Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer
Encyclopedia
The wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer was worn by Lady Diana Spencer
at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales
on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral
. Diana wore a ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot (7.62 m) train, valued then at £9000. It became one of the most famous dresses in the world, and was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.
and Elizabeth Emanuel
and was described as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved", and one which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression". Diana Spencer had personally selected the designers to make her wedding dress as she had been fond of a chiffon blouse which they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon
.
The woven silk taffeta was made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk
. In the making of the dress, the Emanuels consulted Maureen Baker, who had made the wedding dress of Princess Anne
. One observer wrote of the dress, "the dress was a crinoline, a symbol of sexuality and grandiosity, a meringue embroidered with pearls and sequins, its bodice frilled with lace". The traditional Carrickmacross lace
-making technique used on the wedding dress was later used on the wedding dress of Kate Middleton
in her marriage to Prince William, Diana's eldest son. It was also decorated with hand embroidery
, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The making of the dress posed difficulties, given that Diana had developed bulimia and had dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 in the run-up to the wedding; even the seamstress was concerned about her weight loss and that the dress would not fit as it should. Due to the length of the train, Diana's father found it difficult to fit inside the glass coach to accompany his daughter to the cathedral.
Even after the styles became dated, many considered it a "gold standard" in wedding dresses. However, continued appreciation for the dress was not universal: one 2004 bridal magazine listed it as "too much dress, too little princess." Nevertheless, in 2011, Elizabeth Emanuel noted that she still received requests for replicas of Diana's dress.
The dress has toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", though generally it stays for only part of the exhibit. Althorp House, Northampton is the primary display location of the dress.
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. Diana wore a ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot (7.62 m) train, valued then at £9000. It became one of the most famous dresses in the world, and was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.
Design
The dress was designed by DavidDavid Emanuel (fashion designer)
David Emanuel is a Welsh fashion designer who is, perhaps, best known for having designed the wedding dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981.-Early years:Born and brought up in Bridgend , David Emanuel excelled in music...
and Elizabeth Emanuel
Elizabeth Emanuel
Elizabeth Emanuel is a fashion designer who, along with husband David Emanuel, is best known for her 1981 work for the wedding of Diana, Princess of Wales...
and was described as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved", and one which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression". Diana Spencer had personally selected the designers to make her wedding dress as she had been fond of a chiffon blouse which they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon
Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon
Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, GCVO, RDI is an English photographer and film maker. He was married to Princess Margaret, younger daughter of King George VI and younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II....
.
The woven silk taffeta was made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. In the making of the dress, the Emanuels consulted Maureen Baker, who had made the wedding dress of Princess Anne
Wedding dress of Princess Anne
The Wedding dress of Princess Anne was the bridal gown worn by The Princess Anne at her first marriage to Mark Phillips on 14 November 1973, at Westminster Abbey...
. One observer wrote of the dress, "the dress was a crinoline, a symbol of sexuality and grandiosity, a meringue embroidered with pearls and sequins, its bodice frilled with lace". The traditional Carrickmacross lace
Carrickmacross lace
Carrickmacross lace is a type of needle lace. Originating in Carrickmacross, Ireland in the early 19th century, it is still practised today.The lace is worked by tacking fine muslin onto machine netting...
-making technique used on the wedding dress was later used on the wedding dress of Kate Middleton
Wedding dress of Kate Middleton
The wedding dress of Kate Middleton was the bridal gown worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at her wedding to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, on 29 April 2011. The dress was designed by English designer Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen....
in her marriage to Prince William, Diana's eldest son. It was also decorated with hand embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The making of the dress posed difficulties, given that Diana had developed bulimia and had dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 in the run-up to the wedding; even the seamstress was concerned about her weight loss and that the dress would not fit as it should. Due to the length of the train, Diana's father found it difficult to fit inside the glass coach to accompany his daughter to the cathedral.
Reception and influence
After the wedding, few specifically wanted a dress in the same design, but large puffed sleeves, a full skirt and "soft touch fabrics" became popular requests. Copies by other dressmakers were available "within hours" of the 1981 wedding.Even after the styles became dated, many considered it a "gold standard" in wedding dresses. However, continued appreciation for the dress was not universal: one 2004 bridal magazine listed it as "too much dress, too little princess." Nevertheless, in 2011, Elizabeth Emanuel noted that she still received requests for replicas of Diana's dress.
The dress has toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", though generally it stays for only part of the exhibit. Althorp House, Northampton is the primary display location of the dress.