Ooooooooooooooooh!!!! Kate Middleton did choose McQueen (Sarah Burton for McQueen). There are lace sleeves, a flattering V-neck, a longish-train (but not super-long). Kate, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge (YAY!!!), is wearing the “Cambridge Knot” Tiara. Wait… People Mag says the tiara is the Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, which belongs to the Queen. Maybe it’s both? I don’t know.
Okay, I’ll eat my words. I didn’t think Kate would be fashion-forward enough to wear Burton for McQueen, but she did. Of course, this looks nothing like traditional McQueen. The dress looks quite a bit like Grace Kelly’s famous long-sleeved lace-bodice wedding gown.
I appreciate the simplicity of Kate’s gown, the austerity of her veil. She doesn’t really look like a future queen to me, but she does look very pretty. Oh, and her hair is mostly down, but I think part of it is held back by the tiara…? Very nice.
More about the gown, from People:
The dress is composed of French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt. The skirt, made of ivory and white satin gazar, was designed to emulate an opening flower: padded at the hips, it flowed out to the floor. The back of the dress was finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.
Kate wore her brunette locks in cascading curls. She topped the look with a ivory silk tulle veil, which was trimmed with hand-embroidered flowers. It was held in place by a Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to Kate by the Queen. She also wore diamond drop earrings by Robinson Pelham, a gift from her parents. Her handmade shoes, also McQueen, were composed of ivory duchesse satin and lace.
Oh, yeah. THE MAKEUP IS HIDEOUS. HRH The Duchess of Eyeliner, Raccoon McWaity. I HAD to say it.
I LOVE Pippa’s maid of honor gown. That would make a beautiful wedding gown.
Even i have to admit she look pretty good.And Pippa’s gown is amazing!
Wow! New title!! Loves it! Makes me want to check the royal site to see if they updated already…
Updated:
Hmm, not yet.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/Overview.aspx
Love it. Classy, subtle, rich…very nice balance of texture. Sumptuous but still refined, and something that will be considered gorgeous forever. Very Grace/Kelly Elizabeth Taylor.
This wasn’t what I expected at all, and I am pleasantly surprised.
Meh, underwhelming. The lace looks too white and unfortunately looks like cheap, polyester lace.
She does look pretty but I don’t know it gets lost in the abbey.
Choosing McQueen good but again not fashion forward. It’s just a Grace Kelly copy.
Love it.
I’m awake! (Long-time reader, seldom comment). I love the dress! Very nice (how come the ring barely fit?!).
Good job Kaiser!
I will admit, I did not think she would go with McQueen either. The woman was positively glowing and so happy. Good for her. @ blah, thw Queen is the head of the Church of England so along with the vows is a Cathloic ceremony and essentially it is mass.
I prefer something more fitted like this and not the poufy overwhelming princess style dresses. The abbey is truly magnificent and absolutely gorgeous. Also like the uniforms on the men. Lots of color, and the Archbishop’s robes looked so, so stunning.
Prince William has grown into such a substantive young man; his mother would be proud.
Kate is lovely.
Happiness to them both! :0)
She’s pretty, he’s happy, what else to ask for?
Also, anything that can be done to bring back sleeves–or even wide straps–on Bridal gowns, I am all for it.
The strapless-dress-with-a-full-skirt look is nauseatingly overdone and screams “I have no imagination”.
Lovely dress! Very elegant and classic. She wore her hair down!
She’s wearing the Cartier Halo Tiara that was made for the Queen Mother.
She looks fucking amazing. Beautiful bride.
I think she looks gorgeous. That gown is superb.
Must say I love pippas too
*Fortunately I can edit my comment before it’s been posted. LOL!*
It’s a beautiful gown, it reminds me of Grace Kelly’s wedding dress.
Solveig, Sarah Burton is the chief designer for McQueen. The dress is Sarah Burton for McQueen.
