elect colors other than white, for various reasons – perhaps youthful rebellion, perhaps a second marriage later in life. Several wedding dresses in Tying the Knot are in colors other than white – what are your thoughts as to why?
The Avenir Museum is home to a wonderful collection of wedding gowns – long or short, modest or daring, store-bought or home-made, worn only once or worn by successive generations of a family – reflecting each bride’s personality, sense of style, and frankly, the evolution of the bridal apparel industry. From the lovely soft green silk dress hand sewn in 1842, and the elegant and delicate 1946 gown made from parachute silk obtained during WWII (1939-1945), to the simple pink day dress worn in 1953 by a woman who was not able to understand a word of her own marriage ceremony (it was performed in Spanish), these wedding dresses bind us to the symbolism, style evolution and stories inherent in apparel worn to celebrate hopeful knots and ties that bind.
The wedding dress is traditional, timeless and defies trends
– Alice Temperley (British fashion designer)
