Deborah Chan
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time. When she married Prince Charles in 1981, all eyes were on the 20-year-old who was about to become the world's most publicized figure. In the lead-up to the ceremony, there was much curiosity and speculation about what Diana would wear. Here's everything you need to know about the colour and design of her famous wedding dress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Color | Ivory |
| Fabric | Silk Taffeta |
| Train | 25 feet |
| Veil | 153 yards |
| Tiara | Spencer Tiara |
| Something Old | Antique lace from Queen Mary |
| Something Blue | Blue bow inside the bodice |
| Good Luck Charm | 18-carat gold horseshoe trinket studded with white diamonds |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The dress was ivory
The dress was designed to be a surprise, with the designers taking several precautions to keep it a secret until the wedding day. They placed shutters on their windows, threw out scraps of fabric in the garbage to mislead the press, and swore their staff to secrecy. The dress was so highly anticipated that the media was all over the designers' studio, trying to find out any details about the gown.
The ivory colour of Princess Diana's wedding dress was a departure from the traditional white gown often chosen by royal brides. The choice of ivory silk taffeta fabric gave the dress its distinctive shape and added to the overall grandeur of the ensemble. The dress was considered a "dirty wrinkled" dress by some, but it nonetheless became one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time.
In addition to the ivory silk taffeta fabric, the dress was embellished with antique lace once owned by Queen Mary. This lace was a "something old" for the bride and added a historical touch to the gown. The bodice of the dress featured intricate spangled lace, with some sources describing it as Carrick-ma-cross lace. The lace was donated by the Royal School of Needlework and added a delicate and romantic touch to the overall design.
The ivory colour of the wedding dress was also carried through to Princess Diana's shoes. Her handmade silk slippers were adorned with sequins and pearls and featured ivory-coloured lace that bordered a heart-shaped design. The soles of the shoes were hand-painted and bore the initials 'C' and 'D' for Charles and Diana. These intricate details added a personal and unique touch to the overall bridal look.
Opening a Wedding Dress Shop: A UK Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It had a 25-foot train
Princess Diana's wedding dress was an ivory taffeta gown with a 25-foot train. The train was so long that it caused a "mishap" on the wedding day: Diana had to be stuffed into her carriage on the way to St. Paul's Cathedral, as the excessive amount of fabric made it difficult for her to fit in the coach. The repeated folding of the fabric caused the wrinkles on her dress, designer Elizabeth Emanuel told the Daily Mail.
The train was made from ivory-coloured silk taffeta and featured elegant ivory-coloured fine lace for the train's border. The lace was supplied by Roger Watson Laces, one of their regular suppliers, who also provided matching lace for the bridesmaids' dresses. The train was also adorned with intricate spangled lace, which was used to trim the train and the foot of the wedding dress. The lace was a "something old" that had once belonged to Queen Mary.
The 25-foot train broke records as the longest in royal wedding history. It was part of a voluminous ball gown with a sparkling veil, designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The dress was kept a closely guarded secret until its dramatic unveiling on Princess Diana's wedding day. The designers took several precautions to keep the dress a secret, such as placing shutters on their windows and putting the wrong colour threads in the bins to throw off reporters.
The train was so long that it "went on forever" and stunned people with its fairy tale-like romance, ushering in a new era of "sleevage and cleavage" in the 1980s. It was a key part of what made the ensemble feel worthy of a princess.
Selling Your Wedding Dress: Quick Tips for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The fabric was silk taffeta
Princess Diana's wedding dress was an ivory taffeta gown, with a dramatic 25-foot train. The fabric was silk taffeta, specially woven and dyed ivory by Britain's oldest silk-weaving company, Stephen Walters. The silk taffeta was used for the exterior of the dress, with a slightly coarser ivory-coloured silk used for the inner lining. The dress was designed by husband-and-wife team David and Elizabeth Emanuel and featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt, and a 153-yard tulle veil. The silk taffeta was also used to back a segment of the longer lace strand that trimmed the bodice, train, and foot of the wedding dress.
The Emanuels went to great lengths to keep the dress a secret before the wedding, even installing a safe to keep designs and fabric swatches under wraps. They also placed shutters on their windows and put the wrong colour threads in the bins to throw off reporters. The dress was a complete mystery until its dramatic unveiling on Princess Diana's wedding day.
