The little story behind the Alexander McQueen dresses worn by Kate Middleton on the portraits of her 40 years
For her fortieth birthday, this January 9, the Duchess of Cambridge unveiled a series of majestic portraits, with Victorian inspiration. She appears there dressed in creations signed Alexander McQueen, each with a story of their own.
In 2011, Kate Middleton asked Sarah Burton, artistic director of the Alexander McQueen house since the couturier's disappearance in May 2010, to create her wedding dress. Eleven years later, Prince William's wife once again turned to her for her 40th birthday portrait outfits. On the program: three ball gowns with a Victorian spirit. By taking inspiration from previous collections and reusing existing fabrics, the two women further assert their bond and commitment through this new collaboration.
The Red dress
Among the three creations of the British label, Kate Middleton slipped into a long asymmetrical red dress with a voluminous leg sleeve. Its waist was marked by a thin elastic to make room for a large petticoat with pockets. A piece inspired by a creation from the fall-winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection. Very comfortable in this model, the Duchess of Cambridge poses with a smile on Paolo Roversi’s lens. It was also the Italian photographer who signed the images of this collection inspired by Sarah Burton by anemones: “Women wearing anemone dresses almost become flowers, a true incarnation of their nature, amplified, real, radiant and powerful".
Inspired by nature
In the second portrait, Kate Middleton takes on the air of a ballerina. She wears a voluminous white organza dress, which is inspired by a creation from the spring-summer 2022 collection. phase with the simplicity and elegance of the future queen. In an interview dedicated to the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, the photographer, author of this shot, said: “For the official portrait, she wore the organza one, almost like a ballet dancer. In the end, I wanted to take photos on the move, so with this wonderful wide skirt I made her dance in front of my lens. ” This photo has not, for the moment, been shared.
Frills and royal jewels
Finally, the third dress, also white in color, comes with an asymmetrical sleeve covered with fabrics for a "frilly" effect. Each of the looks has been accessorized with jewelry belonging to Princess Diana and Queen Elisabeth II and only confirms the effectiveness of the Middleton-Burton duo. Between them, it's a story that lasts.
A shoot under the sign of good humor
Also at Corriere Della Serra, Paolo Roversi says that Prince William and their three children participated in the selection of the final photos. Of the 250 black and white photos taken, the family managed to agree on the three "winning" photos. And to underline the bias of a photo shoot without artifice, where only the natural light and the good humor of the Duchess were enough. "Little makeup, no hairstyle, simple earrings, a ring ... The focal point of Kate's face is her eyes and her smile," the artist recounts.
