The truth is out: Kate Middleton’s wedding gown
Since Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in 2010, the designer and the style of Kate's wedding gown has been the subject of endless speculation. People listed the name of many famous designers, such as Veteran designer Bruce Oldfield, Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton, Alice Temperley and etc, and even showed the sketches of each designers’ style. They tried their best to analyze each designer’s style and the royal family and Kate’s preference.
It seems like a century mystery, everyone wants to find it out who will be the lucky one. However, it finally ended after the wedding came on 29th April 2011.The royal wedding attracted worldwide attention. It’s held in Westminster Abbey, a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London, England. And at last, the wedding was completed perfectly with thousands security guards.
Kate Middleton arrived at Westminster Abbey on Friday wearing a wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. People didn’t need to speculate the style of Kate’s wedding gown any more. Now, the truth is out. The royal family and Kate chose Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. It was beyond many people’s expectation.
The wedding gown was a glorious sweep of ivory and white silk gazar with hand-embroidered English and French Chantilly lace and 58 organza-covered buttons snaking up the back. A discreet v-neck, long lace sleeves and a train that measured nearly nine feet long. Kate’s slender waistline was emphasized by the gown’s narrow bodice and slight padding at the hips. It was a dignified acknowledgement of Arts and Crafts tradition but bore the streamlined, body-enhancing silhouette of contemporary fashion. And the sleeves are appropriate for a religious wedding in the holy surrounds of Westminster Abbey.
It's beautiful, intricate train measures just 2 metres 70 centimetres. The train and bodice are decorated with delicate lace applique flowers, handcrafted using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The veil, which falls to just below her waist, is made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle and is decorated with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers.
The ivory satin bodice is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry----a hallmark of Alexander McQueen's designs. Down the back are 58 organza-covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops. The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace. The lace applique for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework. Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean.
The wedding gown’s manufacturing operation is cautious. The designer and workers concentrated their attention to every step. At last, their efforts made the perfect wedding gown. And after the royal wedding, people called the wedding gown as “the dream of all women”.
