All photos by Doug Levy Photography,

We had SO much fun at Bridal Market this year, capturing thousands of images for our soon-to-be-released Dress Feature on PTW!  While I sat through dozens of runway shows, the trends just started to pop up over and over again and I would say that tulle was one of the strongest trends for the 2011.  Here are a few examples of how designers are using tulle:

First, what is tulle?

Tulle is a lightweight, very fine netting, which is often starched. It can be made of various fibres, including silk, nylon, and rayon. Tulle is most commonly used for veils, gowns, and ballet tutus. Tulle comes in a wide array of colors and it can also easily be dyed to suit the needs of the consumer. It is readily available from most fabric stores and through special order.

The name comes from Tulle, a city in the southern central region of France. Tulle was well known as a center of lace and silk production in the 18th century, and early tulle netting probably originated in this French city. Tulle netting certainly appeared earlier in Parisian ballet costume than in most other nations, suggesting that tulle netting may have been more readily available there than elsewhere.

Full Tulle Skirts

This gown, from Modern Trousseau, is a great example of how to use tulle in a classic way.  This natural waist, strapless gown, has a skirt of tulle.  The skirt has no embellishments and isn't as full as some of the other skirts we've seen at Bridal Market.  You could probably add a petticoat to this dress to add more volume if you wanted, but we think it's pretty adorable as it is, don't you? 

Another full skirt of tulle, this JLM Lazaro gown in pale peach is on a much grander scale than the Modern Trousseau silouhette above.  Layers upon layers of tulle netting are brought together at the natural waist.  This dress is not for the faint of heart, and you will be making quite the statement as you walk down the aisle or twirl around the dance floor!

Tulle Overlay Skirts

Another option for tulle is as an overlay to another material. This simple and chic gown from JLM Blush is a perfect example.  Instead of using layer upon layer of tulle to create the body of the skirt, taffeta, silk, or satin with a petticoat is used to create the structure.  The layers of tulle simply create texture and give a bit of romance without going over the top.  

Here is a great example of a gown that really used tulle as an accent.  There are just a few layers of tulle on top of this satin gown by JLM Blush

Textured Tulle

Here is a different spin on tulle; using a print or embellishment to bring even more texture to the tulle. This Olivia Couture gown has a delicate asymmetrical striped pattern over the entire outer layer of tulle.  This creates a very modern look to your wedding gown.

For a more classic look, a delicate lace trim was added to the bottom of this tulle gown from Anne Barge.  This is definitely a great example of the many gowns that had a feeling of the 90's when tulle was large and in charge.  Of course, the silhouette and embellishments of today are much more sophisticated and chic as you can see.