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Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The History of Princess Diana's Wedding Dress: All About the Designers, the Lost Backup Gown and That Record-breaking Train
When Princess Diana walked down the aisle with King Charles III (then known as the Prince of Wales) in 1981, her extravagant wedding gown solidified her status as a fashion icon — and set trends for years to come: Mariah Carey, who married music executive Tommy Mottola in 1993, tapped Vera Wang to create a wedding dress inspired by Diana's. Ahead, learn about the history behind the iconic gown, including its designers, its cost and where it is today. More from WWD Princess Diana's Trooping the Colour Looks Through the Years: Suiting Up in Catherine Walker, Going Monochrome in Jan Van Velden and More A Look Back at Kate Middleton's Cartier Wedding Day Tiara on Her 13th Wedding Anniversary: A Brief History of the Royal Family's Tradition Pamela Anderson Channels Vintage Allure in Thom Browne at 'The Naked Gun' Premiere With Liam Neeson Who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress? David and Elizabeth Emanuel, also known as the Emanuels, designed Princess Diana's wedding dress. She first became fond of the duo after wearing one of their chiffon blouses, which was custom-made for her engagement portrait session. The ruffled pink top recently fetched $381,000 at auction. 'When she saw our blouse on the rack she fell in love with it, asked who had made it and was directed to us,' Elizabeth Emanuel said in her 2006 book, 'A Dress for Diana.' Diana herself selected the Emanuels to design her wedding gown, which, per Elizabeth, 'had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved' and which would be 'suitably dramatic in order to make an impression.' What is Princess Diana's wedding dress made of? The gown was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana's great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary. Embroidery, sequins and over 10,000 pearls adorned its waistline, hem and train, which broke royal wedding records with a length of 25 feet. A small blue bow was sewn into the waistband of the gown for Diana's 'something blue,' and an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm was also stitched in for good luck. A Look Back at Princess Diana's Wedding Dress [PHOTOS] View Gallery For 'peace of mind,' the Emanuels designed a second gown for Diana's wedding day. 'At the time we wanted to make absolutely sure that the dress was a surprise,' Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011. 'Had the secret of the real dress got out it's possible that Diana would actually have worn this one.' Sketches of the backup gown were first revealed in 2023. Also made from ivory silk taffeta — but without the antique lace — it was embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves. Tiny pearls were also sewn onto the bodice. The alternate dress, however, has since vanished. 'It was really just a backup to the original and I don't know where it went. It just disappeared,' Elizabeth Emanuel told Hello! in 2023. How much did Princess Diana's wedding dress cost? At the time of its creation, Diana's gown was worth approximately $114,800. Today, that's equivalent to around $448,500. Where is Princess Diana's wedding dress today? In her will, Diana bequeathed her bespoke gown to her sons, Princes William and Harry. They officially inherited it in 2014, upon the latter's 30th birthday. They've since loaned out the wedding dress for exhibition: in 2021, it was put on display as part of Kensington Palace's show titled 'Royal Style in the Making,' which concluded in 2022. The Legacy of the Wedding Dress To this day, the late Princess of Wales's wedding gown remains a fashion fixture, so much so that the dress became the subject of a documentary in 2025. In June, Britain's Channel 5, a division of Paramount Global, debuted the TV documentary 'Secrets of Diana's Wedding Dress.' The one-hour documentary chronicles the meteoric rise of designers David and Elizabeth Emmanuel from Royal College of Art graduates to the creators of Diana's wedding gown. Along with a spotlight on the Emmanuels, the documentary also highlighted Greek-born Nina Missetzis, who hand-sewed the dress and worked in tandem with the Emmanuels' team of seamstresses. 'Secrets of Diana's Wedding Dress' revealed details about the fittings prior to Charles and Diana's wedding on July 29, 1981, the wedding photos, the late British royal family member's anxieties regarding then-Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles (now King Charles III's wife of roughly 20 years and the queen consort) and so much more. 'The dress has dominated my life,' Elizabeth Emmanuel said. 'I had wanted to do a documentary like this for many years. There are loads and loads of documentaries about Diana, quite rightly, but this is a story within a story that's never been told, and it's a story of teamwork,' she said. A Look Back at Princess Diana's Wedding Dress [PHOTOS] View Gallery Launch Gallery: A Look Back at Princess Diana's Wedding Dress [PHOTOS] Best of WWD What to Wear When It's Too Hot: Style Tips for Keeping Cool on Sweltering Days The Best Hair and Makeup Moments From 'The Devil Wears Prada' Original Movie 'Freaky Friday' Beauty Moments That Defined Y2K: From Calico Hair to Chipped Nails Solve the daily Crossword
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘Naked dresses' killed red carpet, says designer behind Diana dress
Red carpet glamour is 'dead' because women are trying to show too much flesh, according to the designer behind Princess Diana's wedding dress. Elizabeth Emanuel, globally known for designing the ivory silk, taffeta and antique lace wedding dress with 10,000 pearls and sequins and a 25ft train, took aim at 'the naked dress' trend being seen at award ceremonies and premiers globally. Writing in Radio Times, she said: 'Glamour on the red carpet is dead. 'Everyone seems to be doing the same thing, flashing as much flesh as possible... Everyone looks like they're trying to stand out, but they all look the same.' The world-renowned British designer boasts a star-studded client list, including Madonna, Cher, Michelle Obama and Courtney Love. She was also responsible for making the original red Virgin Atlantic air hostess outfits for her client Richard Branson. Her comments come after the Cannes film festival banned nudity on the red carpet this year over the celebrity craze. Festival organisers said the move had been made in the interests of 'decency' following the increasing use of red carpets to show off risqué 'naked dresses', which typically show off the wearer more than the couture. The new rule was stated in a festival document, reading: 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' A host of A-listers names have taken to the 'naked dress' at red carpet events, including Halle Berry, Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian. It has also been championed by the supermodels Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Cara Delevigne. Red carpet stylist Catherine Hayward previously told The Telegraph the trend is thanks to Kate Moss's sheer dress over black knickers in 1994. She said: 'It's risqué; it's revealing. And, of course, it helps if you have a trim figure.' 'Clothes have immense power' Others credit Cher's 1974 Bob Mackie creation as the first naked dress, but the trend has become much more prevalent in the past ten years. 'The naked dress has been done to death,' Ms Emanuel concluded, explaining that the red carpet was previously 'a riot of colour and fabrics, imagination, inspiration and spectacle.' She added: 'Clothes have an immense power, one that should be celebrated. But that power doesn't seem to exist any more. Individuality has gone. That's most evident on the red carpet.'
