Lyla Dejesus
Princess Kate's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, has been a source of fascination and inspiration for over a decade. The gown, which featured handmade lace and Victorian-era influences, was displayed at Buckingham Palace after the wedding, attracting over 600,000 visitors. While the dress's current whereabouts are unknown, it is likely being preserved in storage at Buckingham Palace or Kensington Palace. The dress's design, combining tradition and modernity, has had a lasting impact on bridal fashion, with replicas being produced and sold.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Bride | Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess of Wales |
| Groom | Prince William, Duke of Cambridge |
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Style | Long-sleeved, V-neck, lace overlay, ivory and white satin gazar skirt, 9-foot train |
| Accessories | Cartier Halo tiara, ivory silk tulle veil, Robinson Pelham earrings |
| Cost | £250,000 |
| Influence | Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown, Victorian tradition of corsetry |
| Flowers | Lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, hyacinth, ivy, myrtle |
| Flower Girls | Lady Louise Windsor, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
In January 2011, Middleton chose Burton as her wedding dress designer, but the decision was kept under wraps for the next three months. The dress was finally revealed when Middleton stepped from her car to enter Westminster Abbey before the service.
"It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it," Burton said in a statement on the royal wedding day. "It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created. I am delighted that the dress represents the best of British craftsmanship."
The gown was a fitted white V-neck with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The bodice was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, narrowing at the waist and padded. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s.
The team of seamstresses working on the gown washed their hands every 30 minutes to protect the brilliance of the pristine lace and threads.
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It featured a long-sleeved lace overlay and V-neck
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with speculation about its designer running rampant in the months leading up to the wedding. The dress did not disappoint and has gone down as one of the best dresses in royal wedding history.
The dress featured a long-sleeved lace overlay and a V-neck. The lace bodice narrowed at the waist, had padding at the hips, and was adorned with 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons, fastened by Rouleau loops. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, were created individually and added onto ivory silk tulle. The lace was not specially commissioned for the dress but was chosen from stock patterns. However, the technique used to create the lace was a modern take on the traditional Carrickmacross method.
The choice of long sleeves was particularly noteworthy, with many suggesting that it signalled a move away from strapless wedding gowns. The dress also featured a nearly nine-foot train, which was designed to echo an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The ivory and white satin gazar skirt was made to resemble the opening of a flower, with pleats that pooled in a train. The dress was said to be inspired by Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown and to combine tradition and modernity, reflecting the artistic vision of Alexander McQueen.
The dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011, during the annual summer exhibition. It later broke royal records when it was displayed at Buckingham Palace, with replicas produced and sold.
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The lace was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework
The lace appliqué on the bodice and skirt of Kate Middleton's wedding dress was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. This technique involves applying organdy fabric to a delicate net background and edging each motif with fine cord. Each lace motif, some as small as a five-pence piece, was carefully applied with minute stitches every two to three millimetres. The team of embroiderers from the Royal School of Needlework worked closely with Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to create the bespoke lace design, which was influenced by traditional Irish lace.
The lace was created using an embroidery technique called appliqué, with hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, individually crafted and added to ivory silk tulle. The embroidery team took great care to ensure the lace and threads remained pristine, with embroiderers washing their hands every 30 minutes and needles being renewed every three hours. This attention to detail resulted in a lace design that was not only visually stunning but also neat and consistent, with no securing knots used and the back of the work looking as immaculate as the front.
The Royal School of Needlework's hallmark is the ability of its embroiderers to work collectively on a project while ensuring that the final product bears the hallmark of a single artist. This collaborative effort resulted in a lace design that seamlessly integrated Sarah Burton's creative vision for the dress. The choice of lace was also significant, with the Carrickmacross lace-making technique paying tribute to the rich history and tradition of Irish lace craftsmanship.
The intricate lacework of Kate Middleton's wedding dress showcases the exceptional skills and dedication of the Royal School of Needlework's embroidery team. Their contribution to the dress played a pivotal role in its iconic status, solidifying its place in royal wedding history. The lace appliqué, with its delicate motifs and intricate stitching, stands as a testament to the enduring beauty of traditional craftsmanship.
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Kate's 'something borrowed' was the Cartier Halo tiara
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was an iconic, fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and featured a 9-foot train. The gown paid tribute to the United Kingdom through its lace embroidery, which included hand-cut lace flowers such as roses, thistle, daffodils, and shamrocks.
Kate Middleton's "something borrowed" was the Cartier Halo Tiara, also known as the Cartier Scroll Tiara. The tiara was purchased by King George VI for his wife, the Queen Mother, in 1936 and was presented to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday. It featured 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 139 baguettes. The tiara is thought to be the first one owned by the Queen and was lent to Kate for her wedding day.
The tradition of brides adhering to the Old English rhyme, "Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in Your Shoe," is well-known. Kate Middleton's something borrowed was a special piece of royal history, and it added a sentimental touch to her wedding attire.
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The dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It featured a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay, a nearly nine-foot train, and a bodice inspired by Victorian corsetry. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, using the 19th-century Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The dressmakers individually created hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were added to ivory silk tulle.
The exhibition offered a close-up view of the intricate details of the dress, such as the gazar and organza-covered buttons, fastened by Rouleau loops down the back of the lace appliqué bodice. The exhibition also showcased the maid of honour gown worn by Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, which was also designed by the Alexander McQueen team. This dress was made of ivory satin-based crepe and featured similar buttons and lace trims as the bridal gown.
The display of Kate Middleton's wedding dress at Buckingham Palace provided an opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into creating this iconic gown, solidifying its place as one of the most memorable wedding dresses in royal history.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen.
The dress was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay and a nearly nine-foot-long train. The bodice was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, narrowing at the waist with padding at the hips. The lace appliqué on the bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The dress also featured hidden details, such as Kate's "'something blue'" sewn into the interior.
Kate Middleton wore the Cartier Halo tiara, also known as the Cartier Scroll tiara, which was lent to her by Queen Elizabeth. The tiara featured 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 139 baguettes. She also wore Robinson Pelham earrings in the shape of oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond, designed to resemble her family's coat of arms.
