McQueen and the Princess

I’m sure you’re all terribly sick of this royal wedding hoopla, but bear with me. In this post I want to obsess a little bit about the glorious dresses worn during the big event. The dresses worn by both Princess Kate and her maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, were designed by Sarah Burton, the new creative director of Alexander McQueen.


Kate and Pippa in McQueen

Kate’s dress has drawn many comparisons to Grace Kelly’s wedding dress and with good reason. Both gowns have full length lace sleeves over a sweetheart-neckline, strapless bodice with a nipped in waist and a full, classic skirt. The major difference between the two dresses is the deep v-neck on Princess Kate’s lace overlay. Pippa’s dress was absolutely beautiful and fit her like a glove. The design was so simple, and made an appropriate impact for a maid of honor gown.



Princess Grace

Prince William and Princess Kate

Numerous knock-offs of the wedding dress are already available and nordstrom.com even has their own rendition, the JS Collections 'Duchess' Wedding Gown, available for preorder.Good Morning America even did a segment on the production of a high-end duplicate of this already iconic gown.



Sarah Burton and Princess Kate

  Designer Sarah Burton worked as the late Alexander McQueen’s intern while studying at Central St. Martins, and later became McQueen’s protégé. Burton released a statement the day of the wedding that you can find on the Huffington Post website discussing her reactions to being chosen to represent “the best of British craftsmanship."

I think the decision to use the Alexander McQueen design house was admirable. The anniversary of McQueen’s death was in early February, and it marks an enormous loss to the British fashion world and beyond.

 Harper's Bazaar ran a touching article written by McQueen’s former muse and longtime friend, Annabelle Neilson. In the article Neilson praises Burton’s work and reiterates that Burton was the natural replacement following McQueen’s untimely passing. Neilson reflected upon their friendship and her, and the fashion worlds, devastating loss.

On Monday the Metropolitan Museum of Art held a gala unveiling the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition. I can only dream of the day when I will hold in my hot little hand an invitation to an event like this. I must admit I was briefly depressed when I realized that I could not make the voyage to the motherland (aka NYC) to see the exhibit firsthand. The exhibit will showcase pieces that celebrate the late designer’s contribution to the fashion world.