A 75-year-old wedding gown is now standing proud as part of the Cradle Of Aviation Museum’s collection on Long Island. This dress is made of the silk of a parachute that once saved a man’s life.

The gown was made in 1945 for a woman named Evelyn, the mother of Kate and Mike Braet. It was fashioned out of a World War II parachute that saved their father’s life.

The siblings’ father, George, was a young army pilot. He was on a mission to defeat Hitler in Europe when his plane took on enemy fire. His parachute saved his life, although it was punctured by flying debris from the enemy attack.

Speaking to CBS2, Kate explains: “My father came home with this parachute filled with holes. If the parachute were not there, it would have killed him.”

He survived and he tied the knot with his love, Evelyn. During the war, silk was in short supply so Evelyn had the idea to transform the silk parachute into a wedding dress. She removed the Army/Navy lettering and salvaged the tattered pieces to create a stunning gown to walk down the aisle in.

“Something that was meant to save somebody from a crashing plane, then became the parachute that carried them throughout their marriage,” said Kate.

Decades later, the dress has now been donated to the Cradle of Aviation Museum to educate people on the reality of the war and how it impacted people.

“It’s just one story of millions, I’m sure, of what people went through during the war… and how difficult it was,” said Mike. “My parents are now going to live forever.”

“The story goes beyond us, because it’s a story of love. It’s a story of bravery. It’s a story of hope. It’s a story of future,” said Kate.

Picture: Instagram / Cradle of Aviation Museum

New York Bridal Fashion Week kicked off digitally in early October, offering stunning trends for brides-to-be for the 2021 season.

Although designers were given challenging circumstances with production halted across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they soldiered on to create unique shows to inspire us all.

A major trend this wedding season appears to be inspired by the pandemic itself. With the various restrictions around the world, many have opted for more relaxed and less traditional looks to reflect the mood of the current climate.

More jumpsuits and shorter dresses were showcased in shows this season, although they did not sacrifice style. Many designers went theatrical with volume and fabric. Detailed shoulder work, detachable capes and fun fabrics were the moods of the day. Tulle, lace, feathers and ruffles continue to be popular in the wedding world as well.

Here are a few of our favourite looks that graced the (digital) runway:

Oscar de la Renta

Vivienne Westwood

Elie Saab

Naeem Khan

Marchesa

Jenny Pakham

Galia Lahav

Picture: Instagram / Oscar de la Renta