Courtesy Wireimage.com

Finally we know and Catherine Middelton most certainly did not disappoint. After months of speculation, incessant rumours and chaos in the blogosphere, the newly-crowned Princess chose a glorious gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. According to the official wedding website, the bride selected the British brand Alexander McQueen “for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanhship.”

The dress design pays tribute to the Arts and Crafts tradition, while giving it a modern and feminine character. The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework and hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace has been used throughout the bodice and skirt. The entire process (hours to create unknown) was overseen and put together by hand by Ms Burton and her team. Perhaps most significant is the ivory satin bodice itself with narrowed waist and padded hips: Not only is reported that such a design is inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, but it is also a distinctive signature of Alexander McQueen’s designs. Read the rest of this entry

Legendary footwear designer Manolo Blahnik wants Kate Middleton’s wedding shoes to represent ”springtime.”

Manolo Blahnik wants Kate Middleton‘s wedding shoes to represent “springtime.”

The brunette beauty will marry Prince William on April 29 at London’s Westminster Abbey and the legendary shoe designer is keen for the future queen’s footwear to be quite classic.

He told WWD: “An ivory silk pump with organza lilies of the valley and sea pearls. It represents springtime and everything fresh and new, which is what Kate Middleton is all about.”

However, fellow shoe designer Giuesppe Zanotti wants Kate to take a less traditional approach to her bridal footwear. Read the rest of this entry

(Well, sort of…)

It goes without saying that editors receive invites to many events (many, many) and it can take some clever marketing on the PR front to not only grab our attention, but give us the impetus to RSVP. This morning I received an invite that did exactly that, thanks to Coty Canada.

Check it out, ladies (just click on it to see a larger image): Beautiful, right?

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From Vogue UK to our friends at FLARE, everyone is putting in their two-cents on what wedding dress Kate Middleton should wear on her big (read: very big) day.

Britain’s own Jenny Packman has been added to the burgeoning list, as has the illustrious house of Givenchy. Not surprising, Kate seems to have her pick (with the exception of this designer who has already confirmed she’s not in the game).

So, instead of joining this repartee – however lovely it is – we thought we’d do something a bit different: Our editors have come back from all the spring 2011 shows and, with the help of their Trend Report, we’re imagining Kate’s suitcases filled with these gorgeous looks. Are you with us? Read the rest of this entry