Here is the link to the official report on the attire and flowers: http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/blog/2011/April/29/The-Wedding-Dress–Bridesmaids–Dresses-and-Page–Uniforms
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, so I would say it’s both. Like Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Simple does not always mean sophisticaled. Hate the dress and the veil. Her hair and makeup looks like it does most of the time. Totally disappointing and boring. On the other hand, Pippa’s dress is gorgeous.
@Solvieg
Here in Moscow they said McQueen, too. I think they just mean the house.
Also, Russia 1 coverage ended shortly after Kate got inside the church. Ha! They don’t f*ck around–they know we’re only tuning in for the dress!
Solveig, Sarah Burton has always been with AMcQ, in fact she designed wedding dresses for his line when he was still alive, and has since taken over as one of the chief designers for the company called AMcQ
Blech. My cousin wore one that looks just like it in 1994. McQueen usually looks better than that. The dress is a sign of things to come.
@Zelda, I am so with ou on that. Most women can’t wear strapless gowns because you need near perfect arms and just the right sized boobs. They’re spilling out the top and their arms look like meaty hams–and it’s not because they’re overweight, it’s just not the most flattering look.
@Kaiser, Zelda and Nanea, yes, I read it and correct my comment when apparentely was stil in mod.
I’m quite scatterbrained this morning, sorry. 🙂
The mistake comes from the fact that here the commenters are confusing, at the beginning of the ceremony they said it was McQueen then they forgot McQueen and said Sarah Burton’s, not explaining that she is the stylist for McQueen house.
(and I didn’t read the thread because an annoying publicity banner was hiding it).
When I first saw her emerge from the car I couldn’t stop thinking of how stunning and regal and perfect she looked! Everything was perfect and Grace Kelly-esque until she lifted that veil to reveal her heavy handed makeup skills! It looked so bad- too much blush, too much eyeliner!!!!
Sarah Burton is the designer for Alexander McQueen. She was made chief designer after he committed suicide last year. I don’t think she designs under her own name.
Dress very nice, understated. Classic. Certainly not fashion forward, but a dress that will withstand the test of time.
OOH, ruffles and flourishes, God Save The Queen.
From a design standpoint- Love that she chose McQueen but anyone who knows the label knows that this dress was VERY demure. Obviously Catherine had a hand in letting them know what she wanted. To me while it is gorgeous quite frankly anybody could (and many already have) copied this dress b/c it’s so similar to Grace Kelly’s! I wanted to see something original and one of a kind….yet classy also
Meh like I said the dress, hair,veil and tiara were all gorgeous though!
Does anyone here watch Say Yes To The Dress? Every bride walks out of there with a strapless mermaid dress, regardless of her body type. So boring and predictable.
I totally agree with the “let’s bring back straps and sleeves” contingent.
the make-up IS indeed hideous! Way too much blush!
I actually like that her make up is similar to what she wears everyday. She wants to look like herself for her wedding. I did the same thing. Did my own make up when everyone thought I was mental. Looking back on my photos, I looked so beautiful just as I was. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
@Other Chris
Yep. Have seen so many lovely shaped women who look thick and dumpy in those dresses (which are apparently shot out of t-shirt cannons at football games, because EVERYONE has them.)
And then there is the always classy hiking-up-the-bodice look that should be clue one that this dress is not good for you…
her makeup is bad! she always does that heavy eyeliner on the bottom. other than that, she looks great. would have liked her hair up, but her gown is very flattering.
Everyone does realize that her dress/design had to be vetted by the Queen, right? There is no way that it would have been extremely original or too contemporary. Besides, Kate is a very demure, classy woman. She wasn’t going to go typical McQueen on this.
She looks stunning. It is absolutely perfect- appropriate, beautiful, (it has sleeves hell yes) She hasnt tried to be someone else for her wedding day. Yes hair and makeup are much the same as she normally does. But trying to change too much on a day with that much pressure would just be stupid. She looks perfect and both of them look so happy (much better than Charles and Diana who both looked kindve awkward on thier wedding day)
I’m sorry, but the more I see it, the more I see that her makeup is just AWFUL.
