Kate’s bridal style.

The speculation had been almost frenzied – who would design the wedding dress of the century? Would it be Alice Temperley? Bruce Oldfield was a popular choice for a time, but then tailed off towards the end? Would Kate use Daniella Helayel of Issa, one of her favourite designers? There was a late surge for Sophie Cranston, but on Friday morning at 11.00a.m, the whole of the fashion world  shrieked with pleasure at the news that Kate Middleton had chosen Sarah Burton from the House of Alexander McQueen to design her  wedding dress. And what a beautiful dress it was!

Kate Middleton looked truly regal as she walked down the aisle in  a dress that echoed the Royal brides of days gone by. There was a nod to Princess Margaret with her nipped in waist and full satin skirt. There was another nod to  Grace Kelly, whose Helen Rose designed dress many think was the most beautiful royal wedding dress of all time. With its long lace sleeves and bodice, this dress held the same demure, beautiful appeal as that timeless gown.

Kate had made the perfect choice in choosing Sarah Burton to design the most important dress of her life, and Sarah Burton had created the perfect dress for Kate. It was both simple and yet exquisite. It was a dress that you noticed more detail in the longer you looked at it. It fitted Kate’s slim frame like a glove. Following royal protocol it was demure, with long fitted lace sleeves and a corset bodice covered in intricate lace. The ivory and white gazer skirt flowed beautifully as it was padded underneath so that the pleating flowed perfectly. It felt so contemporary, and yet had a beautiful vintage feel thanks to the lace.

20 embroiders had spent four weeks working on the lace, apparently believing it was for a period drama on tv. There have been various estimates about how much the dress cost, with anything from £40,000 to £250,000 given.

There  is no doubt that Kate made a beautiful Princess Bride. That is why her veil was another triumph. It was a very thin gossamer, almost sheer, which meant we could see every smile and expression on her face. She wore her hair half up. half down, a style she had been trialling recently, and the veil was framed by her something borrowed, the Cartier ‘Halo’ tiara that was on loan from The Queen.

The train was just under 3ft. relatively restrained by Royal standards, but perfect for a modern-day royal bride.

The day saw Kate Middleton become the Duchess of Cambridge, but will also be remembered as the birth of Kate the style icon. The choice of Sarah Burton was fashion forward and brave, and a real result for British Fashion. As predicted, Kate did change her dress for the evening reception, but stayed loyal to Sarah Burton. The second dress was another glorious design.

This was another elegant ivory number, but with an eye-catching diamante band at the waist. She wore this was an Angora bolero (which I.m sure she would’ve removed once the dancing was in  full flow!), and with her trademark loose hair. She looked absolutely radiant, every inch the future queen, and definitely a new queen of style!

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