The Color Of Queen Elizabeth's Bridesmaids Dresses

Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and Prince Philip's wedding was a highly anticipated event in post-World War II Britain. The wedding, which took place on November 20, 1947, featured eight bridesmaids, including Lady Elizabeth Lambart, a childhood friend of the late Queen. The bridesmaids' dresses were designed by royal couturier Sir Norman Hartnell, who also designed Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown and her 1963 coronation gown. The ivory dresses featured scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and flowing tulle skirts embellished with satin flowers and floral headdresses. They were expected to fetch between $38,000 and $63,000 at auction due to their historical and vintage couture significance.

The bridesmaids wore ivory

The bridesmaids' dresses were designed by the same designer as Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown. Hartnell, who had been Court Designer since 1938, described the Queen's dress as "the most beautiful dress I had so far made". The Queen's dress was made of ivory silk and featured a 13-foot train inspired by Botticelli's c. 1482 painting, "Primavera". The train was symbolic of rebirth and growth after the war, with elaborate embroidery motifs of scattered flowers on the rich satin dress and the tulle veil worn by the Queen.

The bridesmaids' dresses were designed to complement the Queen's gown and the overall theme of the wedding. Hartnell's signature style included embroidery, and he was known for his love of working with soft, floating fabrics, such as tulle and chiffon, as well as plain, lustrous silks. The choice of ivory for the bridesmaids' dresses created a cohesive and elegant look for the wedding party.

The Queen's wedding to Prince Philip took place on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The event was a significant occasion for post-war Britain, providing a sense of hope and glamour. The bridesmaids' dresses, with their delicate design and beautiful embroidery, added to the glamour and elegance of the royal wedding. The ivory colour, in particular, created a cohesive and refined aesthetic for the bridal party.

The bridesmaids' dresses have since become a part of royal history. In 2024, one of the bespoke ivory gowns worn by Lady Elizabeth Lambart, a childhood friend of the Queen, was auctioned off at Christie's auction house in London. The dress sold for an astounding $48,420, reflecting its historical and cultural significance. The auction provided a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of royal fashion history and offered a glimpse into the glamour and elegance of the Queen's wedding.

Scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and tulle skirts

The bridesmaids' dresses at Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947 were designed by royal couturier Sir Norman Hartnell. The ivory dresses featured scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and tulle skirts. They were embellished with clusters of satin flowers designed by Flora Ballard and woven by Warner & Sons. The floral theme was echoed in the headdresses, which featured ears of corn, lilies, and silver lamé leaves.

The scoop neckline is a timeless and elegant choice for a bridesmaid dress, offering a modest yet flattering look. The gentle curve of the neckline complements a range of body types and can be paired with various sleeve lengths or a sleeveless style. For Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids, the scoop neckline was paired with a ruched bodice, creating a beautiful and feminine silhouette.

The ruched bodice adds a touch of texture and visual interest to the dresses. Ruching is a technique where fabric is gathered and sewn together to create a pleated or ruffled effect. This detail can help to accentuate the waist and create a flattering shape. It also adds a sense of movement and elegance to the overall design.

The tulle skirts bring a sense of softness and romance to the ensemble. Tulle is a lightweight, delicate fabric often used in bridal and formal wear. It creates a flowing, ethereal silhouette and can be layered to add volume and drama. The skirts of Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids' dresses were likely floor-length, adding to the formal and elegant nature of the occasion.

The combination of the scoop neckline, ruched bodice, and tulle skirt created a timeless and elegant look for the bridesmaids. The ivory colour, floral embellishments, and soft, flowing fabric complemented the bridal gown, which was also designed by Norman Hartnell and featured a similar floral motif. The overall aesthetic of the bridesmaids' dresses reflected the post-war optimism and the desire for "rebirth and growth" in Britain at the time.

Dresses were embellished with satin flowers

The bridesmaids' dresses at Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947 were designed by royal couturier Sir Norman Hartnell. The eight bridesmaids, including Lady Elizabeth Lambart, a childhood friend of the Queen, wore ivory dresses with scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and flowing tulle skirts.

The dresses were embellished with clusters of satin flowers, designed by Flora Ballard and woven by Warner & Sons. The flowers were complemented by floral satin headdresses with ears of corn, lilies, and silver lamé leaves.

The satin flowers on the dresses were designed to match the floral theme of the wedding, inspired by Botticelli's Primavera painting, which also inspired the bride's gown. The choice of satin for the flowers added a lustrous and elegant touch to the bridesmaids' outfits.

The sale of one of these dresses, worn by Lady Elizabeth Lambart, at Christie's auction house in London, underscored the historical and fashionable significance of these outfits. The dress sold for an impressive $48,420, reflecting its exquisite design and its role in a pivotal moment in British royal history.

The bridesmaids' dresses, with their satin flower embellishments, stood as a testament to the skill and artistry of Sir Norman Hartnell, who also designed Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown and her 1963 coronation gown. The floral embellishments added a delicate and whimsical touch to the ivory dresses, creating a timeless and elegant look for the bridesmaids on Queen Elizabeth's wedding day.

Floral headdresses with ears of corn and silver leaves

Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids wore ivory dresses with scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and flowing tulle skirts. The dresses were designed by royal couturier Sir Norman Hartnell and embellished with clusters of satin flowers designed by Flora Ballard and woven by Warner & Sons.

The bridesmaids' look was complemented by floral headdresses with ears of corn, lilies, and silver lamé leaves. These headdresses were also designed by Hartnell and reflected his signature style of embroidery and working with soft, floating fabrics. The ears of corn on the headdresses were a symbol of fertility, a motif that was also present on Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress, designed by Hartnell.

The bridesmaids' dresses were recently auctioned off at Christie's auction house in London during Classic Week. The dresses were expected to fetch between $38,000 and $63,000 due to substantial interest from collectors of royal history and vintage couture. The dress worn by Lady Elizabeth Lambart, a childhood friend of Queen Elizabeth, sold for an astounding $48,420.

The auction house's specialist, Benedict Winter, described the dresses as "a wonderful opportunity to acquire an evocative and rare example of royal fashion history." He praised the "delicate design, beautiful embroidery, and exquisite sense of movement" of the dresses, reflecting the glamour and hope of Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in post-war Britain.

The combination of ivory dresses and floral headdresses with silver leaves created an elegant and cohesive look for the bridesmaids, befitting the royal occasion.

Designed by Norman Hartnell

The bridesmaids' dresses at Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip in 1947 were designed by Norman Hartnell, who also designed the Queen's wedding gown and her 1963 coronation gown. Hartnell was a premier fashion designer in England at the time and was known for his love of embroidery and "working with soft, floating fabrics, particularly tulle and chiffon, and with plain, lustrous silks".

The bridesmaids' dresses were ivory, featuring scoop necklines, ruched bodices, and flowing tulle skirts. They were embellished with clusters of satin flowers designed by Flora Ballard and woven by Warner & Sons. The floral theme was continued in the headdresses, which featured ears of corn, lilies, and silver lamé leaves.

Lady Elizabeth Lambart, a childhood friend of the Queen who served as one of eight bridesmaids, later sold her bespoke Norman Hartnell gown at auction in 2024 for $48,420. The auctioneer's specialist, Benedict Winter, described the dress as "a wonderful opportunity to acquire an evocative and rare example of royal fashion history". He added that the dress epitomised "the glamor of Sir Norman's commissions and the hope that the wedding... gave to post-war Britain".

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