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Over 200 rare Princess Diana items to fetch thousands at auction
By Dean Murray Over 200 rare Princess Diana items are set to go up for auction. Julien's Auctions' highly anticipated sale will include some of the most memorable garments ever worn by the Princess of Wales-many never before seen at auction. Julien's Auctions' said: "This auction not only honors Diana's inimitable sense of style but offers collectors the rare chance to acquire pieces that defined her transformation from shy royal bride to global fashion icon." Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Julien's Auctions, said: "Princess Diana's legacy lives on not only through her humanitarian work but also in the timeless elegance of her style, which continues to inspire the world. "This unprecedented collection offers collectors and admirers a rare opportunity to own a piece of royal history and pay tribute to one of the most beloved figures of our time." Included in the auction are pieces by Elizabeth Emanuel, the celebrated British Fashion Designer who-along with then-husband David Emanuel-created Princess Diana's unforgettable wedding gown in 1981. Elizabeth Emanuel said: "Princess Diana's timeless beauty and enduring style continues to resonate with so many of her fans today. I wanted to share my cherished memories in the form of some of the precious pieces I have been preserving for so many years as I know they will be loved and appreciated once again by those who will never forget those golden days when Diana was our Queen of Hearts." A portion of proceeds from Princess Diana items will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK, continuing the Princess's lifelong legacy of charitable giving. The "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" event will take place in Beverly Hills on 26 June. Featured Princess Diana Auction highlights include: Attire, Dresses & Suits: 1988 Bellville Sassoon Floral Day Dress, Estimate $100,000-$200,000 1986 Catherine Walker Falcon Evening Gown, Estimate $200,000-$300,000 1987 Bruce Oldfield Yellow Floral Ensemble, Estimate $100,000-$200,000 Photo Worn Three-Piece Escada Suit, Estimate $30,000-$50,000 Photographed HEAD Scarlet Nylon Ski Suit, Estimate $30,000-$50,000 Photographed 1995 Catherine Walker Black Cocktail Dress, Estimate $20,000-$30,000 1995 New York Catherine Walker Coat Dress, Estimate $30,000-$50,000 1997 British Lung Foundation Sweatshirt, Estimate $10,000-$20,000 1981 Emanuels Black Taffeta Evening Gown, Estimate $20,000-$40,000 1981 Elizabeth Emanuel Wedding Gown Illustration with Diana's Wedding Gown Clippings, Estimate $4,000-$6,000 Accessories, Shoes & Handbags: Photo Worn 1981 Honeymoon Send Off John Boyd Peach Pink Straw Archer Style Hat, Estimate $20,000-$40,000 1990 Japan Royal Visit Rayne Read Leather Shoes and Clutch (With Book), Estimate $4,000-$6,000 1992 Seoul, Korea Rayne Navy Blue Suede Pumps, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 New York 1989 Black Rayne Matte/Patent Leather Pumps, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 1991 Photographed Two-Tone Cream & Tan Rayne Leather Pumps, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 1993 Photo Worn Chanel Two-Tone Pumps, Estimate $3,000-$5,000 1990 Christmas At Sandringham Rayne Two Tone Shoes, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 1993 Zimbabwe Rayne Two-Tone Pumps, Estimate $3,000-$5,000 1985 Charles Jourdan Red Leather Semi-Circle Convertible Clutch, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 Lady Dior Lambskin Handbag, Estimate $20,000-$30,000 1992 Rayne Cream Two-Tone Leather Pumps, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 Featured Royal Auction highlights include: Princess Margaret | Norman Hartnell Fashion Illustration, Estimate $1,000-$2,000 Princess Margaret | Antique Russian Diamond, Natural Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire-Set Bracelet, Estimate $80,000-$100,000 King George VI | Princess Margaret Gifted Diamond Watch Pendant, Estimate $70,000-$90,000 Duchess of Windsor | Givenchy Haute Couture Evening Dress, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 Princess Margaret | 1954 Handwritten Letter to Sharman Douglas, Estimate $2,000-$4,000 The post Over 200 rare Princess Diana items to fetch thousands at auction appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
