Princess Eugenie just arrived at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank. Here's everything you need to know about her stunning gown:
Who designed it?
This morning, royal family revealed that the dress was designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. Per a release from the family, "During several fittings the dress was developed layer by layer, constructing it from the corset and the complex underskirt to the fitted bodice and full pleated skirt. The dress features a neckline that folds around the shoulders to a low back that drapes into a flowing full length train. The low back feature on the dress was at the specific request of Princess Eugenie who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis."
The dress also features symbols that are important to the bride, including a Thistle for Scotland, a Shamrock for Ireland, the York Rose, and ivy to represent the couple's home. The designers added the symbols into the dress in a garland of rope like motifs, woven into a jacquard of silk, cotton, and viscose blend, according to the Palace. Her shoes were designed by Charlotte Olympia. Eugenie's look was completed with the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, which was lent to her by the Queen.
Unlike with Meghan Markle's dress back in May, the rumor mill has been relatively quiet about who might design Eugenie's gown. But with less than two weeks to go, oddsmakers predicted that the Princess would wear Erdem down the aisle. British betting site Ladbrookes favored the popular designer with odds of 7/2. While it wasn't ultimately correct, it also wasn't a bad guess considering we know for certain that it will be designed by a Brit.
"I'm not telling anyone who is making it, but I can say it is a British-based designer," she said in a recent interview.
"[The dress] is the one thing that I was really decisive about. As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away. I never thought I'd be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I've been pretty on top of it."
Other favorites included Suzannah at 5/1 and Jenny Packham at 6/1 odds.
What will the process be like for the dressmaker?
Before Meghan's wedding, Sassi Holford, who created Autumn Phillips's gown for her 2008 wedding to the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, described what it was like to design a royal wedding dress. Given Eugenie, Meghan, and Autumn share a wedding venue, much of her intel still applies.
"It is very important for the dress to fit the venue as well as the occasion," Holford told Marie Claire. "The grand rooms and drama of Windsor Castle and St. George's means the dress should have enough detail to be seen from a distance, be fit for a royal wedding."
Did she wear a veil?
Eugenie made an unconventional choice to forgo a veil on her wedding day. Every royal bride in recent history has worn a veil (that is except Camilla, when she wed Prince Charles and Princess Anne, when she wed Sir Tim Laurence; two women on their second marriages later in life).
Who designed her second dress?
A relatively new trend is for royal brides to wear a second wedding dress before their reception. For example, Meghan Markle changed out of her bateau-neck Clare Waight Keller design, and into a more fashion-forward look by Stella McCartney for the reception at Frogmore House.
Princess Eugenie embraced this trend by changing into a blush gown by Zac Posen for her reception. The color choice reflects the blush shade of an English rose. Eugenie also wore a hair slide that belongs to the Queen, with a pair of diamond and emerald drop earrings that were a wedding gift from Jack.
See that gorgeous ensemble here:
As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects
