Explore the “Sleeping Beauties” of the Edith Élan bridal collection archives.
This post was updated May 11, 2026.
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 needed to be displayed lying down like a sleeping beauty. Inspired by the 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 through our online bridal sample sale—though sizing is limited. We can also recreate the original design with updated fabrics, or use the original style as an 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 high-neck, open-back wedding dress in a fit-and-flare mikado silhouette. The lace bodice features a high bateau neck and an open keyhole back that highlights the strapless neckline of the dress.
Aurora
Aurora is a romantic and elegant 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 crepe wedding dress with a long train. The lace bodice features a low V back that is accented with a gold-tone pendant closure, and is paired with a fit-and-flare crepe skirt.
Bobbie
Bobbie is a tiered skirt wedding dress paired with a crepe spaghetti-strap V-neck bodice. The tiers of pleated tulle on the A-line skirt are embroidered with hearts and the word “love.”
Camellia
Camellia is a column-style wedding dress. The strapless neckline is paired with a column mikado skirt and a fishtail train for an old-Hollywood vintage glam vibe. The hand-beaded crystal trim on the waistline adds an element of sparkle and elevates the glam.
Coco
Coco is a silk crepe wedding dress. The bodice features a curved necklin paired with an a-line skirt. The illusion shoulders and keyhole back feature a crystal and beaded embroidery.
Chika
Chika is a pearl wedding dress. The a-line skirt is paired with a
V-neck bodice and keyhole back. The gathered pearl skirt sits atop a silk crepe foundation. Pearls also adorn the shoulders and keyhole back.
Dahlia
Dahlia is a three-piece wedding look. She is a strapless mini wedding dress with detachable tulle skirt. The look also includes 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. The sheer lace back features crystal heart-shaped buttons.
Hawthorne
Hawthorne is a strapless mermaid wedding dress with a sweetheart neckline. An airy layer of silk organza creates the sheer long train and peplum at the waist over the mikado dress.
Heathe
Heathe is a silk crepe wedding gown with a bateau neckline and keyhole back. The skirt’s 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 custom-made 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 into the iconic Edith Élan V in the back.
Izme
Izme is a strapless textured wedding dress in a light silver jacquard fabric. A custom-made embroidery of mini pearls, crystals, and beads decorate the waistline.
Jealine
Jealine is a convertible, two-in-one wedding dress in a floral jacquard crepe. The shoulder bows cascade down the back to create detachable trains.
Jonah
Jonah is a bridal jumpsuit in wool crepe. A strapless corset foundation sits under the semi-sheer, bloused pearl bodice.
Karli
Karli is a halter-neck ball gown wedding dress with a subtle two-tone effect between the lace and mikado. Pearls and crystals are embroidered across the lace to create a sparkling impact.
Kimi
| Kimi is an asymmetrical, a-line wedding dress in a textured dot jacquard. Her one-shoulder bodice is paired with an a-line skirt, and is accented with a thin, embroidered pearl belt. |
Larkspur
Larkspur is a strapless, midi wedding dress in mikado with a sweetheart neckline. A silk gazar organza peplum at the waist cascades over the column skirt and is accented with a crystal trim.
Leyla
Leyla is a silk crepe wedding dress with 3/4-length sleeves. The small keyhole on the front mirrors the large keyhole on the back, which closes with a column of buttons.
Lily
Lily is a charmeuse and Swiss-dot wedding dress in a faux wrap silhouette. The sheer flutter sleeves mirror the sheer, illusion back, which closes with a column of pearl buttons.
Mara
Mara is a fit-and-flare wedding dress with a short-sleeve lace bodice and mikado skirt. The high neck on the front contrasts with her open keyhole back.
Marina
Marina is a strapless, corset mermaid wedding dress. A silver beaded embroidery embellishes the waist of the sweetheart neckline bodice. The flared tulle skirt is accented with scallop details.
Milena
Milena is a strapless modern ballgown wedding dress with pockets made in silk faille. The sweetheart neckline is trimmed with lace that peeks out from under the scallop details.
Mo
Mo is an asymmetrical mermaid wedding dress in a textured dot jacquard fabric. The bodice features a sweetheart neckline accented with a one-shoulder pearl tulle drape.
Natalia
Natalia is an asymmetrical mermaid wedding dress in mikado paired with a strapless corset bodice in lace. A lace applique at the shoulder accents the sheer tulle, one-shoulder 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. The texture of the corded lace train contrasts against the smooth silk fabric.
Norma Jean
Norma Jean is a lovely illusion-neckline wedding dress. Her foundation is a strapless corset bodice paired with an A-line crepe skirt. Layers of love-embroidered tulle cover the dress in a criss-cross pattern—also creating the sheer high neckline.
Olesya
Olesya is a high-neck, open-back wedding dress with long sleeves in silk crepe. 3D flowers accent the high collar, sleeve cuffs, and hem. The open keyhole back contrasts with the more modest front.
Olivia
Olivia is an open-back lace wedding dress with sleeves. The corded lace’s scalloped edge trims the neckline, sleeves, and hem. The V-neck in the front mirrors the open V-back.
Penelope
Penelope is a romantic ball gown wedding dress. The 3D flower accents on the sweetheart neckline mirror the trim on the voluminous tiers of the silk tulle skirt.
Pia
Pia is a high-neck, low-back wedding dress. The long-sleeve silk crepe bodice is paired with an A-line silk tulle skirt. The high neck on the front contrasts with her low open back.
Pilar
Pilar is a strapless mermaid wedding dress with a unique scalloped sweetheart neckline. A silver crystal rosette belt mirrors the larger hand-painted rosettes near the hem.
Rin
Rin is a drop-waist, fit-and-flare wedding dress in silk mikado. The bodice features a high neckline accented with custom-designed pearl embroidery that wraps around to the racerback.
Sage
Sage is a short, fun wedding dress in an A-line silhouette. Silk gazar organza adds sheerness to the skirt and lace-appliqued, keyhole-back bodice.
Shiya
Shiya is a strapless mermaid ruffle wedding dress in mikado. The voluminous cascading ruffles on the skirt and train are made from silk gazar organza and trimmed with horsehair to help them keep their shape.
Sol
Sol is a floral jacquard crepe wedding dress with a soft, sweeping silhouette and a detachable bow train. Her bodice features a V-neck that mirrors the signature Edith Élan V-back.
Tahani
Tahani is a charmeuse wedding dress with a V-neck bodice. Guipure lace creates the design on the illusion back and accents the hem of the skirt’s train ties.
Taj
Taj is a blush-pink wedding dress with lace. The white guipure lace creates a two-tone effect over the pink silk crepe under layer. The bodice features a high neck with a low open back and is paired with a fit-and-flare slit skirt.
Tamara
Tamara is a silk crepe wedding dress with a lace train. The scalloped, spaghetti-strap neckline mirrors the scallops on the edge of the sheer, lace train.
Taylor
Taylor is a short statement wedding dress with a playful energy. Her floral jacquard crepe fabric is accented with pearls and dimensional 3D bow details on the shoulders.
Whittaker
Whittaker is a fit-and-flare wedding dress in mikado. The bodice has a small keyhole on the front and a larger keyhole on the back framed by a delicate lace.
Wisteria
Wisteria is a silk crepe wedding gown with a lace bridal capelet. Each tier of the bridal capelet is trimmed with lace that matches the lace on the bodice.
Zafirah
Zafirah is a tiered skirt wedding dress. A beaded lace accents the front V-neck and creates a semi-sheer back. The tiers on the fit-and-flare skirt are made of silk crepe.
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. Some of these Sleeping Beauties are also available to purchase as part of our online bridal sample sale.
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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