TIMELESS CHANEL BRIDES: ICONIC WEDDING LOOKS AND VINTAGE INSPIRATION
Is there anything more iconic than a Chanel bride? Since the 1980s, Karl Lagerfeld has established the tradition of closing Chanel’s haute couture fashion show with a breathtaking wedding dress - the model wearing it would be crowned the Chanel Bride.
The honour has been reserved for fashion it-girls, from the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Cara Delevigne and Linda Evangelista to the new generation of Kendall Jenner, Margaret Qualley and Lily-Rose Depp.
But the Chanel bride is iconic on and off the runway, with glamorous celebrities like Sofia Richie and Lily Allen opting to get married in Chanel. Below, we take a look at six unforgettable Chanel brides and how you can capture their essence today. At Rewind Vintage Affairs, we believe that vintage holds the key to eternal style.
1. Sofia Richie: The Modern Icon
The definition of breaking the internet. A dress so iconic it made Sofia Richie a household name, in 2023 when she married Elliot Grainge.
Dressed in custom Chanel Haute Couture, Sofia stunned in an effortlessly elegant halter-neck gown with delicate beading and subtle nods to ’90s minimalism. Later, she changed into a structured mini-dress with camellia appliqués—a nod to Chanel’s signature flower.
2. Keira Knightley: Brit-Girl-Cool
There’s no greater statement than pre-owned. Keira Knigthley got married in a strapless tulle dress from Chanel’s S/S 2006 collection that she had actually worn before to a pre-Bafta party in 2008. Talk about shopping from your wardrobe!
She styled the piece with a Chanel tweed-blazer.
3. Poppy Delevingne: Bohemian Romance
When Poppy Delevingne, sister to Cara, married James Cook it was an extravagant affair with everyone who’s anyone attending. The British model and socialite wore a custom Chanel look, designed by Karl Lagerfeld based on the S/S 2009 haute couture collection.
4. Lily Allen: Vintage Elegance, Reinvented
In 2011, Lily Allen wore a custom Chanel haute couture dress also designed by Lagerfeld himself. The look was kept top secret and only revealed via the Chanel website when a sketch of the dress alongside a photograph of Allen being fitted for it were posted to Chanel’s website.
The dress was a Chanel empire-waist gown with intricate embroidery - a vintage-inspired silhouette that balanced timelessness with modernity.
5. Caroline Sieber: Regal Couture
When Chanel ambassador Caroline Sieber married in 2013, she wore one of the most breathtaking Chanel wedding dresses of all time. With balloon sleeves, a dramatic train, and intricate embroidery by Lesage, it was couture at its most regal.
6. Kristen McMenamy: The Ultimate Chanel Muse
Not only did Lagerfeld design the dress, but he also gave supermodel Kristen McMenamy away for her wedding to photographer Miles Aldridge. The one-shoulder draped chiffon gown was dyed to match her skin tone and paired with a Philip Treacy feathered headdress. It was high-fashion bridal perfection.
Find Your Chanel-Inspired Bridal Moment At Rewind Vintage Affairs, we curate timeless vintage pieces that let you channel the elegance of Chanel brides past and present.
Whether you love Sofia’s sleek minimalism, Keira’s playful nonchalance, or Kristen’s avant-garde drama, there’s a vintage treasure waiting just for you. Because some styles never fade - they just get better.
