Kate Middleton and the Great Dress Goldrush

by Retro Chick
May 4, 2011
12 Comments
2 minutes read
143 Views
14 years ago

Ah, the Royal Wedding.

Just because it’s over doesn’t mean the press releases stop you know.

Yesterday I received an email titled First High Street Copy of Kate’s Dress often I don’t even open press releases, but I couldn’t just leave one sitting there now could I?!

So I opened it, and there it was.

And it made me sad.

In case you’ve forgotten Catherine Middleton wore a stunning satin and lace gown designed by Sarah Burton at the house of McQueen, and the dress showed all the amazing eye for detail and corsetry skills for which McQueen has always been known.

It made me sad because the dress is just wrong. It’s not a horrible wedding dress, it’s a very nice wedding dress, but it I think it misses all the points that made Kate Middletons so special. Kates bodice goes to a tightly nipped waist and padded hips, where as the copy appears to have a much more relaxed bodice flowing smoothly into an A line skirt. I also think the lace on the neckline and sleeves looks far too clumsy and heavy.

It also made me sad because of all the days in a woman’s life that she should be wearing not quite right designer rip offs, surely her wedding day is the top of the “DON’T DO IT!” pile? This is surely a day to want to look like the very best version of you, instead of a cut price version of someone else? I have no doubt the dress will sell well, after all we can’t all afford to wear hand made lace by McQueen on our wedding day, but it lacks the delicacy and elegance of the real thing. I also have no doubt at all that some Brides will look utterly stunning in it and the thought of Kate Middleton won’t cross the mind of anyone in the room.

The dress is by Northern Irish bridal designer Mary-Rose McGrath who designs for House of Fraser. It costs upwards of £1,500, not a cheap purchase in anybody’s book, but, of course, is a fraction of the original’s cost.

Kate’s dress drew comparisons to Grace Kelly, but actually the dresses aren’t that similar at all in reality. They share a nipped waist, and a lace bodice, but that’s all.

Kate’s dress is simpler than Grace’s, with a lower neckline (there’s even a hint of cleavage) but the overall feeling is one of elegant simplicity and delicate grace.

And that’s the secret. If you want to look like a Princess on your wedding day it’s about conjuring up an image, a feeling, and finding the dress that suits your body and your budget. Whether that’s a custom made one off special, a humungous Gypsy Wedding style creation or a simple silk slip.

Don’t buy into someone elses dream, make your own.

12 Comments

jiva May 4, 2011

Lovely post. I was very surprised for my wedding to find a Norwich corsetiere who completed my whole dress and corset to my own styling completely for £800. So it can be done much cheaper and with love and care. I’d suggest any bride shop around.
- perdita May 4, 2011
  
  Not all brides can afford £800! I would suggest a thorough search over a range of places including the ‘dreaded highstreet’… beautiful dresses can be found in vintage markets, bridal boutiques (go by word-of-mouth, some are far better than others) and indeed on the high street. I wore a simple high-street evening dress with vintage accessories (they cost more than the dress!!) in the end for my wedding and was delighted with the result.
  - jiva May 18, 2011
    
    OF course not everyone can afford personal hand made dresses! I was just trying to point out that even in Norwich, there are places you can get that hand made perfection for a reasonable price. Everyone needs to find their own price for each part of a wedding. Its a big day and needs a lot of investigation to get it how a bride (AND GROOM) want it.
perdita May 4, 2011

I couldn’t agree more. That is a sweet, lovely wedding dress and in a way it’s been spoilt by being tweaked into a copy of a now-famous one. There’s a world of difference between being influenced and copying- with wedding dresses it is SO important to find something ‘just perfect’ (NOT just the right price or label or whatever…) that shows the bride – not gives the sad idea that she’d rather be someone else deep-down on the day of love for HER. Oh, that thought has just made me rather sad… 🙁

I had quite a regal dress myself on my wedding day- my husband said I looked ‘like Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons’ (ie posh, not hitting the G&T I hope!) – but it was a simple white evening dress from Monsoon. There are a lot of people who push a fashion or a style, but I am so glad I simply wore a dress that fitted, I felt good in and I liked. Plus I splurged the rest on accessories. 😉

Every bride is a princess for the day… and stores/mags shouldn’t push anyone to feel they have to dress as anyone else…the groom is marrying THEIR gal, not a celeb!
Franca May 4, 2011

the copy is just a different dress with a lace bodice added, isn’t it!

