Published: May 4, 2017 Last Updated 1 week ago by FPN SEO
The secret behind any impeccably dressed bride who saunters down the aisle in a glamorous and dreamy wedding gown is that she had a firsthand knowledge of her bridal wardrobe. It could be she was well equipped with the guidance of top-notch wedding editors and friends who helped her chose the right dress or she went through the time-consuming, tad-stressful way to try on different dresses until she finds the perfect one.
But nevertheless, finding the right dress that blends with your personal style is difficult and it doesn’t happen overnight, but you can start conceiving it right now. That is why we tapped Imani Swank Bridals, a Lagos-based bridal brand that readily caters to bride’s sartorial sensibilities to answer the disturbing questions about wedding gowns. Considering the numbers of brides that troops into the brand’s boutique every weekday, there’s no doubt Imani Swank is in the right position to know the hottest trends of 2017, the trends that are dead and buried, and what brides-to-be should look for or do to ensure they score their dream wedding dress. These were the questions we asked Imani, and guest what? You have the VIP access to discover them all here.
So whether you’re engaged and your wedding clock is ticking or you just want to have the heads-up on the latest in the bridal department, read on to digest the professional advice from the bridal brand and consider this as your ultimate bridal dress search guide.
Major Bridal Trends of 2017
Munaluchibridal #1. Ruffles
Ruffles are a fun and playful detail that would make any bride feel like a princess. Ruffle skirts are feminine and a great way to incorporate a splash of colour into your dress by including a few tiers of colour at the bottom. Ruffles look great on a traditional floor-length silhouette. For a dramatic bridal look full of glamour, consider a gorgeous ruffled wedding dress for your special day, this look is guaranteed to draw everyone’s attention and it is a must have for brides who dream of a fairy-tale wedding.
Courtesy Ines di Santo Spring 2018
#2. Deep Plunging Neckline
The Deep plunging neckline wedding dress was a major trend of 2016. It’s still one of the sexiest trends of this year, making its way from the red carpet into bridal fashion. Alluring and sophisticated, deep plunging necklines are for fashion-forward brides who are willing to bare just a little more and when paired with long sleeves this detail gives a seductive and elegant look. We are well aware that this trend is not for everyone, it’s definitely a little risqué, so more traditional bride might prefer a more demure interpretation.
Imani Swank Imani Swank Collection
#3, 3D Floral Applique
Flowers are not confined to just bouquets and centerpiece; more and more dress designers are incorporating floral elements into their brands. 3D applique is a work of art that gives a whimsical twist and three-dimensional look to wedding dresses. Whether it’s appliqués, beads or embroidery this floral pattern births a beautiful romantic texture. So, if you go all out with head-to-toe florals or play it safe with a few wispy petals, you’re sure to make an everlasting visual impact. This applique is becoming popular because it creates a more girly feel like a little Alice in wonderland and it gives the fabric a new feel and looks.
2015 Brandon Luckain Wedding Pix Nismode BL Media #4. Cape
Capes became popular a couple of years ago thanks to celebrities like Lupita Nyong’o and Jenifer Garner. Bridal designers have adopted this trend and made it into something worn by adventurous brides, who want to make a statement on their wedding day. A Cape is perfect for the contemporary, fashion-forward bride who is not keen on the following tradition and will also work for a bride not intending to have a second dress. The Cape gives a dual effect where the overall look could be worn to church and subsequently taken off for the reception, creating a whole new look.
HAUTCOEUR Bust It Away Photography #5. Lace
Lace will forever be a favourite with brides and designers, brands have taken a more contemporary and fresh approach to traditional bridal fabrics. Unique intricate designs have now taken center stage. Designers now feature unique lace patterns with a modern and artist twist and this kind of lace sure made a fashion statement in 2017.
