If you’ve ever shopped for bridesmaid dresses you know that there are thousands and thousands of styles available. So it’s surprising that brides across the country (along with their friends, we hope) are reaching for the same dresses over and over again.
We polled Bella Bridesmaids showrooms in five major markets to see which styles were local favorites; several designers were popular nationwide, and one dress in particular popped up among the Top 5* in every market. And these aren’t shops that carry two or three designers—the number varies by location, but the Birmingham, Ala., store offers dresses by 31 designers while NYC sells 21.
*Some cities had a Top 5, while others only had clear-cut best-sellers in the Top 3 spots.
Something else surprising: While brides and bridesmaids have been clamoring for cocktail-length dresses, it seems they’re still buying the floor-length gowns. (There’s only a single above-the-knee dress in the mix below.) They’re also making more-expensive picks: Several locations carry lower-price lines, such as Wtoo, but most of the dresses below are in the mid-$200 to low-$300 range.
Here’s the breakdown:
DENVER
1. Ceremony by Joanna August Newbury Long. 2. Jenny Yoo Annabelle Convertible Bridesmaid Dress. 3. Adrianna Papell Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown.
NEW YORK CITY
1. Jim Hjelm Style 5358. 2. Jenny Yoo Annabelle Convertible Bridesmaid Dress. 3. Amsale Style G851C. 4. Adrianna Papell Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown.
SAN FRANCISCO
1. Amsale Style G938C. 2. Adrianna Papell Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown. 3. Jenny Yoo Annabelle Convertible Bridesmaid Dress. 4. Ceremony by Joanna August Newbury Long.
BIRMINGHAM
1. Amsale Style G851C. 2. Adrianna Papell Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown. 3. Jenny Yoo Annabelle Convertible Bridesmaid Dress. 4. Lula Kate Zoe with Cocktail Skirt. 5. Ceremony by Joanna August Lacey Long.
AUSTIN
1. Ceremony by Joanna August Newbury Long. 2. Adrianna Papell Art Deco Beaded Blouson Gown. 3. Donna Morgan Stephanie. 4. Amsale Style G783C. 5. Nouvelle Amsale N319.
Worth noting: These are the silhouettes that are the most popular but not necessarily the colors brides are snapping up. (Although dusty pastels and grays are still huge.)
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