A BRIEF HISTORY

Traditionally, a trousseau was defined as the collection of personal items that a young woman accumulated in anticipation of her future marriage. A trousseau was generally stored in a hope chest and included bridal accessories, jewelry, lingerie, clothing for the honeymoon, linens, and toiletries. Some trousseaus included family heirlooms and handmade items crafted by the bride-to-be or her female relatives. Often, a number of brand-new outfits were carefully selected and stored in the trousseau in preparation for the wedding, honeymoon, and first few weeks as newlyweds.

Today, most women do not prepare a trousseau with all of the original components. However, the concept of a bridal trousseau is still a wonderful tradition, and many brides do begin a collection of wedding and honeymoon lingerie. These pieces are sometimes purchased by the bride, but often are given as gifts at a bridal shower. Traditionally, the mother of the bride purchases her daughter’s wedding night ensemble.

ELEMENTS OF A MODERN TROUSSEAU

A modern bridal trousseau is composed of a few special pieces. Often, it includes the lingerie that a bride wears under her wedding gown, as well as the ensemble she wears on her wedding night. Traditionally, this is a long peignoir set including a beautiful gown and robe, generally made from exquisite fabrics such as silk, satin, or lace and almost always in white or ivory. While some brides choose this classic look, many modern women are opting for a short, flirty style of lingerie. Some brides may also include a going away outfit in their trousseau, or fun, colorful lingerie pieces to wear on the honeymoon. Lastly, no trousseau is complete without the accessories, including garters, a handkerchief, shoes, silk boxers for the groom and other special touches.