Lyla Dejesus
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen, was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603. She was renowned for her elaborate and colourful style of dress, often adorned with intricate embroidery and bright floral and animal motifs. Elizabeth's wardrobe is said to have reflected her larger-than-life persona and powerful presence. The colours and styles of her dresses were chosen to make a statement, and it is no surprise that the shade and design of her wedding dress would be of great interest and curiosity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Norman Hartnell |
| Fabric | Ivory silk satin |
| Embellishments | Seed pearls, white crystals, silver thread, gold thread |
| Floral motifs | Jasmine, smilax, lilac, white rose, orange blossom, star lilies |
| Paid with | Clothing ration coupons |
| Train | 13 feet (4m) long |
| Heels | Satin heels by Edward Rayne |
| Tiara | Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress was made of ivory silk
The dress was paid for with clothing ration coupons, which Princess Elizabeth saved up herself. She was granted 200 extra coupons by the government, and many more were sent to her by admirers, although she had to return these as it was illegal to transfer coupons. The wedding was a significant event following the end of World War II, and the dress was considered a success. Lady Pamela Hicks, one of Princess Elizabeth's bridesmaids, described her on her wedding day as "a knockout".
The choice of silk for the dress was later criticized by the curator of the London Museum, who noted that the fabric had deteriorated due to being weighted with tin salts. The weight of the embroidery was also said to have strained the weave of the fabric. Despite this, the dress was exhibited at St. James' Palace after the wedding and then toured across the UK.
The dress was designed to conform to the style of the time, with a heart-shaped neckline and full skirt. It was made with Chinese silk and featured a star-patterned fan-shaped train that was 13 feet long. The silk was chosen by Princess Elizabeth's mother, the Queen, who desired a "rich, lustrous stiff satin". The dress was complemented by embellished satin heels made by Edward Rayne and a double strand of pearls and a diamond tiara.
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The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell
Hartnell's signature style was embroidery, and he was known for his love of working with soft, floating fabrics, such as tulle and chiffon, as well as lustrous silks. The dress he designed for Princess Elizabeth was made of Chinese silk, with a high neckline, long sleeves, a tailored bodice, and a full skirt that led to a dramatic 13-foot-long train. The gown was embellished with 10,000 seed pearls and featured floral motifs of jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms.
The creation of the dress took 350 women seven weeks to complete. The final result was a stunning gown that served as an escape from the post-WWII austerity in the UK. The dress was so beloved that it was later exhibited at St James' Palace and then toured across the UK.
Hartnell also designed Queen Elizabeth II's coronation dress, which she requested to be in line with her wedding dress in terms of silhouette and colour.
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The gown was decorated with 10,000 seed pearls
The wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, was worn at her wedding to Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who was known for his elaborate embroidery. The gown was made from ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls. It featured a high neckline, long sleeves, a tailored bodice, and a full skirt that led to a dramatic train. The embroidery on the gown included star lilies and orange blossoms, with a border of transparent tulle outlined in seed pearls and crystals.
The silk for the gown was carefully chosen by Elizabeth's mother, the Queen, who desired a "rich, lustrous stiff satin" made at Lullingstone Castle. The silkworms were sourced from Nationalist China, avoiding the UK's wartime enemies, Japan and Italy. Despite the careful choice of fabric, the silk deteriorated over time due to the use of tin salts. The weight of the embroidery also strained the weave of the fabric.
The creation of the gown took 350 women seven weeks to complete. The design was approved just three months before the wedding, and Princess Elizabeth had to use clothing ration coupons to purchase the materials. The government provided her with 200 extra coupons, and she also received coupons from well-wishers across the country, although she had to return them as transferring coupons was illegal. The dress was a huge success, and Elizabeth's bridesmaid, Lady Pamela Hicks, later recalled that "with her bridal dress and tiara on her wedding day, she was a knockout".
The gown has since been exhibited at St James' Palace and toured across the UK, allowing the public to admire its intricate beauty. The dress, with its exquisite train and thousands of seed pearls, remains a testament to the skill and craftsmanship that went into its creation, becoming an iconic part of royal wedding history.
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Elizabeth paid for the dress with clothing ration coupons
The wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) was worn at her wedding to Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. Given the rationing of clothing at the time, Elizabeth had to pay for her dress with clothing ration coupons, which she saved up until she had enough to pay for the gown. The government allowed her 200 extra ration coupons for the wedding celebration. The future queen's young admirers also sent her their coupons through the mail, but she had to return them all with a note as it was illegal to transfer them.
The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who gained international fame as a dressmaker to the British royal family. Hartnell's signature was said to be embroidery, and he enjoyed "working with soft, floating fabrics, particularly tulle and chiffon, and with plain, lustrous silks". The dress was made of Chinese silk, with a high neckline, tailored bodice, and a short train. It had long sleeves and no straps, providing a "fit and flare silhouette". The gown took 350 women seven weeks to make.
Elizabeth's outfit was completed with ivory duchesse satin high-heeled sandals, trimmed with silver and seed pearl buckles, made by Edward Rayne. The dress was a huge success. "With her bridal dress and tiara on her wedding day, she was a knockout," Lady Pamela Hicks, one of Elizabeth's bridesmaids, told People.
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The dress was embroidered with star lilies and orange blossoms
The wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) was worn at her wedding to Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 November 1947. The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who was internationally famous as a dressmaker to the British royal family. Hartnell's signature was elaborate embroidery, and he enjoyed working with soft, floating fabrics, such as tulle and chiffon, and lustrous silks.
The dress was made of Chinese silk, with a high neckline, a tailored bodice, and a short train. The gown was made from ivory silk satin and was encrusted with 10,000 seed pearls. It was embroidered with star lilies and orange blossoms. The dress was designed with a heart-shaped neckline and a full skirt, which Hartnell called "the most beautiful dress I ever made".
The silk cloth was chosen at the directive of Queen Elizabeth's mother, who desired an "unusually rich, lustrous stiff satin". The silkworms to manufacture the silk were bought from Nationalist China, not from Italy or Japan, the UK's enemies during the war. The dress was paired with ivory duchesse satin high-heeled sandals, trimmed with silver and seed pearl buckles, made by Edward Rayne.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Elizabeth I's wedding dress was colourful, with silver and gold thread embroidery.
The base fabric of the dress was plain-weave linen or canvas.
The designer of Queen Elizabeth I's wedding dress is unknown.
Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress was made of ivory silk.
The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell.
