Franklin Dean
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The Duchess of Cambridge wore two dresses on her wedding day: the first, a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and was revealed when she stepped out of her car at Westminster Abbey. The second, a white strapless satin gown with a matching shrug, was also designed by Burton and was worn at the evening reception at Buckingham Palace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Colour | White |
| Style | Strapless satin gown with waist detail |
| Accessories | White shrug |
| Flowers in bouquet | Lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, ivy, sweet William, myrtle |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer was Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, was chosen by Middleton in January 2011, but the decision was kept under wraps for the next three months. The dress was a closely guarded secret, with extraordinary measures taken by the palace and the design team to ensure that it remained a surprise until the wedding day.
The gown was a fitted white V-neck with long lace sleeves and a nearly nine-foot train. The lace bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim were made from English and French Chantilly lace, with the majority of the dress crafted from Solstiss lace. The satin gazar skirt was designed to resemble the opening of a flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The dress also featured a "something blue" detail—a blue ribbon sewn into the interior.
Middleton chose the British brand for its craftsmanship and respect for traditional workmanship, and she worked closely with Burton on the design. In a statement, the palace said that Middleton "wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work."
Burton also designed Middleton's second wedding dress, a white strapless satin gown with a matching shrug, worn at the evening reception at Buckingham Palace.
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The dress was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay
The wedding dress of Catherine Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales, was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. Burton was chosen for her "respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing".
The dress was noted for its design, symbolism, and influence on Western bridal gown trends. It 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, breaking royal records.
The lace overlay on the dress was created using a modern 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 dress was sourced from three companies: Sophie Hallette and Solstiss in France, and the Cluny Lace Company in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, specifically the skirt and train. The style of machine lace is known as "English Cluny" and "Chantilly".
The dress also featured a nearly nine-foot-long train, created using Ireland's 19th-century Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim were made of English and French Chantilly lace. The French Chantilly lace was the only fabric not sourced from a British company.
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The dress was rumoured to have cost $434,000
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was a white, hand-crafted lace corseted bridal gown with long sleeves and a nearly nine-foot-long train. The gown was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. It is rumoured to have cost $434,000.
The dress was kept a closely guarded secret before the wedding, with the palace and design team taking extraordinary measures to ensure that the design remained unknown. The dressmaker, Mandy Ewing, recalled that the dress-making room had net curtains, and cleaners were not allowed to enter. The code on the door was also changed, and even Burton did not tell her parents until the night before the wedding due to a confidentiality agreement.
The dress was made with English and French Chantilly lace, with the French lace being the only fabric not sourced from a British company. The team of seamstresses working on the dress washed their hands every 30 minutes to protect the brilliance of the pristine lace and threads. The dress also featured a blue ribbon sewn into the interior, serving as Kate's "something blue".
The cost of the dress is rumoured to be $434,000, which is a significant sum of money. This amount reflects the high level of craftsmanship, the use of expensive materials, and the intricate design involved in creating the dress. The dress has been described as one of the best dresses in royal wedding history, and it has certainly earned its place in fashion history.
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress has become an iconic symbol of bridal fashion, with its combination of tradition and modernity. The dress has inspired many celebrity copycats and has set trends for bridal style in the years following the royal wedding. The intricate lacework, elegant silhouette, and nearly nine-foot-long train have all contributed to the dress's enduring appeal and influence on wedding fashion.
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Kate's 'something blue' was sewn into the dress
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was a white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The lace bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim were made from English and French Chantilly lace. The dress also featured a nearly nine-foot train, made from ivory and white satin gazar arches and pleats.
Kate's "something blue" was a blue ribbon sewn into the interior of the dress by Burton. This was a nod to the traditional "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" wedding rhyme. For her "something new," Kate's parents gifted her a pair of Robinson Pelham diamond earrings.
The Duchess wore a second dress to her wedding reception, also designed by Sarah Burton. This dress was a white strapless satin gown with a matching shrug and a diamante belt.
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The dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. Burton was chosen by Kate Middleton, who worked closely with the designer to bring her vision to life. The dress combined "tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work", according to a statement by the Palace on the wedding day. The craftsmanship and respect for traditional workmanship aligned with Middleton's wishes for her wedding dress.
The intricate design featured a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The lace bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim were crafted from English and French Chantilly lace. The French Chantilly lace was the only fabric not sourced from a British company. The dress also featured a nearly nine-foot-long train, made from Solstiss lace and designed to echo an opening flower.
The dress included several symbolic details, such as a blue ribbon sewn into the interior, serving as Middleton's "something blue". The dress also featured diamond earrings gifted by her parents, shaped like oak leaves with a pavé diamond acorn inspired by the Middleton family coat of arms. The bouquet included lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, ivy, sweet William, and myrtle, each flower symbolising happiness, love, fidelity, gallantry, and marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton wore a white strapless satin gown with a diamante belt and a matching shrug to her wedding reception.
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen.
The dress was inspired by Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.