I agree the eyeliner is a little harsh, but I like that she’s not changing her style to please strangers. I was skyping with my best friend and she loves black eyeliner too, so i think it’s a personal choice.
Her dress is just perfection.
she is simply gorgeous…such a beautiful smile! he, on the other hand, not so much lol!
Lol Kaiser!!
The princess loves her eyeliner!
Presence and grace, really remarkable in such a young couple. Glad to see!
I thought the dress was very pretty. Considering that the dress is so traditional, it wasn’t really a risk in going with McQueen. I doubt anybody thought McQueen when they first saw the dress.
She did her own make up – hence why too much eyeliner and blusher….
I think she looks amazing, I love the dress. As many said above, as much as she may have wanted to be contemporary the dress still had to cover and be somewhat traditional. I thought it was a good compromise, well fittted and appropriate. Clearly Pippa’s dress is outstandingly beautiful, but couldn’t have been a royal bridal contender. I also don’t really get all the makeup hate; I concur with Devon inthat she should be able to be herself and look the way she wants. It’s not as though she’s ‘Raccoon McPantsless’ heavy with the eyeliner or anything! She might do well with another look but it is her wedding day & choice after all. Not to say I don’t love the snark…
She looks gorgeous, but I hate the eyeliner. I love the dress-yes it’s safe, but was anyone expecting otherwise? really?
@Zelda & Other Chris: If a strapless gown is properly fitted, and the proper size, and by a quality designer, you won’t be hiking, and you won’t have the meaty look (unless you have meaty upper arms or back). The problem is that we don’t give proper respect and budgeting to correct undergarments and having a gown properly fitted. They think, “I can spend XXXXX on a gown” and they forget that budget needs to also contain a slip, strapless bra with grippers OR sewn in bra, and alterations to ensure the gown stays where it’s supposed to stay. My gown was strapless, fit like a dream, and I didn’t yank once. It also didn’t give me armpit dimples or anything else, because it was properly fitted and had a built in bra.
Just had to defend strapless gowns…I’ve seen so many weddings with budget/poorly fitted strapless gowns, and the problems could have been resolved easily.
I found it all anti-climactic. Pippa totally stole the show and not in a good way. The iconic moment was the photo of Pippa from the back raising the train before they entered the abbey.
The dress was safe, meant to be humble and modest and probably retro. I thought the whole shebang was bloodless, uninspired. I can’t say that about the other royal weddings I’ve watched.
Oh and his red tunic? Major overkill.
LOL @ Erin #6, my 10 yr old daughter said the same thing- why doesn’t the ring fit?!
As for the dress, did the boobs not bother anyone else?! Why were they so separate and pointy?!
she looks GORGEOUS! the dress is a dream and everything is just perfect! (and you remember I hate Kate Middleton, right?)
Agree with the bland Grace Kelly knockoff comments. Dud and a waste of an opportunity for Kate (former) Commoner to don something distinctive and modern. McQueen is spinning in his grave at the thought of such a boring design in his name. But isn’t she changing dresses for the reception? Still hope!
Concur with Kaiser that the makeup is TRAGIC. A makeup artist would have made her much more photo-ready and been able to hide the bags under that poor exhausted girl’s eyes.
Kaiser, you know I am a big fan of yours normally, but jeebus christ! Lay off the hate just for once- no?
Kate looks stunning, just beautiful, totally what I expect of a ‘modern bride’ to be wearing.
As a member of the commonwealth I wish them NOTHING but the best. 😀
Kate tanned for this day, and I think it was a mistake. In the church, it made her look a little harsh. Pale skin against her dark hair would have been striking and would have made her features pop. Though, out in the natural light in the carriage, she looked quite beautiful.
