Explore the “Sleeping Beauties” of the Edith Élan bridal collection archives.
This post was updated 11/24/25.
The Met’s annual Costume Institute fashion exhibit is always a moment for fashion inspiration. The 2024 exhibit showcased about 220 archival fashion pieces. The theme of the exhibit focused on the concept of these archival pieces as “sleeping beauties” that were awakened from their slumber and brought back to life for a moment in time. Some pieces had not seen the light of day since they were created. Some of them were so fragile that they need to be displayed lying down like a sleeping beauty. Inspired by theme of the 2024 exhibit, the Edith Élan bridal archives hold designs that we deem sleeping beauties in their own right.
Who are the Edith Élan “Sleeping Beauties?”
The Edith Élan “sleeping beauties” is another way to look at our bridal archives. Our bridal archives hold discontinued original designs that span the history of the EÉ collections, including styles from the very first 2016 collection! However, unlike the Met archives, some of our Sleeping Beauties are not too delicate to be worn again. But, like the Met archives, our archived EÉ bridal styles also slumber waiting for their moment to be awoken upon request.
Awakening the Sleeping Beauties
Often when a designer discontinues a style, that’s it. It is gone forever. However, we don’t believe a discontinued design deserves the same fate. Our discontinued styles live on – or rather, slumber – in the archives.
A benefit of being an independent bridal designer is that even though the styles below are discontinued, they are not gone! In some instances, the original samples are available for purchase, though limited in size. We can also recreate the original design with updated fabrics, or use the original style as a inspiration to create a custom wedding dress design! So, as you browse the styles below, which design will capture your heart?
Amaia
Amaia is a fit-and-flare mikado wedding dress. The attached lace topper bodice features a high bateau neckline and an open keyhole back.
Aurora
Aurora is a modern ballgown wedding dress with pockets in mikado. The illusion neckline and back are adorned with 3D flowers and crystals.
Bibi
Bibi is a long-sleeve lace and silk crepe wedding gown with a long train. The low V back is also accented with a gold-tone pendant closure.
Bobbie
Bobbie is a spaghetti strap V-neck wedding dress in crepe. The tulle on the a-line skirt is embroidered with hearts and the word “love.”
Camellia
Camellia is a strapless mikado wedding dress full of old Hollywood vintage glam. The dress’s column silhouette contrasts with the full fishtail train.
Coco
Coco is a silk crepe wedding gown with an a-line skirt. The illusion shoulders feature a crystal and beaded embroidery.
Chika
Chika is an a-line wedding dress with pearls. The gathered pearl skirt sits atop a silk crepe foundation. Pearls also adorn the illusion neckline that also creates a keyhole back.
Dahlia
Dahlia is a three-piece wedding look. A strapless mini wedding dress sits under a semi-sheer, removable tulle ballgown skirt, and is accented by a crystal-accented belt.
Gladys
Gladys is a spaghetti strap mermaid wedding dress in a textured floral jacquard fabric. The front neckline features a vintage-inspired foldover detail.
Hawthorne
Hawthorne is a strapless, sweetheart mermaid wedding dress. The layer of silk organza creates the sheer long train and peplum at the waist.
Heathe
Heathe is a modern crepe wedding gown with a bateau neckline and keyhole back. The skirt hips are embroidered with rows of silver beads.
Iset
Iset is a V-neck charmeuse wedding dress with an illusion back. A column of pearl buttons accents the beaded embroidery on the back.
Isolde
Isolde is an A-line, silk crepe wedding dress with pockets. The bodice features a low V-front, mirroring the straps that come to a V in the back.
Izme
Izme is a strapless wedding dress in a textured silver jacquard fabric. Mini pearls and beads create a custom embroidery motif along the waistline.
Karli
Karli is a halter ballgown wedding dress with a subtle two-tone effect from the lace and mikado. Pearls and crystals scatter across the lace.
Jonah
Jonah is a bridal jumpsuit in wool crepe. A strapless corset foundation sits under the semi-sheer, bloused pearl bodice.
Kimi
Kimi is an asymmetrical a-line wedding dress in a textured dot jacquard. The strapless bodice features a one-shoulder drape in charmeuse that ties at the shoulder.
