Junior Rasmussen
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. The dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was revealed when Middleton stepped out of her car at Westminster Abbey before her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011. The dress, which cost $434,000, was of ivory and white satin gazar, with a 2.7-metre train, a narrowed waist, and padded hips. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with fashion experts noting its traditional design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Cost | $434,000, or £250,000 |
| Style | Long-sleeved lace-and-organza gown with an 8.8-foot train |
| Inspiration | Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown |
| Display | At Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011 |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding dress cost $434,000
Kate Middleton's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, cost $434,000. The gown, made of ivory and white satin gazar, featured a 2.7-metre (8.8-foot) train, a narrowed waist, and padded hips, inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry. The dress was noted for its combination of tradition and modernity, with a design reminiscent of Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with fashion experts praising its design and symbolism. Replicas of the dress were quickly produced and sold, and the original dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition.
The cost of Kate Middleton's wedding dress is estimated to be around $434,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses of all time. However, it is important to note that the Palace never released official information about who paid for the dress. Traditionally, the bride's parents cover the cost, so it is speculated that Michael and Carol Middleton may have paid the rumoured amount.
While Kate Middleton's wedding dress is certainly expensive, it is not the most costly royal wedding gown in history. That title goes to Queen Letizia of Spain, whose wedding dress cost nearly $8 million.
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The designer was Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
The designer of Kate Middleton's wedding dress was Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. Burton had been McQueen's right-hand woman for years and took over as creative director after McQueen's passing in 2010.
The dress was an ivory lace gown, with long sleeves, a Victorian-style bodice, and a nearly 9-foot-long train. The lace bodice echoed that worn by Grace Kelly for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. The dress was also noted for its combination of tradition and modernity, in line with the artistic vision of Alexander McQueen.
The lace for the dress was produced by three companies: Sophie Hallette and Solstiss in France, and the Cluny Lace Company in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, specifically the skirt and train. The lace was not specially commissioned but was chosen from stock patterns.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas being produced and sold. It was displayed at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011, during the annual summer exhibition. The dress is often named as one of the most popular styles favoured by brides worldwide.
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The dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, a sheer, thin, plain-weave cloth made from silk with a matte finish, smooth texture, and a crisp hand. Satin gazar, also known as silk organza fabric, is often used in bridal wear and evening gowns due to its propensity to hold its shape. It is also used for lining, sleeves, and overlays. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends.
The dress featured a lace bodice and long sleeves, echoing the style of Grace Kelly's wedding dress in 1956. The lace used in the dress was influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace technique, with floral motifs cut out of lengths of lace produced on large 19th-century machines and stitched to machine net. The majority of the dress, including the skirt and train, was made using Solstiss lace, while the bodice featured "Kate's lace," formerly known as Sophie Hallette's "950264." Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition.
The price of the dress has been estimated to be $434,000, which is significantly less expensive than other royal wedding gowns. For example, Queen Letizia of Spain's wedding gown, which featured delicate embroidery made with real gold thread, cost $8 million, which is 18 times more expensive than Kate Middleton's dress. Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost about $265,000, and Princess Diana's dress cost $118,000 in 1981, which would be approximately $413,000 today. Queen Elizabeth's 1947 wedding gown, designed by Norman Hartnell, is the priciest among British royals, with a cost of $42,000 at the time, equivalent to $1.6 million today.
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The dress was on display at Buckingham Palace
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton, now known as the Duchess of Cambridge, at her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. It was noted that the design was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s.
The original dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition. The display of the dress, along with other items pertaining to the royal wedding, attracted a record number of visitors to Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2011. The exhibition reportedly helped raise around £10 million towards the Duchess's charity fund and the Royal Collection.
The dress was displayed on a headless mannequin lit by white lighting, which was reportedly described as "horrid" by the Queen during a private tour of the exhibition with the Duchess in July 2011. The Queen remarked that the display looked "very creepy", while the Duchess responded that it had a "3D effect".
The Duchess's wedding dress quickly joined the ranks of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The dress was created by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, with whom the Duchess worked closely on the design. The Palace revealed that the Duchess "wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work".
The dress featured a bodice inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, with padding at the hips and a narrowed waist. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace, using the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The dressmakers individually created hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were added to ivory silk tulle.
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It's one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses in history. The gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was estimated to cost around $434,000. The dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, with a 2.7-metre train and a narrowed waist with padded hips, a nod to the Victorian tradition of corsetry. The lace bodice was influenced by traditional Carrickmacross lace techniques, with floral motifs cut out of large 19th-century machine-made lace and stitched to machine net. The majority of the dress was made with Solstiss lace, specifically the skirt and train.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with fashion experts noting its traditional design inspired by 1950s fashion. It was also expected to influence Western bridal gown trends, which it did, with H&M even creating an affordable version of the dress. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original was displayed at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011, attracting 600,000 visitors.
While Kate Middleton's dress is one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses, it is not the most expensive. Queen Letizia of Spain's wedding dress cost nearly $8 million, 18 times more than Kate's dress.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is believed to have cost her parents £250,000, which is equivalent to $434,000.
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen.
The dress was long-sleeved and made of lace and organza. It was noted that the design was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s.
Yes, Kate Middleton's wedding dress influenced bridal fashion in the years following her wedding. Many women around the world copied her bridal style, and H&M even made an affordable version of her dress.
Queen Letizia of Spain's wedding dress cost nearly $8 million, which is 18 times more than Kate Middleton's dress.