The dress, well, with the long train and veil flowing over her face it was striking. Up close, with the veil back, it didn’t knock me over. But maybe it’s because she was a little too thin.
They showed Diana’s wedding before this wedding, and Diana was literally breathtaking, her pale skin against her blue eyes and her hair very soft and the stunning tiara. She was luminescent and took your breath away with her beauty.
I LOVE the dress as well and agree with all those who say sleeves and straps should be brought back. I got married last year and wanted sleeves and just couldn’t find a good dress with them…. ridiculous! I eventually went with strapless and a tailored jacket.
I think her make-up is passable. It isn’t amazing, but I really love that she did it herself. Next comes babies for them, hurrah!
Kate looked beautiful, her happiness was tangible. The dress was simple and classic, and hung beautifully. Loved the short train and the lack of fussy detail.
Oh and Pippa’s dress was stunning.
Absolutely lovely, tasteful, and classy. Well played, HRH.
It does look like Grace Kelly’s gown! But, then everyone loved Grace Kelly. Maybe that’s what she was going for.
Kate looked absolutely beautiful, classic, elegant and so regal.
The photos above don’t do the dress justice, the live coverage showed how wonderful she looked. Beautiful girl
Congrats to the happy couple
@Hmm. William’s “red tunic” isn’t a fashion statement, it’s the dress uniform (with field cap) of the Irish Guards.
I do actually prefer Pippa’s dress as it’s beautiful and modern. We’ll have to wait for Zara Philips’ wedding for a really exciting gown. 😉
On the hair and makeup: the hair was ok I thought, but I’d have preferred it up. Normally, if you can do makeup well I think it’s wise to do it yourself on one’s wedding day. “Professional” makeup artists go overboard and thoroughly believe in the nonsense that the bride needs a darker foundation so she doesn’t look washed out in photos. Absolute twaddle and the bride usually looks overly madeup and not herself.
The main caveat being IF you can do your makeup well.
Edit, Kate had to wear sleeves to be allowed to be married in Westminster Abbey…
I only caught the end of the it, but the dress was pretty. Maybe not what I would choose, but a good choice for a royal wedding.
I love her dress! Very classic and simple. I guessed it would have long fitted lace sleeves since strapless would be too cliche for such an occasion. This is the type of dress that will withstand time. You could look at this 20 years later and it would not look out of date – that’s the look she was going for and it worked. I’m actually more surprised with her choice of flowers- very small and simple for such an occasion and an all white bridesmaid dress but it all works and looks very fresh and simple without looking cheap. Even the trees the church really made a huge statement. I thought they were going to go overboard with the flowers and decorations but when people filled up the space, nothing more was really needed.
I think the simple bouquets worked without looking cheap because of the extravagance of the church. I think it would work for elaborate weddings but not simple ones without looking cheap.
I’ve got to say I’m a huge fan of eyeliner. As an Asian, my eyes don’t really pop without it. It’s probably best she went with what she was comfortable with and my love for eyeliner makes me wonder what she uses on her waterline so that it doesn’t smudge for hours.
To the comment about the ring not fitting, your hands can easily swell due to nerves an at the moment in the ceremony the ring that fits you perfect won’t go on at all. Very common. Neither my husband or my ring slid on perfecty because we were both so nervous!
I love the dress. It’s beautiful and delicate.
Well Done! I said Burton for McQueen and she did the house Proud. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge looked absolutely gorgeous.
Well done, Your Higness, well done
I feel a bit guilty that my first thought at the ring thing was, “Well, she’s definitely making sure it won’t come off!”
I think it’s stunning overall, I thought the train looked kind of meh/crumply but might look nice in person. Beautiful bodice and Grace Kelly sleeves though. Also wish the tiara was on show, the veil covers it both ways, seems kind of silly to wear it and not show it off. And MAYBE the heavy makeup was necessarry so the crowds could see her under the veil? Maybe she’ll tone it down for photos? Who knows, am pleasantly surprised how feminine the dress is. Also cool having white for a maid of honour, wonder if that was controversial?
