Rhiannon Hendricks
Princess Kate Middleton's wedding dress, worn on April 29, 2011, when she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress, which cost £250,000, featured a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay and a nearly nine-foot train. While the dress was largely well-received, with replicas being produced and sold, there doesn't seem to be anything inherently wrong with the dress itself. However, there was some criticism regarding the choice of designer, as some believed that a British-owned fashion house should have been chosen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Cost | £250,000 |
| Style | Fitted white V-neck gown with long-sleeved lace overlay and a lengthy train |
| Inspiration | Traditional dresses from the 1950s, Grace Kelly's wedding dress |
| Lace | Handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique |
| Flowers | Lily-of-the-valley, sweet William, hyacinth, ivy, and myrtle |
| Jewellery | Robinson Pelham earrings designed to look like the Middleton family coat of arms |
| Second gown | Satin A-line skirt with a sweetheart neckline, accessorised with a cream cardigan |
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The choice of designer
The designer of Kate Middleton's wedding dress was kept a closely guarded secret until the day of the wedding. On 29 April 2011, it was finally revealed that the dress had been designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Burton, the creative director of the luxury fashion house, had been a favourite to create the dress for months, but the decision was kept under wraps by the palace and the design team.
Burton's work first came to Middleton's attention in 2005 when she attended the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Burton designed a bridal gown for Bowles' bride, fashion journalist Sara Buys.
In a statement, the palace explained Middleton's choice of the British designer: "Miss Catherine Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton [...] Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work."
The dress featured metres of lace, with the lace bodice echoing that worn by Grace Kelly when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. The lace design was influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Three companies are known to have produced lace for the dress: 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 dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas being produced and sold. It was later displayed at Buckingham Palace, breaking royal records.
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The cost
The lace for the dress was created by the Royal School of Needlework, with the team of seamstresses washing their hands every 30 minutes to protect the brilliance of the pristine lace and threads. The dress also featured special nods to the Middletons, her new husband, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. For example, Kate's something blue was a blue ribbon sewn into the interior of the dress by Burton, and her something new was a pair of Robinson Pelham diamond earrings from her parents, shaped like oak leaves with a pavé diamond acorn in the centre, inspired by the Middleton family coat of arms.
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The secrecy
Kate Middleton had chosen Burton by January 2011. However, this decision was kept under wraps for three months due to extraordinary measures taken by the palace and the design team. A spokesperson for the palace emphasised that it was the bride's intention to keep the dress a secret for her groom on their wedding day.
The dress was designed in collaboration with Burton, with Kate Middleton drawing inspiration from Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown. The final product, rumoured to have cost up to $434,000, was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay. It featured a nearly nine-foot train, handmade lace created by the Royal School of Needlework, and hidden details requested by the Princess.
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The craftsmanship
The dress featured intricate lacework, with the lace bodice echoing that of Grace Kelly's wedding dress. The lace was produced using the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The process involved cutting floral motifs out of lace produced on large 19th-century machines and stitching them to machine net. The lace was sourced from three companies: Sophie Hallette and Solstiss in France, and the Cluny Lace Company in the UK. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, specifically for the skirt and train.
The dress was also adorned with hidden details requested by the Princess of Wales, including special nods to her family, her new husband, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. The underskirt of the dress, made of silk tulle trimmed with lace, was revealed by Kate's sister and bridesmaid, Pippa Middleton. The train of the dress, nearly 9 feet long, was designed to resemble the opening of a flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats.
The level of dedication to the craftsmanship of the dress was remarkable. The team of seamstresses working on the gown washed their hands every 30 minutes to protect the pristine lace and threads, and needles were renewed every 3 hours to ensure sharpness and cleanliness. The dress is said to have cost £250,000 and is considered an iconic and timeless design that continues to inspire brides worldwide.
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The influence
- Trendsetting in Bridal Fashion: Kate's choice of a long-sleeved gown with a lace overlay is believed to have influenced a departure from strapless wedding dresses, as noted by Alison McGill, editor-in-chief of Weddingbells Magazine. Veronica Di Santo-Abramowicz of the Ines Di Santo label also predicted that Kate's dress would significantly influence bridal styles in the years following the royal wedding. This influence extended to specific design elements, such as the use of lace and the combination of tradition and modernity, which other brides sought to emulate.
- Popularising British Designers: Kate's decision to commission a British designer, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, shone a spotlight on British fashion houses and craftsmanship. This choice is said to have reflected her desire to "combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision" characteristic of McQueen's work, according to a statement from the Palace. This blend of classic and contemporary elements resonated with brides-to-be, who sought to incorporate similar aesthetics into their own wedding attire.
- Incorporating Sentimental Details: The dress incorporated various sentimental touches, such as nods to her new husband, her family, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. This inspired brides to embrace meaningful details in their own gowns, such as hidden messages, tributes to loved ones, or cultural references.
- Sparking Media and Public Interest: The anticipation and intrigue surrounding Kate's wedding dress generated intense media interest and commentary from fashion experts. The dress was widely praised for its design, symbolism, and elegance. Replicas of the dress were quickly produced and sold, and the original dress went on display at Buckingham Palace, attracting over 600,000 visitors. This media attention and public fascination solidified the dress's iconic status and influenced bridal trends for years to come.
- Embracing Traditional Techniques: The intricate lacework on Kate's dress, crafted by the Royal School of Needlework, drew attention to traditional craftsmanship. The use of the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s, highlighted the beauty of handmade lace and inspired a resurgence of interest in this and other traditional textile arts.
- Adhering to Victorian Wedding Traditions: Kate's wedding ensemble incorporated several Victorian wedding traditions, including "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." This inspired other brides to incorporate similar traditions into their wedding attire, such as borrowing family heirlooms or incorporating something blue into their gowns.
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Frequently asked questions
The Princess of Wales wore a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress featured a nearly 9-foot train, a satin A-line skirt, and a sweetheart neckline.
The dress was designed to combine "tradition and modernity" and pay tribute to the United Kingdom through its lace embroidery. The ivory and white satin gazar skirt, for example, was made to resemble the opening of a flower. The dress also included special nods to the Middletons, her husband, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. Burton was inspired to create the dress after attending the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2005.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. It was well-received by fashion experts, who noted its traditional design and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold.
The royal bride added a touch of sparkle with her Robinson Pelham earrings, which were designed to look like the Middleton family's coat of arms. She also wore a veil and carried a bouquet that included hyacinth flowers for love, Lily-of-the-valley for happiness, myrtle for love and marriage, and sweet William for gallantry.
