"Thrilled to Bits": Former Vogue Editor Recalls Helping Princess Kate Pick Her Wedding Designer
A top-secret meeting shaped Princess Kate’s unforgettable wedding dress.
When it comes to fashion, Princess Kate has always been in a league of her own. Whether stepping out in a statement outfit for a royal appearance, an elegant gown for a formal outing, or a showstopping look for a major event, the Princess of Wales knows exactly how to leave her mark. However, choosing her wedding dress was no simple task, and she reportedly struggled with the final decision. That is where former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, came in; her advice quietly helped shape one of the most memorable moments in fashion history.
Looking back at the moment in her book, Black Coffee and Red Lipstick: Notes on Living, Shulman recalled the top-secret process with fondness, according to HELLO!. She described how Middleton scheduled an appointment with her to discuss potential wedding dress designers; a request that left her ecstatic. As Shulman put it, “When Catherine and William got engaged, somebody from her office got in touch with me and said she'd love to have a conversation about potential wedding designers; I was absolutely thrilled to bits.”
Shulman admitted she wasn’t sure how the process would work, so she put together a selection of photos from designers she thought might suit the Princess. Recalling her uncertainty, she explained, “I didn't know how designer-literate she was, because at this point she wasn't wearing McQueen or Erdem. Try as I might, I couldn't find a single picture of a British designer who had a lovely conventional white dress. Every one had spooky make-up. Anyway, we talked, and at the end she asked me who I thought would be best.” That final question left Shulman momentarily stumped, as she wasn't immediately sure which designer would be the perfect fit.
Reflecting on her thought process, Shulman explained, “There wasn't a surefire person. I thought Vivienne Westwood would be great, but I thought Vivienne's personality might be hard to marry with the formality of dealing with the royal household. There was the whole tranche of designers who would have been the traditional choices, like Bruce Oldfield or Catherine Walker, but I knew they would be associated with her late mother-in-law, so that probably wasn't going to work.” She also considered recommending younger designers, though she doubted they would be the right fit.
Ultimately, she ended up suggesting Sarah Burton, the creative director at Alexander McQueen, noting, “Because she was a woman, and she's got a very strong but very gentle personality. And Catherine just nodded and said, ‘Thank you.’” That subtle exchange sparked the creation of the iconic dress Middleton wore on her big day.