I totally agree the wedding dress should be individual. Personally, I’d like to see more brides wear colours, and things other than strapless. I loved that Kate’s dress had full sleeves!

I’m getting married in september and my dress is a 1950s cream and gold cocktail dress, knee length and with little sleeves. It cost £30 and it’s perfect for me!
Ali May 4, 2011

“This is surely a day to want to look like the very best version of you, instead of a cut price version of someone else?” Hear, hear! I couldn’t agree more 🙂
Blue Skies Vintage Events May 4, 2011

I so agree, as a stylist I would always reccommend that a bride go for the best dress to suit her body shape and the theme of her wedding. You should NEVER wear anything just because it is fashionable or someone famous wore it.

Go for the best dress for you and one which suits your style and gives you an individual look for you on your special day.
Lady Cherry May 5, 2011

I completely agree. I would imagine that if a copy was worn one of the guests would notice, and l would hate to draw such a comparison personally. However, l disagree and don’t like the copy at all. I don’t like the fuss of the lace edges on the neckline, or the lace on the skirt that comes up too high – lm not sure where to look first. And its not cheap at all, but lm sorry to say it kinda looks ir to me. Also agree re Grace Kelly comparison, its more like Princess Margarets, but with lace instead of silk chiffon.
Fashion Limbo May 5, 2011

The truth is, that these copies will sell, all over the place. There will be women wanting to wear these “versions”, which I just don’t get. On top of it, all of the copies I’ve seen are nowhere near the original and are also not cheap.

I can’t get over how beautiful Grace Kelly looked on her wedding day, absolutely stunning.
For Those About To Shop May 8, 2011

I have no idea why a bride would want to wear a copy of someone else’s dress. I can understand being “inspired” by what a celebrity wore, the way American brides began wearing relaxed sheath dresses a la Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the late 90s. But an exact replica of somebody else’s dress? It’s so tacky. I’d be shocked if this dress sells, but I guess it will.
MaryRose McGrath May 13, 2011

I am the above designer who produced the first official high street copy as above, and appreciate all feedback regarding my version of Kate’s dress.
To make a version in 24 hours was a lot of work (we were exhausted!) – and so you can appreciate that we can not, (and of course, legally could not) replicate Kate’s dress exactly. Hence the different lace, scalloping etc. I would also like to point out that we didn’t make it precisely to anyone’s measurements. Hence, for the bride who would like this dress, the cut is specifically made to measure for their proportions , with the option of the bride choosing to have corsetry included to nip her waist in as Kate’s on her wedding day, hence reducing her waistline by up to 4 dress sizes!!
Our version of the skirt is in fact cut very sililarly to Kates, but we didn’t pad the hips. It has a suggestion of embellishment on the hem only to keep costs down for potential brides who may be inspired by her look.

I really value all feedback, and welcome any brides to be to contact me through my website: http://www.maryrosemcgrath.com, should they have any queries regarding the above dress, or any of my other styles.
missmatilda May 18, 2011

Firstly, I want to congratulate you for saying that the Middleton Gown is nothing like the Grace Kelly gown, thank god for common sense, couldn’t agree more.

It’s the whole consumerism bandwaggon that gets on my nerves mostly.
You can’t blame everyone and their mother for wanting to cash in on this.
It’s human nature.

I haven’t really any opinion on the copy dress only that I wouldn’t wear one myself.