Now the reason for the digging is that I loved the dress, but my teacher from my product evaluation class hated it. He felt it was too plain, had no fashion forward originality, and don't even get him started on the "shroud like veil". His words not mine. Now granted, for the CATHEDRAL setting, the train was a bit of a let down. While I absolutely abhor Princess Diana's wedding dress (she was 18 and it was the 80's, so we'll let it slide), she at least understood that for the setting, you need a bit of theatrics.
As for the dress being overly conservative (everyone thought she'd go strapless), I gotta say, it was appropriate. If someone can tell me of a royal bride that wore a strapless gown within the past 50 years I'd be impressed. Unless you are doing a summer wedding, most people really shouldn't do strapless. Also, if you pay attention, more and more brides are going retro, and/or simplistic, and that often includes sleeves. Icing to the cake? There are many churches out there that ask the bride to be covered up for modesty reasons. Not all, but many.
Another reason Kate's choice of long sleeves was a good call: it's been kind of cold. Now granted the weather in England is probably a bit different than Chicago, but I'm sure she was preparing for whatever was thrown her way. Besides, that deep sweetheart neckline looked pretty sexy on her. Kinda nice to have curve, huh?!
Again, could probably use a bit more of a theatrical flare, but considering both the dress and the venue were all about simplicity (Trees in the cathedral? Yes please!), it was appropriate. She looked stunning, and like a fairy tale princess.
Remember how I said brides are going simplistic? Here is Princess Victoria of Sweden who was married on June 19th last year. Simple, modest, short sleeved. That's the way it works. Heck, one could say Kate's was more playful due to having a lace overlay.
And the main inspiration for the dress (as far as the world can see)? Grace Kelly. But hey, who isn't inspired by this dress. It's elegant, timeless, and both simplistic and done up all at once. Grace looks more conservative than Kate did though, so that says something about Kate being a modern woman, right?
I'm inclined to believe that Princess Margret's dress might have also been an inspiration for Kate's dress. Tight sleeves, a deep V-neck overlay and a shorter train. It's stunning, regal, and not over the top. And that is the problem with America today. When we think "Princess" we think "over the top and covered in shiny things" or "sexy conservative" (low necklines with ball gown silhouettes), when in reality a princess is a woman who can do over the top with a classy sense of RESTRAINT. Maybe it's not as fun of gasp inducing as some of the wedding dresses out there today, but that's what happens when you represent something. If I was to walk into a board meeting somewhere in a mini-skirt and a leather jacket, it would be considered so inappropriate that I would probably be fired on the spot. So to is the way of royalty. If Kate had shown up in a sleeveless ensemble or something tight fitting, I predict there would be such a ruckus made about the inappropriateness of the dress, she'd never live it down.
All in all though, the big thing is that during the entire event William and Kate looked happy. Happy about the fact that they were married and that they'd get to spend the rest of their lives together. As someone wrote it was "the day we began to believe in fairy tales again".
Although I must say, the best dressed the entire day was actually Prince Harry:
Now that's a man in uniform!