People Mag got it wrong as usual, the Tiara is ‘The Scroll Tiara’ which belonged to the Queen mother and on loan from the Queen. Kate’s earrings were a wedding present from her parents.
She looked like a classic bride, nice and safe and uncontroversial as always with Kate, nothing to criticise but nothing to swoon over either . She has great hair but it was very ordinary looking for her big day and not as flattering it could have been. The biggest disappointment for me was her bouquet so small and insignificant.
Pippa looked amazing, a beautiful gown.
Oops just got a better view of the tiara, it still kind of blends into the veil though. Those earrings must have cost her parents a fortune.
She looks beautiful, classy and elegant. I love the fact that they kept everything simple, not overdone at all.
Kate is such a classy dresser – I love how she dresses and this wedding dress is the best – I love the lace on her – and you are right, it does remind me of the Grace Kelly dress so long ago. Kudos to Kate for choosing this dress and wearing her beautiful hair down!
OMG…I just loved Kate’s wedding gown! It reminded me of my dress almost 25 years ago! She looked stunning…I just cried when she got out of her car! Everything about Kate’s appearance was perfection to me! Stunning…classy…perfection. A dream come true! I am so happy I watched it with my nine year old daughter!!!
Love the dress, love her hair down. I do feel like a bride should still look like themselves on their wedding day.
That said, she really should have gone with a makeup, just as she got her hair professionally done. A GOOD makeup artist should make her look like herself, just perfect (it’s only the bad ones who insist on too dark foundation, or heavy handed application @Mairead)
I agree Nikkers – and given her wealth and status she could afford the best.
Beautiful.
Kate was really beautiful. Gorgeous dress, hairstyle, tiara. Yeah, maybe the make up isn’t magnificent but it’s not hideous either.
Austere but pretty, that’s Kate. And I think Queen Elisabeth really appreciates that (at least).
That dress is UGLY! My aunt wore the same one in 1977. Its is tacky and outdated.
Very disappointing because usually she is very well dressed.
Funny because several years ago I was at a wedding boutique in Toronto. My friend and I were asking the sales lady about those tacky old lace sleeve wedding dresses from the seventies and eighties… she assured us that they would NEVER come back in again. I rememeber feeling warm and fuzzy inside when she told us that….. but UNFORTUNATELY she was wrong and now I am horrified because the trend has been “jump started” again!!!!
In the top photo she looks like Belle.
I loved her dress. Loved the veil! And I don’t think it looks 70’s as that had some wicked shoulder pads.
Plus remember there are rules at the abbey-no bare shoulders are allowed for anyone who gets married there. So I like how she worked with that.
So beautiful. She looks perfect. I was surprised by the choice of lace on the dress (I thought she would go more sleek) but I think the dress looked so romantic and feminine, but so modern too – it is McQueen after all. And it gives her an hourglass shape! Love the hair and makeup is good too. She just looks wonderful.
Her Dad looks so happy, but not smug. he looks happy and emotional in a real dad giving his daughter away sort of moment…very genuine; she looks genuinely happy. no gold diggerish vibes, which is refreshing for a change from any weddings in the public eye these days….
Kate was poised and lovely in spite of my minor gripes:
The dress was appropriate, though certainly not a show stopper. She had on too much face and eye makeup that wasn’t well blended. It was distracting. I wanted to jump through the TV screen with cotton ball in hand to tone down that blush! Also, the neckline was lovely, but the bodice of the dress was very unflattering. It should had been molded to make her bust look smoother and rounder. I agree with a previous poster: the bust looked too lumpy and pointy
I thought she looked lovely. Gorgeous dress, very classy and elegant but not too overdone. An enormous improvement over poor Diana’s wedding dress, which made her look like a big blob of whipped cream.
