It’s tradition for a couture show to end with a bride, but Spring/Summer 2020 was the first time we saw so many magical, aisle-worthy white dresses on the ready-to-wear runways. The key difference—aside from not actually being “wedding dresses,” of course—is that they will be available off the rack at the same stores and websites we go to for jeans and day dresses. That’s great news for the bride who doesn’t want to shop at a bridal boutique, doesn’t want to order a gown a year in advance, and doesn’t want the five-figure price tag that comes with a custom creation. It’s even better news for women who are more obsessed with capital-F fashion than the typical wedding fantasy, and who want a dress (or a suit) that speaks to their personal style, rather than a cookie-cutter gown they have seen in every bridal magazine. All this to say that there’s a major business opportunity here for ready-to-wear designers. At Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe show, the flurry of white dresses was particularly striking: sheer handkerchief dresses, puffed-sleeve empire gowns, satin appliquéd jumpsuits. . . . The Loewe-obsessed bride might just buy them all for her rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and other wedding-related events. Even better, she could re-wear those dresses long after the cake is cut. The same was true of the 20 (yes, 20!) white looks in Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino show, ranging from crisp shirtdresses to voluminous blouses tucked into shorts. For those of us who aren’t getting married anytime soon, they registered as the dream-vacation wardrobe.

Brides with minimalist tastes should consider Gabriela Hearst’s sleek, open-front tuxedo or the simple, yet romantic dresses at Victoria Beckham, Marina Moscone, and The Row. None would look out of place at a cocktail party or black-tie event down the line. Of course, post-wedding wearability isn’t everything; how often does a girl get to wear feathers, crystals, ruffles, and crinolines, anyway? Brides who want something truly exuberant, joyful, and larger than life should bookmark Rodarte’s fluffy, full-sleeved confection; Brandon Maxwell’s bra-and-ball-skirt combination; or Richard Quinn’s hand-embellished dress from his surprise bridal debut in London. Then there’s the ultimate alt-bridal moment: Dries Van Noten’s finale look, designed in collaboration with Christian Lacroix: a white tank and white jeans covered in a swath of floating tulle and feathers, accessorized with a feather headpiece and metallic platform boots. Fashionable brides, consider the bar raised. As the Fall 2020 Bridal collections begin in New York (yes, just 48 hours after Paris!), revisit 31 of our favorite non-wedding wedding looks from Spring/Summer 2020 here.