Future queen breathtaking in McQueen

BRITAIN’S future queen wore McQueen.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, took our collective breath away as she emerged from the bridal Rolls Royce in Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton. Kate’s glossy chestnut curls were crowned with her “something borrowed” — a Cartier “halo” tiara, on loan from the queen.

Her exquisite diamond- drop earrings by Robinson Pelham were a gift from her parents. Her McQueen pumps were hand-fashioned from duchesse satin and lace.

The gown featured French Chantilly and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, sleeves and skirt. The train stretched a modest 2.7 metres. The skirt was designed to emulate a blossoming flower, with the padded hips flowing outward. The embroidery required a reported 60 pairs of hands. In a subtle nod to Princess Diana’s wedding gown, the back was finished with 58 gazar and organza buttons fastened by rouleau loops.

Prince William greeted his bride at the altar with the words “You look beautiful.” Kate could hardly contain her smile throughout the ceremony.

Her confidence and maturity were evidenced by her bold choice of designer.

Alexander McQueen, after all, is a label best known for controversial catwalk shows, outré tailoring and the dangerously low-cut trousers favoured by Britney Spears throughout the 90s.

Kate made a very different bride to her late mother-in-law. Diana melted heartstrings at St Paul’s in a fairytale- inspired gown by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel. Yet in hindsight, and by inevitable comparison, she looked like a little girl lost in a sea of silk taffeta. Kate is very much a woman sure of her place in her husband’s life and family.

The gown, viewed by billions, is the most influential of the century thus far. When Sarah Burton took on the role of creative director last year, her tenure seemed destined to be over- shadowed by the death of her predecessor and mentor. Now she is an international star in her own right. No actress, pop star or politician’s wife can change a designer’s career so much and so fast as Prince William’s bride. With this dress, Sarah Burton has woven her own name into history and what’s more, she was actually sought after for the privilege. Few red-carpet designers can claim such an honour.

Ms Burton said yesterday that working with Kate was “the experience of a lifetime”. “It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created. 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.”

The design team worked very successfully to keep the details of the dress confidential, only slipping up when the designer was spotted entering the bride’s hotel yesterday.

“Understandably, Catherine has been very keen to keep the details of her dress a secret, which is every bride’s prerogative,” said the designer.

“Catherine looked absolutely stunning today, and the team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created.”

This dress will influence innumerable wedding gowns in years to come. Even as the bride and groom exchanged vows, eager designers were sketching every detail, ready to reproduce replicas within weeks. Manhattan-based bridal couturier Don O’Neill even created a dress he imagined Kate would choose in advance. “The Kate” is on sale under his label, Theia, for summer 2011 brides.

This practice is nothing new.

According to the New York Times, a knock-off of Grace Kelly’s bridal gown appeared in the window of a Boston department store on the evening of her wedding. Princess Diana’s gown also inspired countless copies, including an almost exact replica Vera Wang worn by Mariah Carey in 1993.