Something blue underwear for your wedding is one of the prettiest ways to keep a much-loved tradition. It is private, it is personal, and it gives you a small secret to smile about as you walk down the aisle. Here are our favourite ideas, from soft baby blue embroidery to deep royal blue lace, with a few thoughts on wearing blue beneath a white dress.
What does 'something blue' mean?
The rhyme and the tradition in brief
The custom comes from an old English rhyme: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". Each item carries its own meaning. Something old links the bride to her family and her past, something new looks to the future, and something borrowed brings luck from a happily married friend. Something blue has long stood for loyalty, faithfulness and love.
For generations, brides have tucked a blue ribbon into the hem of a dress or worn a blue garter. Today, many choose blue lingerie instead. It is a graceful, modern way to honour the rhyme, and unlike a ribbon, it is something you will wear again.
Something blue underwear ideas
Blue comes in many moods, from barely-there pastels to rich, inky shades. Our Bridal Lingerie collection is the best place to start, and these are the styles we love most for the day itself.
Baby blue embroidered sets
For a soft, romantic touch, baby blue is hard to better. The Arabella Sheer Embroidered Lingerie Set in Baby Blue pairs sheer sky-blue mesh with golden floral embroidery for a look that is delicate and quietly luxurious. The garter belt comes with detachable leg garters, so you can style it softly for the ceremony and add the garters later. Browse more in our embroidered lingerie edit.
Royal blue lace for a bolder touch
If you would like your something blue to feel unmistakably blue, royal blue is the shade. The Amy Royal Blue Embroidered Lace Lingerie Set pairs delicate sheer mesh with floral embroidery and elegant gold-tone hardware. Its underwired bra has a structured shape, while the matching cut-out, suspender-style bottom with thigh straps gives the set a polished finish.
For a deeper, more sophisticated blue, the Isla Lace Lingerie Set in Navy Blue is sultry and refined, with a sheer underwired bra edged in scalloped lace, a matching high-waisted suspender belt and a strappy thong with gold-tone hardware.
A blue garter bodysuit for the evening
Some brides save their something blue for the evening, when the dress comes off and the celebration becomes private. The Evangeline Lace Garter Bodysuit in Blue brings a vivid royal blue to a sculpted lace design, with floral embroidered lace cups, satin-trimmed seams and built-in garter straps ready for your favourite stockings.
For a corset-inspired shape, the Ivy Lace-Up Corset Bodysuit in Blue is made to sculpt and flatter, with underwired cups, a lace-up front and a high-leg cut. It comes with matching stockings to complete the look. See more in our garter bodysuits edit.
A simple blue bralette set under a light dress
If your dress is light, fluid or minimal, a soft bralette set may suit it best. The Daisy Lace Bralette and Thong Set in Blue pairs a stretch lace bralette with adjustable straps with a matching high-leg thong. It is comfortable enough to wear all day, which matters on a day that can stretch well into the night. You will find more easy, everyday pairings in our bra and knicker sets.
Something blue examples beyond lingerie
Blue lingerie is only one way to keep the tradition. If you would like more than one nod to the rhyme, or prefer something others can see, consider:
- A blue garter, worn on its own or as a keepsake
- Your initials or wedding date embroidered inside the dress in blue thread
- A blue ribbon sewn into the hem or wrapped around the bouquet stems
- Sapphire or blue topaz jewellery, perhaps borrowed from family
- Blue soles on your wedding shoes, or a blue flower in the bouquet
Many brides combine ideas, such as a borrowed blue brooch and new blue lingerie, so one piece covers two lines of the rhyme.
How to wear blue lingerie under a white dress
Blue can show through sheer, thin or unlined fabrics, so it is worth a little planning. Try your lingerie on with your dress at a fitting, in daylight and under brighter light, and ask someone you trust to look from a few steps away.
If the colour shows, you have options. Choose a paler blue, which is much less visible than navy or royal blue. Keep your something blue as a garter, which sits safely beneath the skirt. Or wear a smooth, skin-toned set for the ceremony and change into your blue set for the evening. However you wear it, your something blue is there for you, and its meaning stays the same.
For the evening, explore our wedding lingerie, from white lace lingerie sets to garter bodysuits.
Frequently asked questions
What is something blue for a wedding?
It comes from the traditional rhyme 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue'; blue stands for loyalty and love.
Can something blue be underwear?
Yes. Blue lingerie is a private, practical way to honour the tradition; a baby blue set or blue garter bodysuit both work.
Will blue lingerie show through a white wedding dress?
It can under sheer or unlined fabrics; try it on with the dress, or choose a lighter blue or keep it for the evening.
Who gives the bride her something blue?
Often a friend, mother or bridesmaid, though many brides choose it themselves.
What are some something blue examples?
Blue lingerie, a garter, embroidered initials, jewellery or a ribbon sewn into the hem.