Say goodbye to the Little tiara. Spring brides are moving away from the minimalist wisps of the past decade, when the veil often was an afterthought, and into more dramatic looks.

to the Little tiara. Spring brides are moving away from the minimalist wisps of the past decade, when the veil often was an afterthought, and into more dramatic looks. No, these are not the overpowering, face-hiding veils that their moms or grandmas might have worn. These three styles borrow their charm from the past, but have an appeal that looks fresh and new.

Clouds of Joy

A diaphanous veil — dramatically long and sheer — floated behind young socialite Ivanka Trump when she married Jared Kushner in a celebrity-studded ceremony last fall. Trump (daughter of the Donald) says her inspiration was the legendary style of Grace Kelly, who chose a lavish long veil for her wedding to Prince Rainer of Monaco in 1956. Praise for the “Ivanka veil” immediately popped up on wedding Web sites, so expect to see many spring brides floating down the aisle in this memorable look.

Flight of the Birdcage

No fashionable woman of the 1930s would have been without her sophisticated “birdcage” hat, which often featured a dramatic veil that framed part of the face. That look gets a modern twist in many styles featured in the 2010 collection of Veil Trends, a Colorado-based company that specializes in designer hairpieces for the bride (check them out at www.veiltrends.com). Among their retro veils are a tulle blusher with Swarovski flower accent and a blusher of Russian tulle (more textured than traditional tulle) with a feather-accented flower. Fashion note: This look requires dramatic retro makeup, especially on the lips. This is not a style for timid brides.

Posh Poufs

For a bit of 1960s-inspired sauciness, check out these newly mod styles, also from Veil Trends. These short, layered veils frame the face and just brush the shoulders, adding plenty of panache without covering up any detail of that expensive gown. Two examples: a multilayered veil of textured Russian tulle and a double-layered veil edged in narrow ribbon. Both are attached to a simple twisted hairclip.

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