Tatler UK - 07.2019

THE DRESS

Princess Eugenie chose East London

duo Peter Pilotto and Christopher

de Vos, famous for their bold prints

and structured shapes, having met

them when co-hosting a charity

event in 2017. The dress featured a

romantic V-neck and folded-shoul-

der detail, and the fabric was woven

with the White Rose of York, her

family’s emblem, and ivy to repre-

sent Ivy Cottage, Eugenie and her

husband Jack Brooksbank’s home.

She chose not to wear a veil so that

the scar from surgery to correct her

scoliosis would be visible.

The Duchess of Sussex both sur-

prised and wowed the nation with

her choice of designer – Givenchy’s

Artistic Director Clare Waight Keller

• ending widespread speculation that
  it would be Erdem, Ralph & Russo
  (as per the engagement portraits) or
  Alexander McQueen. The dress’
  timeless minimalism and bateau
  neckline were reminiscent of the sig-
  nature style of Audrey Hepburn:
  Hubert de Givenchy’s original muse.
  An impressive five-metre veil com-
  pleted the look, hand-embroidered
  with symbolic flowers including win-

tersweet (found in Kensington Palace

gardens), a California poppy (the

state flower of Meghan’s birthplace),

and 53 flowers representing each of

the Commonwealth countries. The

veil took 500 hours to complete and

embroiderers had to wash their hands

every 30 minutes to ensure it re-

mained pristine. 

Combining tradition and moder-

nity, the Duchess of Cambridge went

to Alexander McQueen’s creative di-

rector, Sarah Burton. The vintage-in-

spired dress with lace sleeves and

three-metre train remains one of the

most talked-about – and copied –

bridal gowns.

Zara Phillips worked with royal

warrant holder Stewart Parvin, and

the White Room bridal boutique,

to create her ivory silk-faille and

duchesse-satin dress with bell-shaped

silhouette, paired with a cathedral-

length tulle veil. Parvin’s classic yet

stylish designs have been worn by the

Princess Royal and the Queen on

many occasions; in fact, Her Majesty

wore Parvin on Zara’s big day.

givenchy.com; peterpilotto.com;

alexandermcqueen.com;

stewartparvin.com; thewhiteroom.co.uk

THE EVENING DRESS

Meghan’s silk halterneck evening

gown by Stella McCartney won

over the fashion set with its elegant,

feminine silhouette. She acces-

sorised the simple dress with an

aquamarine ring from the collec-

tion of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Eugenie strayed from royal tradi-

tion with her reception gown, opt-

ing for American designer Zac

Posen. It had an ethereal beauty:

long sleeves and pleats in a blush

hue, a colour apparently inspired

by an English rose.

Kate stuck with Sarah Burton of

Alexander McQueen to design her

evening ensemble: a white A-line

gown with glitzy diamante belt and

cropped angora cardigan.

stellamccartney.com; zacposen.com;

alexandermcqueen.com ]

The Duchess of

Cambridge in her

Alexander McQueen

evening dress

The Duchess of

Sussex in her

Stella McCartney

evening gown

Princess Eugenie on

the steps of St George’s

Chapel in her Peter

Pilotto dress

ROYAL ROLL CALL

From covetable couturiers to flawless florists and heavenly hairdressers

• these wedding experts are fit for a princess (or duchess)

By CHANDLER TREGASKES

tatler.com Tatler Wedding Guide 2019 5757

PHOTOGRAPHS: VICTORIA JONES / AFP / GETTY IMAGES; JOHN STILWELL / AFP / GETTY IMAGES; STEVE-PARSONS-WPA POOL / GETTY IMAGES

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