Royal Wedding Special
Royal Wedding Special The dresses
S
ince William and Kate announced their engagement there has been one question on everyone’s lips: who will design her dress? Under the scrutiny of the media
spotlight, Kate has graced many a best-dressed list, so fashionistas around the globe wait with baited breath to see the dress fit for a princess which is rumoured to be being made in a ‘secret room’ within Buckingham Palace. Many predict she will have opted for an unknown
designer who will be catapulted into the spotlight after bagging the big dress. Others believe Issa (the label behind her engagement dress) or a British society dressmaker such as Phillipa Lepley could be the chosen one. Certainly a soft flowing chiffon gown from Phillipa’s 2011 collection, highlighting this year’s key trend of romance, would suit Kate’s style; and a voluminous soft organza skirt would make her cinched waist look even tinier. The final name in the frame is veteran designer Bruce Oldfield, one of Diana, Princess of Wales’ favourite couturiers, and a man who boasts Sienna Miller, Barbra Streisand and Joan Collins among his star-studded clientèle. One thing is for certain: while Kate might opt for
Diana’s designer du jour, it’s highly unlikely she’ll opt for a dress at all similar in style to the one worn by Diana at
32 BRITAIN
Above: The wedding dresses of Lady Diana Spencer, Sarah Ferguson and Sophie Rhys Jones at Madame Tussauds. Far right: A wedding dress designed by Bruce Oldfield. Centre right: One of the Issa dresses that Kate has worn recently. Above right: Princess Elizabeth's Norman Hartnell-designed wedding dress
her own wedding to Prince Charles. Designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, this puff-ball meringue dress made of silk taffeta boasted huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline, and was decorated with lace, sequins and 10,000 pearls. It also came with a 25-foot train. “Back then, it was all about wild romance, and every bride’s dream was to wear something frothy,” explains Elizabeth. “It wouldn’t be suitable now.” Perhaps better, then, to follow in her grandmother-in-
law’s footsteps and select something simple and elegant. Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) famously saved up ration cards to purchase the ivory duchess satin that had been spun at Lullingstone Castle in Kent, and made into her dream wedding gown by Norman Hartnell. It was decorated with around 10,000 white pearls imported from America, silver thread and tulle embroidery. Her train, appliquéd with a design of stars, Tudor roses and wheat, was a still-impressive 15 feet long, and her silk tulle veil was held in place by a tiara of pearls and diamonds lent to her by her mother. Six years later HM The Queen once again called upon
the design skills of Norman Hartnell, this time to create the gown she would wear at her coronation.
www.britain-magazine.com
PHOTO: REX FEATURES/ISSA/BRUCE OLDFIELD/THE ROYAL COLLECTION
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