Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Dress: Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton
Photo: Getty Images
Kate Middleton arriving at Westminster Abbey in her Sarah Burton-designed Alexander McQueen wedding dress.
Kate Middleton chose a custom-designed wedding dress by Sarah Burton, creative director at Alexander McQueen for the royal wedding.
The wedding dress featured lace appliqué on the ivory satin bodice and a handmade full skirt. Individual flowers were hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle to create a “unique and organic design” incorporating roses, thistle, daffodil and shamrock. The bodice, which narrowed at the waist and was padded at the hips, was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen designs.
RELATED ARTICLES |
| Royal Wedding Makeup: Yes, She Did It Herself! » |
| The Bride's Dazzling Diamond Earrings » |
| Kate Middleton Manicure Details » |
The lace was both English and French Chantilly and was used throughout the dress along with white satin gazar. The skirt was meant to resemble an opening flower with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The underskirt was silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace.
Fifty-eight gazar and organza buttons were fastened by Rouleau loops on the back of the dress, which included a train that was just under 7 feet long.
Middleton’s veil was held in place with the Halo tiara made by Cartier in 1936. The Queen loaned Middleton the tiara, which was purchased by Her Majesty’s father, King George VI, for his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth II received the tiara as a gift from her mother on her 18th birthday.
The bride accessorized her wedding wear with Robinson Pelham diamond earrings featuring stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond-set drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the center. The earrings—a personal gift from the bride’s parents for her wedding day—were inspired by the Middleton family’s coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves.
Middleton’s shoes were also made by the design team at Alexander McQueen.
Now see what Prince William wore for the big day.
And for all things Will and Kate, visit our Royal Wedding Watch.
