LONDON—Kate Middleton wore a stunning but simple ivory dress created by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton to marry Prince William on Friday, topped off with a tiara on loan from new grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth.
As a smiling Kate entered Westminster Abbey to meet William, officials confirmed speculation that Burton had made her dress. They had previously refused to give even the slightest detail about it.
“Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work,” officials said in a statement.
“Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress.”
They said the dress made with ivory and white satin gazar, with a train measuring 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) and lace sleeves, “epitomizes timeless British craftsmanship.”
‘Absolutely magical’
“Fashionistas” across the world had been engulfed in months of fevered speculation over who would get the career-defining job of designing one of the most talked-about outfits of the decade.
The dress featured a hand-made lace applique over an ivory-colored bodice and skirt.
Inspired by the Middleton’s new coat of arms, Kate’s earrings included diamond oak leaves and pear-shaped diamond acorns.
“The dress is absolutely magical—it looks like it’s been put together by bluebirds,” said Angela Buttolph, editor of fashion magazine Grazia’s website.
“It is the perfect Disney princess dress for what has been the ultimate Walt Disney fairytale, from the red-jacketed prince charming to the enchanted forest in the abbey and her looking this radiant maiden.”
No to snoopers
The identity of the designer and details of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret by St. James’ Palace throughout the buildup to Middleton’s wedding to Britain’s Prince William.
A special marquee was erected outside the entrance to Middleton’s London hotel to prevent anyone getting an early glimpse of the dress before she stepped out of her car outside the abbey.
The crowd outside Westminster Abbey were bowled over by the dress—and the bride.
“It was exactly what I was expecting from her—simple and beautiful,” said pensioner Sarah Jones. “She is a beautiful bride.”
Newspapers and websites around the world have run several “scoops” identifying the designer, but none were ever confirmed.
Names put forward in articles and blog postings have included Burton, Bruce Oldfield and Sophie Cranston of the Libelula label.
Different from Diana’s
The fashion world had taken a close interest in 29-year-old Middleton’s clothes choices in recent months, with industry insiders predicting that she could have a huge influence on high street sales.
“The fashion industry is now officially besotted with Kate Middleton and everyone in the office is in tears,” Grazia’s Buttolph said.
Endless comparisons have been made between Middleton and William’s late mother Princess Diana, astyle icon by the time of her death in 1997 aged 36.
Middleton’s dress differed radically from that of Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, a frilly, flouncy cream number designed by Elizabeth Emanuel which reflected the times in which it appeared.
More assured
Before Friday’s wedding, Emanuel told Reuters that Middleton was older and more assured in terms of fashion than the shy 20-year-old Diana, and so was likely to know better what she wanted for the big day.
“With Diana, she was very young, when we were introduced to her and fashion was not one of her big interests so she didn’t really have her own sense of style,” Emanuel said.
“But Kate Middleton does. She’s worked in fashion. She knows what suits her.”
Burton took over as creative director at the label after McQueen committed suicide in February 2010. She had previously worked side by side with him for 14 years.
The 36-year-old graduate of Central Saint Martin’s had long been tipped as the wedding dress designer.
A double
A woman wearing a studded leather belt doubled through the loops of her jeans, in a fashion identical to the one favored by Burton, was photographed on Thursday evening slipping into the Goring Hotel, where Kate was staying.
Her head was hidden under a huge fur hat in an attempt to avoid identification.
The dress is expected to spawn a thousand reproductions.
Emanuel is still being asked to make copies of Diana’s fairytale wedding gown, an ivory silk taffeta frock with a 7.6-meter (25-foot) long train.
“Exactly as it happened in 1981, there are going to be people watching as she walks down the aisle with their sketch pads, with the machinists and pattern cutters all ready and waiting. By the next morning, you’ll see copies in the high street,” Emanuel said. Reuters, AFP
As a smiling Kate entered Westminster Abbey to meet William, officials confirmed speculation that Burton had made her dress. They had previously refused to give even the slightest detail about it.
“Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work,” officials said in a statement.
“Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress.”
They said the dress made with ivory and white satin gazar, with a train measuring 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) and lace sleeves, “epitomizes timeless British craftsmanship.”
‘Absolutely magical’
“Fashionistas” across the world had been engulfed in months of fevered speculation over who would get the career-defining job of designing one of the most talked-about outfits of the decade.
The dress featured a hand-made lace applique over an ivory-colored bodice and skirt.
Inspired by the Middleton’s new coat of arms, Kate’s earrings included diamond oak leaves and pear-shaped diamond acorns.
“The dress is absolutely magical—it looks like it’s been put together by bluebirds,” said Angela Buttolph, editor of fashion magazine Grazia’s website.
“It is the perfect Disney princess dress for what has been the ultimate Walt Disney fairytale, from the red-jacketed prince charming to the enchanted forest in the abbey and her looking this radiant maiden.”
No to snoopers
The identity of the designer and details of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret by St. James’ Palace throughout the buildup to Middleton’s wedding to Britain’s Prince William.
A special marquee was erected outside the entrance to Middleton’s London hotel to prevent anyone getting an early glimpse of the dress before she stepped out of her car outside the abbey.
The crowd outside Westminster Abbey were bowled over by the dress—and the bride.
“It was exactly what I was expecting from her—simple and beautiful,” said pensioner Sarah Jones. “She is a beautiful bride.”
Newspapers and websites around the world have run several “scoops” identifying the designer, but none were ever confirmed.
Names put forward in articles and blog postings have included Burton, Bruce Oldfield and Sophie Cranston of the Libelula label.
Different from Diana’s
The fashion world had taken a close interest in 29-year-old Middleton’s clothes choices in recent months, with industry insiders predicting that she could have a huge influence on high street sales.
“The fashion industry is now officially besotted with Kate Middleton and everyone in the office is in tears,” Grazia’s Buttolph said.
Endless comparisons have been made between Middleton and William’s late mother Princess Diana, astyle icon by the time of her death in 1997 aged 36.
Middleton’s dress differed radically from that of Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, a frilly, flouncy cream number designed by Elizabeth Emanuel which reflected the times in which it appeared.
More assured
Before Friday’s wedding, Emanuel told Reuters that Middleton was older and more assured in terms of fashion than the shy 20-year-old Diana, and so was likely to know better what she wanted for the big day.
“With Diana, she was very young, when we were introduced to her and fashion was not one of her big interests so she didn’t really have her own sense of style,” Emanuel said.
“But Kate Middleton does. She’s worked in fashion. She knows what suits her.”
Burton took over as creative director at the label after McQueen committed suicide in February 2010. She had previously worked side by side with him for 14 years.
The 36-year-old graduate of Central Saint Martin’s had long been tipped as the wedding dress designer.
A double
A woman wearing a studded leather belt doubled through the loops of her jeans, in a fashion identical to the one favored by Burton, was photographed on Thursday evening slipping into the Goring Hotel, where Kate was staying.
Her head was hidden under a huge fur hat in an attempt to avoid identification.
The dress is expected to spawn a thousand reproductions.
Emanuel is still being asked to make copies of Diana’s fairytale wedding gown, an ivory silk taffeta frock with a 7.6-meter (25-foot) long train.
“Exactly as it happened in 1981, there are going to be people watching as she walks down the aisle with their sketch pads, with the machinists and pattern cutters all ready and waiting. By the next morning, you’ll see copies in the high street,” Emanuel said. Reuters, AFP
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