Junior Rasmussen
Princess Diana's wedding dress is considered one of the most iconic bridal dresses of all time, with its designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, describing it as a dress that had to be something that was going to go down in history. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, valued at $43,573 in 2023, featured a 25-foot (7.6 m) train and a 153-yard (140 m) tulle veil. The train broke royal wedding records with its length and was one of the best-kept secrets in fashion history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 25 feet |
| Fabric | Ivory silk taffeta and antique lace |
| Train | 25 feet |
| Veil | 153 yards |
| Pearls | 10,000 |
| Sequins | 542 |
| Slippers | Ivory silk with heart-shaped design |
| Tiara | Spencer family tiara |
| Bouquet | Gardenias, lilies-of-the-valley, white freesia, golden roses, white orchids, and stephanotis |
| Carriage | Royal carriage |
| Designers | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Cost | £9,000 ($43,573 in 2023) |
| Year | 1981 |
| Location | St. Paul's Cathedral |
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What You'll Learn
The 25-foot train was the longest ever at a royal wedding
Princess Diana's wedding 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," and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression." The Emanuels' design was a complete mystery until its dramatic unveiling on Princess Diana's wedding day, and it certainly made an impression. The 25-foot train was the longest ever at a royal wedding, and the dress itself was valued at the time at £9,000 (equivalent to $43,573 in 2023). The gown was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana’s great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary. The fabric was specially spun at a British silk farm. The dress was embroidered with sequins, frilled lace, and over 10,000 pearls, and featured a heart motif. The train and veil together caused a few logistical issues, as the excessive amount of fabric made it difficult for Diana to fit in her carriage to St. Paul's Cathedral. The train had to be stuffed into the carriage, which required folding the fabric over and over after it had been pressed for the occasion. This caused wrinkles in the dress, which Elizabeth Emanuel explained was due to the amount of fabric and the need to fold it.
The dress was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history, and the Emanuels went to great lengths to keep the design a secret. They installed heavy window blinds and stored their sketches and fabric swatches in a safe. The dress was so famous and iconic that it toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration". Ownership of the dress was transferred from Diana's brother to her sons, William and Harry, in 2014, as stipulated in her will. The dress was chosen as one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time" by Time magazine in 2018.
The dress set wedding fashion trends after the wedding, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and "soft touch fabrics" becoming popular requests. Copies by other dressmakers were available "within hours" of the wedding. The dress was so influential that it sparked multiple copycat dresses over the years and remains one of the most iconic royal looks.
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The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel
The Emanuels went to great lengths to keep the sketch, silhouette, and details of the design a secret until the wedding day. They installed heavy window blinds and stored their sketches and fabric swatches in a safe. The dress was made of ivory silk, pure taffeta and antique lace, with 10,000 pearls and sequins, and had a 25-foot train. The gown was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana’s great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary.
The Emanuels also designed a second gown for Diana’s wedding day, in case the design of the original was leaked to the press. The second dress has since disappeared. Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011, "At the time we wanted to make absolutely sure that the dress was a surprise. Had the secret of the real dress got out it’s possible that Diana would actually have worn this one." The second dress was made from ivory silk taffeta without the antique lace and was embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves. Tiny pearls were also sewn onto the bodice.
The Emanuels also designed a matching parasol in case of rainy weather, and a pair of hand-made ivory silk slippers adorned with 542 sequins and 132 pearls that centred around another heart-shaped design. The hand-painted arch soles bore the initials ‘C’ and ‘D’, for Charles and Diana, and featured a kitten heel. These shoes took cobbler Clive Shilton about six months to create.
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It was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace
Princess Diana's wedding dress was a true masterpiece, and its construction from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace is a testament to that. 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 pulled out all the stops to ensure the design was kept a secret until the big day, including installing heavy window blinds and storing sketches and fabric swatches in a safe.
The ivory silk taffeta was woven by Stephen Walters of Suffolk, and the antique lace was sourced from a British silk farm. This lace was Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Queen Mary, Diana's great-grandmother-in-law. The inclusion of this fabric was Diana's "something old". The dress was also adorned with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif.
The 25-foot train was a standout feature of the dress, and it broke records for the longest train ever worn at a royal wedding. The excessive amount of fabric caused some issues, as Diana had to be stuffed into her carriage on the way to St. Paul's Cathedral, and the fabric had to be folded over and over, causing wrinkles in the dress. The train, along with the 153-yard tulle veil, created a dramatic and impressive entrance for the princess-to-be.
The dress has since toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", with Althorp House, Northampton being the prime display location. In 2018, it was chosen as one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time" by Time magazine. The dress has undoubtedly solidified Diana's status as a fashion icon and set trends for years to come.
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Diana lost weight before the wedding and was sewn into the dress
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by British designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The Emanuels had previously designed evening gowns for Diana, and she selected them to make her wedding dress because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they had designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon. The Emanuels described the dress as something 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 ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown featured a 25-foot (7.6 m) train and a 153-yard (140 m) tulle veil. The gown was decorated with elaborate embroidery, 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls, and hand-made ivory silk slippers adorned with 542 sequins and 132 pearls. The slippers featured the initials 'C' and 'D' for Charles and Diana and took cobbler Clive Shilton about six months to create.
Diana arrived on her wedding day even smaller than she had been at her final fittings. While most brides tend to lose weight leading up to their wedding, Diana lost a considerable amount more. Elizabeth Emanuel later told People that Diana's waist was 23.5 inches on her wedding day, down from 26 to 27 inches when they first started the design process. As a result, the princess had to be sewn into her gown the morning of her wedding to ensure the perfect fit. In fact, the Emanuels made five separate bodices to fit Diana's shrinking waist.
The dress, which retailed for an approximate £90,000 at the time of its creation in 1981, toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration". Ownership of the dress was transferred from Diana's brother to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in 2014.
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The dress was one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history
Princess Diana's wedding dress was perhaps the most closely guarded secret in fashion history. 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," and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression." The media had long been known for invading the privacy of the royals, and strict measures were put in place to ensure secrecy. The Emanuels installed heavy window blinds and stored their sketches and fabric swatches in a safe. They even designed a second gown for Diana's wedding day, in case the original design was leaked to the press. The second dress, however, mysteriously vanished from the studio.
The final design was successfully kept a secret until the day of the wedding. On her wedding day, Princess Diana wore an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot (7.6 m) train and a 153-yard (140 m) tulle veil. The gown was decorated with hand embroidery, 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls, not including the 542 sequins and 132 pearls on her custom set of slippers. The dress became one of the most famous in the world and set trends for years to come.
The dress toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", though it generally stayed for only part of the exhibit. The ownership of Diana's dress was transferred from her brother to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in 2014, as per her request that her belongings be handed back to them when they both turned 30. In 2018, the dress was chosen as one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time" by Time magazine.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's wedding dress train was 25 feet long.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was valued at £9,000 at the time of her wedding, which is equivalent to approximately $43,573 in 2023.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace.
Princess Diana's wedding shoes were ivory silk slippers adorned with 542 sequins and 132 pearls centred around a heart-shaped design.
