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The little white dress finds its roots in the early 19th century when white garments became popular for women during the summer months. This shift was largely influenced by Queen Victoria, who wore a white wedding dress in 1840, setting a lasting trend for bridal gowns. Her choice not only shaped wedding fashion but also left a broader impact on style, a tradition that has endured for 185 years.
Did it ever occur to you why brides wear white (or shades of cream and ivory) on their wedding day? Or did you assume that white symbolizes virtue, purity, and virginity? Well… the backstory is a bit different. England’s Queen Victoria wore a white dress to wed Prince Albert in 1840, and in true trendsetting fashion, she sparked the ‘white on your wedding day’ style that remains the norm in 2025.
However, the Queen didn’t wear white to symbolize purity or virginity—it was simply her favorite color and her personal choice for the occasion. The association between white dresses and a bride’s chastity came later, when Godey’s Lady’s Book—a popular 19th-century magazine—helped solidify the trend. By 1863, the magazine had fully embraced the concept of the ‘little white dress,’ appealing to Victorian moral standards, which emphasized sexual restraint, propriety, duty, family values, hard work, charity, and rigid gender roles. Women were expected to be the mistresses of domesticity, while men were seen as providers.
It’s no surprise that this culture idolized the untouched bride and the purity symbolized by white gowns. As Godey’s Lady’s Book declared: “It is the emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”
Yet, Victorian moral hypocrisy was a real issue, creating a stark gap between their idealized standards and reality—including child labor, widespread prostitution, and social limitations for women.
Before the White Dress TrendBefore Queen Victoria’s influence, brides simply wore their best dress, regardless of color. For much of history, white was unattainable for poorer-class brides—it was expensive and difficult to keep clean.
In fact, white was once associated with mourning in French royal traditions. This belief stemmed from Mary, Queen of Scots, who wore white to her wedding with the Dauphin of France in 1558. When her young husband died two years later, rumors spread that her white wedding gown had cursed him.
Queen Elizabeth I was also rumored to wear white in portraits as a symbol of mourning for a suitor who had died earlier in her life. She remained famously unmarried, earning the title of the “Virgin Queen.” Many believe her consistent choice to wear white was an intentional signal to other suitors that she was not interested in their proposals.
On the other hand, before the Victorian white-dress trend, many brides wore blue due to its association with the Virgin Mary. Blue symbolized purity and had a practical advantage—it was less likely to show stains. This may have been the origin of the tradition of wearing ‘something blue’ on a wedding day.
The Little White Dress TodayWe’ve come a long way since then, yet white remains the classic choice for wedding dresses—and beyond. Enter the Little White Dress—a must-have for your wardrobe as we transition from the cold, snow-driven months into warm-weather days.
Investing in versatile white dresses is a timeless choice. The little white dress works for every occasion: dinner, an after-work soirée, an art gallery crawl, a jazz concert, or a late-night date. You can dress it up with black pumps, a structured bag, and a chic hat and gloves—or tone it down with metallic mules in gold, gunmetal, or silver, paired with fabulous jewelry.
Be grand. Be victorious this spring and summer.