Deborah Chan
The wedding dress of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. Designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the dress reportedly cost $434,000 to make. The ivory and white satin gazar skirt was made to resemble the opening of a flower, with soft pleats that unfolded to the floor, forming a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, and finishing in a short train measuring just under three metres (approximately 9 feet, or 270 cm) in length.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Cost | $434,000 |
| Length | 270 cm or 110 inches |
| Style | Victorian-inspired, long-sleeved, V-neck, lace overlay |
| Fabric | English and French Chantilly lace, ivory and white satin gazar |
| "Something Blue" | Blue ribbon sewn inside |
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. It was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Replicas of the dress were 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 Duchess chose the British brand for the "beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing," according to a statement from the Palace on the day of the wedding. The dress was designed to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision characteristic of Alexander McQueen's work.
The Duchess worked closely with Sarah Burton on the design of the dress. Burton's work first came to the Duchess's notice in 2005 when she attended the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Burton had designed the bridal gown for Bowles' bride, fashion journalist Sara Buys.
The dress featured a narrowed waist and padded hips, influenced by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, which is also an Alexander McQueen hallmark. The main body of the dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, with a long, full skirt designed to echo an opening flower. The train measured 270 cm (110 inches) or 2m70 (about 8.8 feet or nearly 9 feet). The lace collar, long sleeves, and custom designs of hand-cut lace flowers interwoven into the fabric itself drew comparisons to Grace Kelly's iconic 1956 wedding gown.
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It cost a rumoured $434,000 to make
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress reportedly cost $434,000, although it wasn't the most expensive royal wedding dress in history. The gown featured a Victorian-inspired lace bodice with a plunging neckline and long sleeves, which flowed into a full organza skirt and a nearly nine-foot-long train. The dress also had 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons at the back, each fastened with rouleau loops, and an underskirt made of silk tulle that helped give the gown its shape.
The Duchess worked closely with Burton on the design, which combined tradition and modernity, reflecting the artistic vision of Alexander McQueen. The bodice was influenced by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, with a narrowed waist and padding at the hips, a style that is also an Alexander McQueen hallmark. The lace collar and long sleeves drew comparisons to Grace Kelly's iconic wedding dress, and one of the lacemakers who worked on Middleton's gown had also contributed to Kelly's decades earlier.
The train of the Duchess of Cambridge's dress was nearly three times as long as her mother-in-law, Princess Diana's, which measured 25 feet in length. The train created a dramatic entrance at Westminster Abbey, where the Duchess' sister, Pippa Middleton, carefully arranged it as the Duchess stepped out of the car.
The Duchess also wore a second wedding dress, another design by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The second gown was a white strapless satin dress with detailing around the waist, worn at the evening wedding reception at Buckingham Palace.
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The train was nearly 9 feet long
The train of the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was nearly 9 feet long. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, and the Duchess worked closely with Burton on the design. The gown was made of English and French Chantilly lace, with the French Chantilly lace being the only fabric not sourced from a British company. The dress featured 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons at the back, each one fastened with rouleau loops. The bottom of the dress was designed to resemble an opening flower. The train was so long that it needed to be carefully arranged by the Duchess's sister, Pippa Middleton, as the Duchess stepped out of her car at Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess's wedding dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Replicas of the dress were 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 dress was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. It was praised by fashion experts, including Karl Lagerfeld, who said, "the dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor."
The Duchess's wedding dress has become iconic, joining the ranks of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The dress has inspired many celebrity copycats, including Nicky Hilton, who chose a long-sleeve, lace Valentino gown for her wedding in 2015. The Duchess's dress has also influenced dress designers looking to capture a more relaxed, yet elegant, silhouette. The train of the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, with its impressive length of nearly 9 feet, has certainly left its mark on fashion history.
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The dress featured 58 buttons and lace trim
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and was widely praised for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Burton worked closely with the Duchess, who wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work. The dress featured a Victorian silhouette, with a narrowed waist and padded hips, and long lace sleeves. The lace bodice incorporated floral motifs cut from machine-made lace, which were then appliquéd on to silk net (tulle) by workers from the Royal School of Needlework.
The back of the dress featured 58 buttons of gazar and organza, each one fastened by rouleau loops. The skirt, underskirt trim, and bridal train also incorporated lace appliqué in a similar manner. The dress's main body was made from ivory and white satin gazar, with a long, full skirt designed to echo an opening flower, with soft pleats that unfolded to the floor. The dress's train was nearly 9 feet long, adding to the drama of the Duchess's entrance into Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess's second wedding dress, worn at the evening reception at Buckingham Palace, was also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. This dress was a white strapless satin gown with detailing around the waist, topped with a white shrug.
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It was Victorian-inspired with a modern twist
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was rumoured to have cost $434,000 to make. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was Victorian-inspired with a modern twist. The dress was designed with a nod to traditional Victorian silhouettes, with a bodice inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, narrowing at the waist and padded at the hips. This style is a signature of both the designer and the fashion house. The dress also featured a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, with a short train measuring just under three metres in length.
The dress also incorporated modern elements. The lace bodice, for example, was created using a modern take on the traditional Carrickmacross lace technique. Floral motifs were cut out of lengths of lace produced on large 19th-century machines and stitched to machine net. The lace for the bodice was chosen from stock patterns, rather than being specially commissioned.
The Duchess's wedding dress was also designed to pay tribute to the United Kingdom, with its lace embroidery. The dress featured a mix of British and French lace, with the French Chantilly lace being the only fabric not sourced or supplied by a British company. The dressmakers also followed strict rules, with the dress reportedly incorporating the Duchess's own design ideas and Burton's deep knowledge and understanding of high fashion.
The Duchess's wedding dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the dress was later displayed at Buckingham Palace, attracting thousands of visitors. The dress has since joined the ranks of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress train was nearly 9 feet long, or 2.7 metres.
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was made from a combination of English and French Chantilly lace, ivory and white satin gazar, and silk tulle.
