SPECIAL EDITION: Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

How could I possibly let this day pass without doing a special entry on the Royal Wedding Dress? If you were anywhere as eager as I to see the reveal of Kate's wedding dress, the feeling at 5am EST on April 29th, 2011, evoked feelings similar to Christmas morning when you were say, about 6 years old.

After five months of anxiously awaiting this day, Kate Middleton gracefully step foot onto the steps of Westminster Abbey to reveal a white and ivory satin Alexander McQueen Wedding gown engineered by Sarah Burton.

Kate's 9ft train was designed to resemble a blooming flower composed of gentle white stain pleats originating at the waist, and making their way to the center back of the gown.

 

















There was much speculation whether Kate would be wearing a tiara or not. In this case, her "something borrowed" was the Queen's 1936 diamond Cartier Halo tiara.

"Something blue?"-  Kate had a piece of blue ribbon sewn into the dress’s lining.

"Something new?"- The bride's earrings were a gift from her parents. A pear-drop shaped earring with diamond-set oak leaves and a diamond acorn; a design based on the family’s new coat of arms.

Her veil was created from multiple layers of a lightweight, delicate ivory silk tulle with a hand-embroidered flower trim that fell just below her waist.

Her gown was made with Individual flowers hand-cut from lace and hand-sewn onto ivory silk tulle. There was also beautiful round button detailing on the lace sleeves and down the center back of the gown as echoed on braids maid and sister, Pippa Middleton's dress. 

The bride's shoes barely made an appearance from beneath her floor sweeping skirts but were nonetheless a couture work of art. They too were made by hand by the McQueen team. The closed-toe "court" shoes had about a two and a half inch high heel and was made from ivory duchesse satin embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace.

"I am delighted that the dress represents the best of British craftsmanship. Alexander McQueen's designs are all about bringing contrasts together to create startling and beautiful clothes and I hope that by marrying traditional fabrics and lacework, with a modern structure and design we have created a beautiful dress for Catherine on her wedding day." -Sarah Burton

Note: After the reveal of Sarah Burton's hand crafted Alexander McQueen wedding dress, she is currently one of the top contenders in line to become Dior's new Creative Director. 

Kate Middleton did not use a professional makeup artist for her big day, but did her own instead. A thicker line of black kohl around the eyes, subtle yet smokey. A rosy blush to accent her checks and a soft pink rose on her lips.

"The hair, half up and half down, is a great compromise. Curled very softly at the back and falling into ringlets, her impressive glossy mane is still part of the look."-Beauty expert Elsa Mcalonan

 

A lot of meaning and thought went behind the construction of Kate's wedding bouquet. The bouquet consisted of sweet william, as well as myrtle, lily-of-the-valley and hyacinth designed by Shane Connolly.

"As tradition dictates for royal weddings, the bride's bouquet contains a sprig of myrtle from the original myrtle bush planted by Queen Victoria at Osborne House, Isle of Wight in 1845.

Kate carefully chose her flowers for their significance to the Royal Family, the Middletons and the language of flowers.

Sweet William means gallantry, lily-of-the-valley means return of happiness, hyacinth symbolizes constancy of love, while myrtle is the emblem of marriage and love." - dailymail.co.uk

We wish Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge all the best in their new life together.