Dan Rentillo, design director for David’s Bridal, has a hypothesis about why strapless gowns are so dominant. Because ball gowns and big, long skirts are so popular, women prefer to show more skin on top as not to seem too covered up, which can make them look conservative and older. Even women who don’t wear strapless dresses in civilian life often feel drawn to them for their weddings. “A lot of women want to feel like a princess,” Rentillo says, “and this is their chance to wow everyone.”