The silk taffeta fabric was chosen to give the dress its distinctive shape, and it certainly made an impact. The amount of fabric used made it difficult for Princess Diana to fit into her carriage, and the process of folding the fabric caused the wrinkles on her dress. The silk taffeta was also used to create a backup wedding dress, which was revealed in 2011. This gown was also ivory but lacked the signature lace of the original.
Selling Your Wedding Dress: How to Price It Right
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress had a 'something blue'
The dress had a "something blue." This was in the form of a small bow, made from silk, and sewn into the waistband of the dress. It was a subtle and hidden touch, but one that adhered to the traditional rhyme, "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." This long-held wedding custom is thought to bring good luck to the bride on her special day. Diana's "something blue" was a personal and intimate detail, known only to her and a few others, and was a charming and romantic addition to her iconic wedding outfit.
The bow was made from silk taffeta, the same fabric used for the dress's huge skirt and puffed sleeves. It was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the same designers who created the dress. They also designed the matching silk shoes, which were also a soft shade of ivory. The bow was a delicate, light blue, providing a subtle contrast to the dress's predominant color. It was a thoughtful and unique way to incorporate the "something blue" tradition into the royal wedding outfit.
The designers kept the bow a secret, and it was only revealed to the public many years later. In an interview, Elizabeth Emanuel described how the bow was their "little secret" and how it was a "delightful" and "charming" addition to the dress. She also revealed that the bow was sewn into the dress by hand, ensuring it was secure and would not show through the fabric.
This "something blue" tradition is a charming and romantic custom, often seen as a way to add a personal and unique touch to a wedding outfit. It is often a hidden detail, known only to the bride and a few close confidants, and can be a fun and whimsical way to incorporate something old and traditional into a modern wedding. In the case of Princess Diana's wedding dress, it was a small but significant detail that added to the magic and romance of the occasion.
Champagne Wedding: Suit Color Options for Grooms
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The Emanuels were tasked with creating a royal wedding gown that combined historical inspirations and a fairytale look with strict royal tradition. The dress was made from ivory-coloured silk taffeta, featuring a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt, and a dramatic 25-foot train. The silk was specially woven and dyed ivory, and the dress was intricately embroidered with sequins, frilled lace, and 10,000 pearls. The gown was valued at an estimated $115,000 and has been described as "one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time".
The Emanuels went to great lengths to keep the design of the dress a secret before the wedding. They placed shutters on their windows, threw out scraps of fabric to mislead the press, and swore their small staff to secrecy. Princess Diana herself wanted the dress to be a surprise, and she even kept it hidden from her groom, Prince Charles. The dress was so voluminous that Diana had to be stuffed into her carriage on the way to the ceremony, and the fabric had to be folded over and over again, causing wrinkles in the dress.
In addition to the intricate embroidery and thousands of hand-sewn sequins and pearls, the dress also included antique lace from Queen Mary as Princess Diana's "something old." A small blue bow was sewn into the waistband as the bride's "something blue." As a good luck charm, the designers attached an 18-carat gold horseshoe-shaped trinket studded with white diamonds to the label of the dress.
The Emanuels also designed a matching parasol in case of rainy weather, as well as a second, simpler dress in case the design of the main dress was leaked before the wedding. The alternate dress was also an ivory silk taffeta gown with ruffles around the neck but without the signature lace. Although the main dress was kept a closely guarded secret, the alternate dress was revealed to the public in 2011.
The influence of Princess Diana's wedding dress on bridal fashion can still be seen today. The dress's combination of historical inspiration, fairytale romance, and strict royal tradition captivated the world and set new trends in bridal fashion. The Emanuels' design not only reflected the heritage of the British royal family but also embodied the bridal trends of the early 1980s, making it a truly iconic creation.
Attire Guide: Indian Wedding Dress Code
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's wedding dress was ivory.
The dress was made of silk taffeta.
The dress was designed by husband-and-wife team David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
The train of Princess Diana's wedding dress was 25 feet long.
Yes, Princess Diana had a backup dress in case the design of the original was leaked. The alternate dress was also an ivory silk taffeta gown with ruffles around the neck.