Sorry, I wanted to be wowed by Kate and her dress. I was not. I think it was a boring, choice reminiscent of the 70’s. Kate should have looked stunning on her big day as pretty as she is with millions watching. Instead she just looked “nice”. Hair was not anything special, too every-day. Makeup was very bad. Too dark around the eyes. Should have been dewy, fresh and gorgeous but looked harsh and the eyebrows were way too pencilled. Big disappointment. Demure, yes. Stunning, no.
i loving her more and more!
Aw, she looks so happy 🙂
She looks absolutely stunning! I love her wedding gown!
I thought her gown was beautiful. Initially I was sort of meh but when I saw the drape of the train . . . she did really well. Looked wonderful.
So did William in my opinion. I wouldn’t have thought he could carry off red.
But I think both of them were nervous as all get out.
The dress was occasion appropriate but the hair and the veil, my god! She reminded me of Maid Marian in Robin Hood-the Prince of Thieves. Luckily there was a tiara instead of wheat wreath.
I love the bodice and the neckline, but I kinda hate the tiara/headpiece. *shrugs*
@Mairead #54
‘William’s “red tunic” isn’t a fashion statement, it’s the dress uniform (with field cap) of the Irish Guards. ‘
I do know that. He’s an honorary colonel and it’s a tip of the hat to Ireland. However, he is an RAF pilot and I would have loved to see him dress as he really is, as he really works. I loathe the fancy shmancy over the top regalia which is purely honorary and they haven’t worked for it.
The Cambride Knot Tiara was the tiara that the queen gave Princess Di after she was married – she wore it often it has the pearl drops. Kate wore the scroll tiara (being called the Cartier Halo) that was a gift to the queen mother from then the Duke of York – later King George VI. Princess Anne has been photographed wearing this tira as well as Princess Margaret. It was give to the Queen as an 18th birthday present from her mother.
She was breath taking. I loved the dress!!! I didn’t think I would have a criticism, but I hate the bouquet. It looks like weeds. *sigh*
@ Tracking, I think McQueen is spinning in his grave anyway for being the name given as the “Royal dressmaker”. This is the man that used to write ‘wanker’ in Prince Charle’s suit lining when he was an apprentice on Saville Row. I still get a chuckle out of that.
The dress was boring and I hate that it will be remembered as a McQueen because it doesn’t look anything like a McQueen. McQueen had more imagination and I don’t think he would ever blatantly copy a dress like that. And such a famous dress to boot.
HRH The Duchess of Eyeliner, Raccoon McWaity LOL Kaiser. So true. Anyone with eyes could see Diana used to go heavy on the eyeliner too and it is not the look. It’s dated and is done by amateurs (but Diana gets a pass because she was 19). I don’t know why any woman lines the entire eye! I thought that went out of style once you stopped being a teenager (and I say that as a 24 year old).
They updated the website!
http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/TheDuchessofCambridge/TheDuchessofCambridge.aspx
Whoa, their sidebar is funky. They gotta fix that!
On Harry’s page her title isn’t listed. On William’s page, her title appears AFTER Harry. That’s definitely a mistake…
Hated the way the bodice darts made her boobs look pointy! Also, agree with the comment that the lace looked cheap polyesterish.
I loved Pippa’s dress! But I didn’t like Kate’s wedding dress. It was like the bootleg version of Grace Kelly’s and wasn’t tailored nearly as well as Grace’s. Kate’s reception dress was better but the sweater on top of it took away from it in my opinion. And that makeup…ug. I liked her veil and tiara though.
I like the way both Kate and her sister looked!!!
Stunningly attractive lady no doubt. Though royalty is a result of genetic fibre in thousands of years of Christian faith and church. I wonder if Katie is reading the good book daily.Oh well don’t pet the dogs ears Kate. Cheers William you’re a good lad with paramount duty.Seek world peace without letting down your guard.USA President HGHughes
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