George Boyle
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a long-sleeve V-neck gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen when she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011. The dress, which has been praised for its design, symbolism, and influence on bridal trends, features a fitted bodice with lace sleeves and a full skirt with a train stretching nearly nine feet. The gown was kept a closely guarded secret before the wedding, with extraordinary measures taken by the palace and the design team to maintain the surprise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton |
| Fashion House | Alexander McQueen |
| Style | Long-sleeve V-neck gown |
| Inspiration | Victorian tradition of corsetry |
| Lace | English and French Chantilly lace |
| Train | 2.7 meters or 8.85 feet |
| "Something Blue" | Sewn into the dress |
| Tiara | Cartier Halo tiara |
| Cost | $434,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer
The now-iconic 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. Burton and her team at Alexander McQueen designed not two but three dresses for the royal wedding: the bride's two ensembles and the maid of honour gown worn by Middleton's sister, Pippa.
The dress was a long-sleeve V-neck gown with a lace overlay. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace, using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique. The technique itself was a modern device: floral motifs were cut out of lengths of lace produced on large 19th-century machines and stitched to machine net. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, specifically the skirt and train. The lace was chosen from stock patterns. The dress also featured a two-metre-and-70-centimetre train, or almost nine feet, designed to echo an opening flower.
Kate Middleton chose Alexander McQueen for the "beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing", according to a statement from the palace. She wanted a wedding gown that combined "tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work".
The dress was kept a closely guarded secret before the big day. A palace spokesperson told People magazine: "It's Miss Middleton's intention to keep the dress a secret for her bridegroom on their wedding day, as is every bride's prerogative." Burton told Vogue that she didn't even tell her parents until the night before the wedding due to a confidentiality agreement.
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The dress's design and style
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton—now known as the Princess of Wales—at her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. The dress 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 from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition.
The dress was a long-sleeve V-neck gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The lace appliqué on the bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, which is based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s, to create hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, which were added onto ivory silk tulle. The lace bodice echoed that worn by Grace Kelly for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956, and comparisons were also drawn with Princess Margaret's wedding dress.
The skirt was designed to echo an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats that pooled in a train measuring two meters and 70 centimeters—or almost nine feet. The train was appliquéd using the same lace-making technique as the bodice and skirt. The back of the dress featured gazar and organza-covered buttons, fastened by Rouleau loops.
The Palace released a statement on the royal family website on the morning of the wedding, explaining Kate's choice of designer: "Miss Catherine Middleton's wedding dress has been designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing. Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work."
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The dress's influence on bridal trends
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton at her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas of the dress being produced and sold.
The dress was a long-sleeve V-neck gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The bodice was made with ivory satin and padded slightly at the hips, narrowing at the waist. The back featured 58 buttons made of gazar and organza, fastened with rouleau loops. The skirt and train were made with ivory and white satin gazar and featured lace appliqués. The lace used on the dress was produced by 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 the skirt and train. The lace was cut into floral motifs and stitched to machine net, influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique.
The dress has had a lasting influence on bridal trends. Even before the wedding, there was speculation about the designer and style of the dress, with many suggesting that it would influence wedding fashion for years to come. Following the wedding, searches for "long-sleeved lace wedding dress" doubled in popularity, and "simple long-sleeve wedding dress" searches increased by 42% in Canada. Bridal expert Jennifer Dang noted that the Duchess of Cambridge has influenced bridal trends over the last decade, with satin returning as a popular fabric choice. Brittany Roe, owner of Union Bridal in Vancouver, commented that Kate's wedding fashion continues to influence the industry, with the combination of "romantic lace long sleeve and A-line ceremony dress with the classic satin strapless reception gown" remaining popular. The dress's simplicity and elegance have left a lasting impression on brides-to-be, with many seeking to emulate the aura and style depicted by Kate's wedding look.
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The dress's second designer
The second wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The Duchess of Cambridge chose a white strapless satin gown with a diamante belt that accentuated her slim waist. The dress featured a sweetheart neckline and a circle skirt. She paired the gown with a white shrug.
The second dress was worn at the evening wedding reception, which was held at Buckingham Palace. Prince William also changed for the nighttime celebration, swapping his military uniform for a tuxedo.
The gown was the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding day. Burton and her team at Alexander McQueen designed not only the bride's two ensembles but also the maid of honour gown worn by the bride's sister, Pippa Middleton. Pippa's dress was made of an ivory, satin-based crepe and had the same buttons and lace trims as the bride's gown.
The dressmaker, Mandy Ewing, called being on the dress-making team a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". She recalled keeping the design a secret before the wedding day: "We had net curtains up and cleaners were not allowed into the room and the code on the door was changed. The dress was all in the news, but nobody knew who was doing it."
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The dress's ''something blue'
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. It was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. The dress was also said to have set trends for the next few years.
The dress was a long-sleeve V-neck gown with a fitted bodice and a full skirt. The lace appliqué on the bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim was created out of English and French Chantilly lace. The dressmakers used the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1800s. Hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, were created individually and added onto ivory silk tulle.
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 needles were renewed every few hours to ensure they were sharp and clean. The dress was designed to echo an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats that pooled in a train measuring two meters and 70 centimeters (almost nine feet).
The dress also included Kate Middleton's "something blue", sewn inside the dress.
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Frequently asked questions
The designer of Kate Middleton's wedding dress was Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was a long-sleeve, V-neck gown with a fitted bodice, handmade lace overlay, and Victorian-era influences. The dress featured a combination of English and French Chantilly lace, with hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, individually added onto ivory silk tulle. The skirt echoed an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats that pooled into a train measuring almost nine feet.
Kate Middleton wanted a wedding dress that combined "tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work." The dress was also inspired by Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress quickly became iconic and was widely anticipated and commented on in the media. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and it influenced bridal style trends. The original dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace, attracting visitors and breaking royal records.
