Playing on the tropes of romance and tradition, ERDEM has unveiled the White Collection, a seven-count outing of chantilly lace, floral organza, and point d’esprit tulle – a faultlessly controlled riff on ERDEM’s bespoke bridal service, now as ready-to-wear. Available year round, the goings offer modern women a modern take on bridal, it’s something less formulaic, less heavy, and less heavily styled.

“The White Collection was created in response to a need for something a little alternative to a wedding dress in the traditional sense,” said ERDEM’s Creative Director, Erdem Moralıoğlu in a press release. “I started by looking at my archive, for me it was about creating shapes that were light and special… it was important to me that the collection had a very human hand.”

That lightness is in a constant pas de deux with elegant ballads of pearled embellishment, long tails of button fastenings, and ivory grosgrain bows – allowing tradition to endure, while cutting it with contemporary fixtures for an avant-garde bride. Ebbing less coquettish, the White Collection is an edit for the times, the sort of permanence offered only by truncated featherweight organza, tiered cotton voile, and outsized satin, floral chokers.

“I have always loved the idea of creating something couture-like, so there is only one that exists, but at the same time, I like the casualness of the White Collection,” Erdem tells British Vogue’s Alice Newbold. “With both, [the ERDEM customer is] buying a piece to pass on.”

After all, a well-maintained archive has proved a wellspring of inspiration for Erdem’s latest. He drew from an autumn/winter 2015 look as source for the caped silhouette, stand collar and delicate weaves of blooming embroidery that trace the Caelyn mini. While his Cecil Beaton-indebted autumn/winter 2020 gave us the floral necktie, one we can hope will be well worn and saved for posterity.

“I ended my first fashion show for fall/winter 2006 with a bride,” Erdem tells Newbold. “It’s funny, she’s always been at the back of my mind.”

As of February 2021, ERDEM’s White Collection is available on their website, and at their Mayfair flagship.