Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A century of glorious gowns
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 06 - 2016


Saudi Gazette
THE history of wedding gowns in Italy reveals a significant amount about the nation's social, economic and political life in the past century. This was displayed at an exhibition curated by Rossella Alessandrucci at the Italian Consulate this week in the presence of Consul General Elisabetta Martini and many local guests.
According to Alessandrucci, the style of wedding gowns tells a lot about the status of women.
"At the turn of the 20th century, Europeans enjoyed a generally happy and prosperous life. World War I was a shock for Europe. One of the major changes was that women started to work," she said, pointing to photographs of brides in the early 1900's wearing shorter dresses and knee-length skirts. A busy work life marked a change in women's fashion, giving way to increased independence.
[caption id="attachment_61732" align="alignright" width="300"] Curator Rossella Alessandrucci presents a historical timeline of weddings in Italy at an exhibition held at the Italian Consulate in Jeddah.[/caption]
The exhibit presents photographs of weddings starting from 1890 to the present-day Italy, revealing the transformation of fashion that represents historical events and change throughout the century. A display further shows old photographs, wedding gowns, bridal accessories and memorabilia, such as original telegrams, wedding invitations and souvenirs.
Fascism and World War II greatly influenced Italy's traditional society where it was expected of women to marry young and bear children. Increased marriages and group weddings peaked in the 1930's with government subsidies to encourage bigger families. The political motive behind the policy aimed to enlarge Italy's manpower and army to feed the fascist regime. During World War II, marriage came down drastically and weddings were austere due to solemn times and scarcity of materials and supplies. Couples married in normal dress with no special frills, except a bouquet of flowers to symbolize the wedding.
[caption id="attachment_61730" align="alignright" width="300"] Italian Consul General Elisabetta Martini[/caption]
Post-war Europe brought back noticeable happiness and love with economic and political conditions began turning around. Aligning with the United States during the Cold War led to American influence in style and trends while the Italian tradition was still maintained.
Fashion became more feminist and independent during wartime where women were forced to work. When veterans returned to normal life they became jobless and faced competition from female labor, causing changes in social life once again. "Women were pressured to return to the role of a homemaker," explains Alessandrucci.
[caption id="attachment_61729" align="alignleft" width="300"] New fashion trends and colorful patterns in the 1970s marked an era of feminism and rebellious flare.[/caption]
The struggle between tradition and modernity is seen through Italian women's choice of traditional white dress and short veil during the 1950s.
More colorful and radical fashion trends marked the progressive era of the 1960s and 1970s where feminism and rebellious flare of the youth was globally apparent. Ironically, however, the institution of marriage remains an important pillar of social life in a country where tradition and religion reigned. Thirty-three is the average age of an Italian bride today whereas in the past, couples married much younger.
Alessandrucci presented designer gowns made by renowned Italian fashion designers, signifying the booming fashion houses that marked feminine and luxurious trends of the 1980s. Over the years, civil marriages were common, taking the place of matrimonial unions in a religious setting. Weddings today are no longer the rites of passage that once were. However, Italians enjoy the wedding rituals in exciting and limitless options, says Alessandrucci.
[caption id="attachment_61727" align="alignleft" width="300"] Curator Rossella Alessandrucci presents a historical timeline of weddings in Italy at an exhibition held at the Italian Consulate in Jeddah.[/caption]
"The wedding industry is one way to promote our country," says Consul General Elisabetta Martini. Many rising entrepreneurs offer innovative and original ideas to create a unique wedding in Italy. Weddings have turned to a job-creating industry inviting foreigners to get the Italian wedding experience.
She adds, "Now a lot of Saudis go to Rome to get married. It's also a way to promote tourism."
[caption id="attachment_61728" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A modern designer Italian wedding dress.[/caption]


Clic here to read the story from its source.