Imani Swank Imani Swank Collection
#6. Colour
Brides are becoming more adventurous when it comes to their wedding dresses and subtle colours are increasing daily. Champagne, pink and blush are becoming popular and brides are no longer left with the choice of just ivory and white. More often, these colourful wedding dresses flaunt beautiful details alongside their innovative hue.
Wedding Dress Styles That Brides Are Obsessed With Right Now.
Imani Swank Collection
#1. Ball Wedding Dresses
Ruben Domingo #2. Ruffled Trumpet Dresses
Finding Your Dream Dress
Every bride deserves to feel beautiful and be the center of attention on her wedding day and Imani swank is always here to make your dream dress a reality!!!
Below are some useful tips when searching for the perfect wedding dress:
Do your Research; Find dresses you love online, check out wedding dresses and different designs. You can check our Instagram page @imani_swank, we have loads of dresses that could help your search. Try to familiarize yourself with styles, silhouettes, colors and necklines but while doing your research try not to overwhelm yourselves with unnecessary information. Often brides can be too focused on one silhouette or neckline or dress design; be open to the possibility that your dream dress might be something a little out of your comfort zone.
Set a Budget: Before walking into a bridal store, it’s best to set a budget and know your limits. Be upfront with the bridal consultant, that way you won’t fall in love with a dress you can’t afford but still be flexible, your dream dress might fall a little over your budget and you don’t want to lose your dream dress over a few extra Naira notes, which is why we try to accommodate different budgets at Imani swank.
Check Your Closet: This might be a bit of a shocker but it can be very helpful, most of you regular dresses could help you narrow your search for your dream dress, if you go through your closet, try on your normal dress and check out what flatters your figure most, you could also try on those dresses you never really did like and see what you don’t like about them, this process can be very helpful when picking out your dress.
Don’t take an audience; Every bride needs her support system, but not an audience. Try to limit the number of people you take with you when shopping for a wedding dress, different opinions could leave you more confused and heartbroken than you think. Go along with your best friend and your mom or just that one person whose opinion you really respect.
Keep an Open Mind: Most brides place themselves in one box, simply because your tall and slender doesn’t mean that the only silhouette for you is a column dress. Sometimes when dress shopping, the silhouette you never expected could be your dream dress. So be open-minded and try on different silhouettes, you never know where your dress is lurking.
Wear the Right Underwear; Without proper undergarments, wedding dress try-on can pretty much be a waste. The right bra can go a long way to help the fit of the dress. Remember a bridal consultant will more than likely be assisting you in and out of gowns, so for both your sakes, wear something decent, you don’t want to increase your anxiety by worrying about your granny panties or bad bras, it advisable to wear a strapless bra and cotton.
Have fun; Wedding dress shopping isn’t only about finding the perfect dress, it’s also about making memories that last longer than the dress. Imani swank bridal consultants are always there to create that memory you deserve. . . . . . . like the saying goes ‘when you wear white you’re always right’.
An Overview of Imani Swank.
Imani swank caters to today’s bride with a wide range of collections for the most memorable moments of her life. Our bridal gowns range from the traditionally elegant to the modern eclectic. Our brands include Allure and Mori lee bridal. We also retail our own brand Imani swank bridal.
Elegance, Exclusivity, and Authenticity are vital to the heart of Imani swank. We believe brides should feel nothing less than beautiful on their special day which is why we pursue excellence in design and craftsmanship to create a gown worthy of a bride’s most treasured moments. Our aim is not only to design and produce the perfect gown but to provide daily inspiration for our brides to be through our media presence. We also try to work around/accommodate different budget to cater to our bride’s needs.
Brides are welcome to purchase dresses off the rack as we stock a wide variety of dresses. We also produce custom wedding dresses. The production lead time for our custom dresses is dependent on the fabric choice, silhouette and fabric embellishment. It usually takes two to four months for a dress to be manufactured.
Evening dresses/second dresses, occasion dresses and bridesmaid dresses are also available off the rack. We also provide bespoke tailoring services for clients.

