Kate Middleton Marries In Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton Gown

Kate Middleton, who today became Her Royal HIghness the Duchess of Cambridge, is wearing a stunningly elegant, 1950s-inspired Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton.

The Queen has made William the Duke of Cambridge to mark his wedding day. Protocol dictates that Kate is a dutchess, because she wasn’t born a princess in her own right. Technically Kate is also known as Princess William of Wales, just as Princess Michael of Kent is known by her husband’s title.

William also became the Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, which means Kate will become the Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Details of Kate’s Sarah Burton gown:

“The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace.  The lace design was hand-engineered (appliquéd) using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s.  Individual flowers have been hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle to create a unique and organic design, which incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.”

“Hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace has been used throughout the bodice and skirt, and has been used for the underskirt trim.  With laces coming from different sources, much care was taken to ensure that each flower was the same colour.  The whole process was overseen and put together by hand by Ms Burton and her team.”

“The dress is made with ivory and white satin gazar.  The skirt echoes an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats.  The train measures two metres 70 centimetres.  The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs.  The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.  The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace.”