Larkspur
Larkspur is a strapless, midi-length wedding dress in mikado with a sweetheart neckline. The silk gazar organza peplum at the waist cascades over the column skirt.
Leyla
Leyla is a silk crepe wedding gown with 3/4-length sleeves. The small keyhole on the front mirrors the large illusion keyhole on the back.
Lily
Lily is a charmeuse and Swiss dot wedding dress in a faux wrap silhouette. The sheerness of the flutter sleeves mirrors the sheer, illusion back.
Mara
Mara is a fit-and-flare wedding dress with a short sleeve lace bodice and mikado skirt. A high neck on the front contrasts with the open keyhole back.
Marina
Marina is a strapless, corset mermaid wedding dress. A beaded embroidery embellishes the waist and scallop details embellish the skirt flare.
Milena
Milena is a strapless sweetheart, modern ballgown wedding dress with pockets. Lace peeks out from under the scalloped edge details on the neckline.
Mo
Mo is an asymmetrical mermaid wedding dress in a textured dot jacquard fabric. The sweetheart neckline features a one-shoulder pearl tulle drape.
Natalia
Natalia is an asymmetrical mermaid wedding dress in mikado with a strapless corset bodice in lace. A lace applique at the shoulder accents the sheer tulle drape.
Nevé
Nevé is a strapless mermaid wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice and skirt feature intricately seamed panels of lace and mikado.
Nina
Nina is a strapless mermaid wedding dress with 3D flower details on the bodice. A scalloped lace train creates a texture contrast against the smooth silk fabric.
Norma Jean
Norma Jean is a lovely ballgown wedding dress with an illusion neckline. Her strapless crepe foundation sits under layers of love-embroidered tulle, which also creates a sheer bateau neckline.
Olesya
Olesya is a silk crepe wedding gown with 3D flowers on the high neck, long sleeve cuffs, and lace hem. The back features an open keyhole.
Olivia
Olivia is a lace and silk crepe wedding dress. The longer sleeves and modest V neck contrast with the low V back.
Penelope
Penelope is a romantic strapless modern ballgown wedding dress with 3D flower accents on the sweetheart neckline and tiered tulle skirt.
Pia
Pia is an A-line wedding dress with a long-sleeved silk crepe bodice and silk tulle skirt. The high neck on the front contrasts with the low open back.
Pilar
Pilar is a strapless mermaid wedding dress with a unique scalloped sweetheart neckline and hand-painted rosettes on the skirt.
Rin
Rin by is a drop-waist, fit-and-flare wedding dress in silk mikado. The bateau bodice features pearl embroidery all around.
Sage
Sage is a short a-line wedding dress in silk gazar organza that adds sheerness to the lace-appliqued bodice.
Shiya
Shiya is a strapless mermaid wedding dress in mikado with voluminous cascading ruffles on the skirt and train.
Tahani
Tahani is a charmeuse wedding dress with a v-neck bodice. Lace accents create the design on the illusion-back bodice and the hem of the skirt ties.
Taj
Taj is a two-tone fit-and-flare wedding dress with a white guipure lace over a blush pink silk crepe. The bodice features a high neck with a low open back.
Tamara
Tamara is a spaghetti strap silk crepe wedding gown. The scalloped neckline mimics the scallops on the inset lace train.
Whittaker
Whittaker is a fit and flare mikado wedding dress. The bodice has a small keyhole on the front and a larger keyhole on the back framed by lace.
Wisteria
Wisteria is a silk crepe wedding gown with lace on the sweetheart neckline. Each tier of the bridal capelet is trimmed with lace.
Yuri
Yuri is a charmeuse wedding dress with intricate seams all over. The straps cross to form a low, open X back.
Zafirah
Zafirah is a silk crepe wedding gown with a lace-accented V-neck bodice, a semi-sheer lace back, and a tiered fit-and-flare skirt.
Ready to Wake a Sleeping Beauty?
If you are in love with any of these styles, let’s discuss recreating these looks for your wedding day as a custom design! (More pictures of these styles are available on the Edith Élan Pinterest page in “The Style Archives” board.)
If you’re not ready yet, use the Pin below to save this blog to your Pinterest board for the future. (This post will be updated with styles as they enter the archives.)
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