Franklin Dean
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time. When she married Prince Charles in 1981, her extravagant gown helped solidify her status as a fashion icon. The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved. The Emanuels also designed a second, backup wedding gown in case their original creation was leaked to the press. This dress was never finished and mysteriously vanished from the studio.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Material | Ivory silk taffeta and antique lace |
| Train | 25 feet (7.6 meters) |
| Veil | 153 yards (140 meters) tulle veil |
| Value | $43,573 in 2023 |
| Details | Sequins, frilled lace, and 10,000 pearls |
| Second Dress | A backup dress was created in case the original design leaked |
| Owners | Passed down to her sons, Princes William and Harry |
Explore related products
$64.99 $69.99
What You'll Learn
Princess Diana's wedding dress designers
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most famous dresses in the world. It was designed by husband-and-wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved" and would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression".
Diana personally selected the Emanuels to make her wedding dress because she was fond of a custom-made pink chiffon blouse they designed for her engagement portrait session with Lord Snowdon. The Emanuels also designed a parasol in matching taffeta for Diana to use in case of rain on her wedding day.
The Emanuels went to great lengths to keep the dress design a secret until the big day, even installing a safe to keep designs and fabric swatches. The dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace, with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls, and a 25-foot (7.6 m) train. It was valued at the time at £9,000 (equivalent to $43,573 in 2023).
The Emanuels also created a second, backup wedding gown in case their original creation was leaked to the press, but this dress mysteriously vanished from their studio. The spare dress had a more pronounced V-neckline and no lace, and was made of "pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves".
Adjusting Tulle Train Length for Your Dream Wedding Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's iconic status
Princess Diana's wedding dress is considered one of the most famous dresses in the world and has become an iconic garment in royal wedding dress history. The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, a former husband-and-wife duo, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history". The Emanuels were the only people who knew about Princess Diana's dress, and they helped conceptualise the design of her veil. The dress was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and an estimated 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. The gown was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, valued at £9,000. The lace used to trim the dress was antique and handmade, and a square of Carrickmacross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary was attached to the gown. The dress also featured a petite blue bow sewn into the interior waistband as her "something blue".
The dress was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history and was not fully revealed until Princess Diana's wedding day. The design team was not able to show Diana the dress and its train until the final fitting at Buckingham Palace. The dress was so voluminous that Princess Diana had to be stuffed into her carriage on the way to St. Paul's Cathedral, and the excessive amount of fabric caused wrinkles on the dress. The dress set wedding fashion trends, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and soft touch fabrics becoming popular requests. Copies of the dress were available within hours of Princess Diana's wedding, and it has continued to inspire bridal designs in the years since. In 2018, Time magazine chose the dress as one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time".
The dress toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", with Althorp House, Northampton being the prime display location. In 2014, ownership of the dress was transferred from Princess Diana's brother to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, as stipulated in her will. The dress remains a highly sought-after item, with an auction in 2005 claiming to have a spare copy of the original gown up for grabs. However, the Emanuels insisted they never created a duplicate, although they did create an alternate dress with a more pronounced V-neckline and no lace in case the original design was leaked to the press.
Indian Dresses: Courthouse Wedding-Appropriate?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's second, backup gown
Princess Diana's wedding dress was perhaps the most anticipated detail of her royal wedding to Prince Charles. The ivory silk taffeta gown was intricately embroidered with sequins, frilled lace, and 10,000 pearls, and valued at an estimated $115,000. The dress was designed by the husband-and-wife team of David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved," and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression."
The Emanuels also designed a second, backup gown for Diana's wedding day. Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011 that they wanted to make sure the dress was a surprise, and if the secret of the real dress had gotten out, Diana might have worn the backup. The second dress was also made from ivory silk taffeta but lacked the antique lace of the original. It featured a more pronounced V-neckline and was embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves, with tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice. Sketches of the backup gown were first revealed in 2023, but the dress itself has since vanished.
The backup gown was never finished and never tried on by Diana. In an interview with Hello!, Elizabeth Emanuel said, "We didn't try it on Diana. We never even discussed it. We wanted to make sure that we had something there; it was for our own peace of mind, really."
The original wedding dress has made appearances all over the world since its unveiling in 1981. In 2014, as stipulated in Princess Diana's will, the dress was passed down to her sons, Princes William and Harry. They have since loaned out the dress for exhibitions, including the "Royal Style in the Making" show at Kensington Palace in 2021.
Princess Diana's Wedding Dress: Current Location Revealed
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's journey after the wedding
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most iconic gowns in history, and its fame and influence have endured. The dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The dress was valued at £9,000 at the time of the wedding, which is equivalent to $43,573 in 2023.
After the wedding, the dress continued to captivate the public, with copies by other dressmakers available "within hours" of the wedding in 1981. The dress set wedding fashion trends, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and "soft touch fabrics" becoming popular. It sparked multiple copycat designs over the years, with the first replica hitting department stores just five hours after the royal ceremony. Many considered the dress a "gold standard" in wedding fashion in the years after the wedding.
The dress toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration," with Althorp House, Northampton, as the prime display location. In 2022, the dress was exhibited at Kensington Palace as part of "Royal Style in the Making," which closed on January 2, 2022.
In 2014, as stipulated in Princess Diana's will, ownership of the dress was transferred from her brother to her sons, Princes William and Harry. In 2018, Time magazine named the dress one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time."
Silver Wedding: Choosing the Perfect Dress Color
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's influence on bridal trends
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most iconic and influential bridal gowns of all time. With its silk taffeta fabric, antique lace, and 25-foot train, it set a new standard for bridal fashion. The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history".
The Emanuels' use of tulle and ruffles, as well as the dramatic silhouette of the dress, with its puffed sleeves, tapered waist, and voluminous skirt, had a massive influence on bridal wear trends. Replicas of the dress and designs inspired by it flooded the market, and similar styles began to appear in formal and evening wear. The use of a long train and dramatic veil also became popular, with many brides seeking to recreate the fairytale-like romance of Diana's ensemble.
The intricate details of the dress, such as the hand-embroidered mother-of-pearl sequins and estimated 10,000 pearls, also inspired a trend for embellished and beaded bridal gowns. The heart motif created by the pearls on the bodice of the dress added a romantic touch that was widely emulated. The combination of historical inspirations, fairytale elements, and strict royal tradition in the design of the dress inspired a new direction in bridal fashion, moving away from the more conventional, stiff, A-line styles of the 1950s.
The cultural impact of Princess Diana's wedding dress extended beyond the realm of fashion. The dress became a symbol of the late princess's legacy and influence, with its design reflecting her personal style and taste. The secrecy surrounding the dress before its unveiling on the wedding day also contributed to its iconic status, as it was kept as a closely guarded secret, with only the designers knowing the details until the big day.
Black Floral Dress: Wedding-Appropriate or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana did not have a separate reception wedding dress. She wore her iconic ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown with a 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil throughout her wedding day.
Princess Diana's wedding dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history. The public and media were wildly curious about what she would wear, and the dress did not disappoint. It was a stunning display of style and grandiosity, featuring intricate embroidery, sequins, frilled lace, and 10,000 pearls. The dress was valued at $115,000 at the time and has since been chosen as one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time" by Time magazine.
The Emanuels designed a second gown for "peace of mind" in case the design of the original dress was leaked to the press before the wedding. The backup dress had a more pronounced V-neckline, no lace, and was embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves. Tiny pearls were also sewn onto the bodice. However, the backup dress was never needed and mysteriously vanished from the studio.
