Yoo-Hoo, Kate Middleton! These Alexander McQueen Wedding-Worthy Dresses Have Your Name Written ALL Over Them!
Less than 24 hours after the Alexander McQueen head honchos denied the rumor that Sarah Burton was the front-runner to design Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, they go and put over a dozen mind-blowingly decadent bridal gown-esque suits and dresses on the runway. Now, c’mon guys! For us professional Royal Wedding Speculators that’s as unfair as giving someone six Red Bulls before yoga class: if we were excited before now we’re officially beyond HYPED!
So forgive my caffed-up “review” of the show. Like Tracey, I was pretty jazzed about the idea of Kate Middleton going all high-fashion and opting for a McQueen gown. And now I just can’t help imagining how gorge Kate Middleton would look floating down the aisle in one of these Alexander McQueen Fall 2011 dresses:
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
A white suit may be too formal for the young bride-to-be, but this fit ‘n’ trim jacket could be worn over the appropriate long gown, if the wedding day is chilly. It would make the inevitable smiling-over-the-left-shoulder-as-she-enters-the-church photo op pretty high-drama. Just look at those shoulders! Gaaaah!
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
Or Kate could opt for this richly embellished marabou-trim gown. It has all the depth and craftsmanship of an ornate wedding gown but with none of the usual glitzy add-ons like sequins, bugle beads, etc. Plus, the embellished straps would prevent Kate from traditional strapless wedding dress issues like having to futz with her neckline or choose the perfect complementary necklace.
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
It’s doubtful the Queen Mum will approve of the mullet-style silhouette, but Kate could lower the hemline on this gown a few inches and it’d be traditional enough for her new in-laws while still allowing her to walk with ease. (And show off what’ll obviously be a fantastic pair of shoes–something we haven’t even DISCUSSED yet! Guess we know what we’re doing for the next 41 days.)
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
If Kate wants a bit of drama and a big nod to all the royal brides who’ve walked down the aisle before her, she could go for a sculptural, 18th-century inspired gown. The folded pleats on the skirt of this dress create the silhouette of a fairytale ballgown while the boxier lines keep the overall shape clean and modern. Plus, you know there’s some room down in those pleats for the all-important tissue-stashing: if you thought your wedding was an emotional roller-coaster, can you imagine the strain and glee of marrying a PRINCE and starring in THE wedding of the century? I’d probably be crying every day if I were Kate.
Moving on, if getting multiple photo ops and wardrobe changes are a priority, there were two short, frothy Alexander McQueen dresses that I could see Kate changing into after the dinner reception, when she and her 1900+ guests hit the dance floor.
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
(You don’t want to wear a dress with a mega train when you and hundreds of crowned royals and international heads of states are doing the Macarena. Tripping up a monarch is a total wedding DON’T.)
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
But I think the real royal wedding dress contender was this woven strapless gown–minus the S&M-inspired harness that was placed on the top.
A model on the runway at Alexander McQueen’s fall 2011 show at La Conciergerie. Designed by Sarah Burton.
When I was backstage before the show I spotted this dress on a mannequin and it looked completely different without the leather straps and helmet-headed model. The bodice is woven out of chiffon then “studded” with tufts of beads. It has an understated elegance that meshes well with Kate’s own signature style, while at the same time is incredibly intricate, blissfully romantic and highly photogenic from all angles.
And the back, oh the back! The airy silk chiffon train just melts into the floor, though Kate would probably want a slightly longer train added onto hers for it to be more, well, princessy.
But perhaps most importantly, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could find something to criticize about this particular design: it’s simple yes, but a McQueen wedding dress can never, *ever *in a million years be considered boring, thanks to the house’s heritage, the superb craftsmanship and the newly minted superstar designer status of Sarah Burton. And that’s something to seriously consider when you’re dressing for yourself, your family, your 1900 guests, plus 10,000+ cameras and hundreds of millions of armchair fashion critics.
__How’s that for some wedding dress daydream candy! Can’t you see Kate Middleton wearing one of these Alexander McQueen dresses on her wedding day? Isn’t your heart rate elevated after seeing ’em? Which dress do you like best? Would love to hear what you guys think!
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Photos: Fairchild Archive
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