Fifty-five years after Bianca Jagger stunned onlookers by wearing a Yves Saint Laurent skirt-suit to marry Mick Jagger, her alternative wedding look has become a firm favourite among a new generation of brides.
Dua Lipa Joins the Trend
On Sunday, pop star Dua Lipa became the latest celebrity to endorse this trend when she married actor Callum Turner during an intimate ceremony in London. Photos of the couple on the steps of Old Marylebone town hall showed them grinning under a flurry of confetti. Turner wore a navy suit, while Lipa donned an ivory skirt suit straight from the pages of the Jagger stylebook, complete with a wide-brimmed hat.
While Jagger's suit was considered unconventional in 1971, it has recently become newly relevant. Amal Clooney nodded towards it in a white Stella McCartney co-ord and floppy hat when she married George Clooney in Venice in 2014. Model Emily Ratajkowski referenced it when she wore a yellow mustard Zara suit and veiled brown hat for her 2018 wedding to Sebastian Bear-McClard. At the 2025 Met Gala, the stylist for actor Zendaya cited the wedding ensemble as the influence for her outfit, while Kerry Washington and Anna Sawai also seemed inspired by Jagger.
The Appeal of Nonconformity
Rosie Boydell-Wiles, a stylist and bridal expert, says part of the appeal is the nonconformist attitude that Jagger embodied. “The best bridal looks in history are the ones where you can see that the bride has really thought about who she is, what suits her and how she wants to illustrate her personality through her look, regardless of what is deemed to be on trend.”
During the 70s, floor-length lacy dresses with billowing sleeves were a common trend. Jagger's “Le Smoking” jacket, which she wore with nothing underneath, a bias cut skirt to conceal her secret pregnancy, and a giant sunhat were considered the epitome of rock'n'roll rebellion. At the time, a skirt suit instead of a dress was shocking in itself. A skirt suit with a plunging neckline? Scandalous. Saint Laurent had only introduced the jacket five years earlier, and it was initially snubbed by clients who considered it too risque.
Lipa's Homage to Jagger
Lipa's homage to Jagger was designed by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli. The blazer featured the brand's signature surrealist-inspired buttons, including an evil eye and a lion's head. Meanwhile, a blush-coloured corset and hip padding integrated into the jacket gave it a sculpted shape, while her hat, designed by British milliner Stephen Jones, featured a gold underbrim, reportedly a trick to add a glow to the wearer's face. In a game of spot the difference, the greatest distinction was Lipa's choice of accessories. The 30-year-old British singer finished her look with a pair of white gloves and a six-figure Bulgari Serpenti necklace she previously wore to the Brit Awards.
Toying with gender lines, Jagger's look ushered in a new era of bridal fashion. Henrietta Rix, co-founder of the fashion brand Rixo, says it has become an enduring reference, with a recent rise in brides searching for separate pieces. The brand sells a skirt and long-sleeved top that alludes to the look. “Jagger's look encourages modern-day brides to be authentic to their style, experiment with separates or different shapes, and most importantly feel confident on their wedding day,” she says.
Lipa's civil ceremony took place before a rumoured three-day Sicilian celebration in Palermo. Boydell-Wiles says separates are particularly appealing for brides who, like Lipa, are having more than one event. “It gives them an opportunity to do something they wouldn't do for their main day.” It also allows the wearer to “show different facets of their personality”.
On stage, Lipa wears sparkly mini dresses and bodysuits. Boydell-Wiles says her bridal look helps to cement the idea of “who she really is rather than an onstage persona”. And while fans wait to see if the retro references continue in Italy, her Jagger-inspired look has already secured her a place in bridal fashion history.
