Duchess Kate Middleton a Vision in Ivory and Lace
HERALD SUN:
CATHERINE Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, arrived only four minutes behind schedule, looking stunning.Her dress, simply, was ivory and white satin, created by Sarah Burton of British fashion house Alexander McQueen.
The heart-shaped bodice and sleeves were covered with white English and French Chantilly lace.
The bodice was narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, a hallmark of McQueen's designs.
The dress pays homage to Britain's arts and crafts tradition. The lace applique of the bodice and the skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework.
The lace was hand-engineered using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique from Ireland.
In a tribute to McQueen's wedding dress, individual roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks were hand-cut from lace and sewn on to the ivory tulle veil.
The gown, with its long sleeves, full skirt and a 3m train, took almost a minute to fold into the the bride's Rolls-Royce across the lap of Kate's father, Michael Middleton.
THE TIARAKate's diamond tiara was a story in itself.
Lent to her by William's grandmother, the Queen, the little known "halo" tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was bought by the Queen's father for her mother, three weeks before he succeeded his brother, King Edward VIII, who was to abdicate.
The tiara was given to the Queen by her mother on her 18th birthday. It was, in the royal bridal tradition, "something borrowed".
» | Miranda Devine | Herald Sun | Saturday, April 30, 2011
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