I collect vintage clothing; the wedding gown in the film here (a reproduction) is (as you correctly note) VERY VERY TINY and no more than a size 2 (if not a zero)...... I have some examples of similar wedding dresses from the 20s-30s. Most of them are of ivory or white satin (or silk if very fine), and they are BIAS CUT.
I can't emphasize that enough. Dresses in that era were mostly cut on the bias. This is lovely and can be very flattering on a woman with a slim, nice figure. However, if you have any flaws -- any "pooch" around the middle -- wide hips -- a big bust -- or lack good waist definition -- it will be awful. It will highlight EVERY tiny flaw in your body and cling to every tiny bit of fat. Also it is impossible to wear anything under a bias cut dress, like a girdle or corset.
In its own way, it is as harsh a style as the modern fashion of "strapless gowns". I went to a wedding two years ago of a young lady who was a bit overweight and had heavy arms. That strapless dress made her look like a fat, white, shiny sausage tube with the extras overflowing. It was so sad. She was otherwise a nice looking girl, and would have looked fine in a dress with sleeves, that covered her figure flaws.
But fashion is fashion, and a young bride wants the latest style -- not something frumpy her mom might have worn. (As someone else says here: sometimes that is ALL that is available! once sleeveless/strapless became the rage in the later 90s, good luck finding ANY dress with sleeves.)
It is worth noting that in the 1930s, it was still common for a bride to sew her own dress, or her mother or relatives to do so -- or a village seamstress. Even today, "store bought" dresses require very considerable sewing alterations! But I can't recall the last time I've seen a MODERN bride who sewed her own dress.
I'm personally heartily sick & tired of unflattering sleeveless/strapless gowns, and I agree with those here who would like to see a return to more traditional dresses, or just something else entirely. They fall under a category I call "cruel clothes", because they are horribly unflattering to 90% of women, and only 10% really can ever hope to look good in them!
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