They were among the most talked-about wedding dresses in the world: a look back at seven differences between the wedding dresses of Kate and Pippa Middleton.
It was the most closely watched happy event of the weekend: the beautiful Pippa Middleton married James Matthews on Saturday, May 20th, at St. Mark's Church in Englefield. In 2011, she was the one whose backless dress, showcased in a McQueen gown, caused a sensation at her older sister Kate's wedding. Six years later, she was once again in the spotlight. While the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a nude pink dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, her wedding dress with its long train also remains memorable. Let's decode the seven differences between these two exceptional wedding dresses.
The designer. The dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge for her wedding was by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, while Pippa Middleton opted this weekend for designer Giles Deacon. Both British, Deacon is known for his highly original creations, quite different from Pippa's rather classic style.
He completely embraced her vision, offering her a bespoke wedding dress. A challenge the designer was delighted to take on, as he told Business of Fashion: "Creating for the red carpet is fantastic, but it's a real privilege to create a unique wedding piece for a client who may have dreamed of it their whole life." He added that Pippa "really has an eye and knew what she wanted."
The sleeves. Pippa's dress had very short sleeves, while her sister's were long and made of sheer lace. A flattering choice for both, perhaps more so for Pippa, who doesn't have to adhere to royal protocol.
The veil. Pippa's, designed by milliner Stephen Jones, was very long and embroidered with pearls, creating a delicate outline around the dress. The Duchess wore a shorter veil, no doubt to balance the length of her train.
The price. The Princess's dress was estimated by experts at around €35,000, while her sister's could have cost over €45,000. For both, a royal budget indeed!
The design. Kate Middleton wore a satin dress with Calais lace panels whose details, as befits royalty, symbolized the nations of the United Kingdom. Her younger sister's dress consisted of an organza and tulle skirt and a bodice entirely hand-embroidered with silk lace and beaded details. The lace was thicker, as if the dress were made entirely of it. The designer's idea? "I wanted people to wonder, 'But how is that made?' when they saw it [...] and create the illusion of a seamless dress," he told Business of Fashion. The result was a success.
The neckline. While the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a V-neck, Pippa wore a dress with a high neck this Saturday. The neckline here extends to the back, revealing a pretty heart shape.
The train. Monumental but not excessive, the magnificent train of the princess's dress measured 2.7 meters, hence the necessary intervention of her now-legendary sister. Pippa's wedding dress didn't have any. No risk of being upstaged!
