Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress Revealed! And It's Amazing

Photos of the royal wedding gown and what the fashion world has to say about it, as Kate Middleton heads into her wedding to Prince William

By Ella Stewart Apr 29, 2011 11:47 AMTags
Kate MiddletonDan Kitwood/Getty Images

Behold! Kate Middleton's wedding dress!

The blushing bride made her long-awaited arrival at Westminster Abbey looking elegant and stunning in a long-sleeve lace, ivory and satin gown with flattering V neckline and 8-foot-long train, a simple lace-edged veil and understated (for royal standards) tiara sparkling over her half up, half down hairdo.

Sister and bridesmaid Pippa was on hand to help Kate with the gown as she made her entrance.

So who designed this classic style?!

After five months of endless speculation about who the bride would wear, the official royal wedding website reveals it's—drum roll please—Sarah Burton, the 36-year-old creative director of British fashion house Alexander McQueen!

Buckingham Palace revealed that Kate, 29, worked closely with Burton on the dress. "Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing," the official site states. "[She] wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises...McQueen's work."

As for details, the bodice and skirt's lace appliqué was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, while the dress is made of ivory and white satin gazar. The pleated skirt was made to resemble an "opening flower" (love!), and the bodice, which was "padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry."

As for Burton, she describes the design process as, "very exciting and an incredible experience for my team and I as we have worked closely with Catherine to create this dress under conditions of the strictest secrecy...Catherine looked absolutely stunning today, and the team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created."  

Kate's ivory duchess satin heels were also courtesy of Alexander McQueen.

And the bling? Queen Elizabeth II lent her the Cartier-designed "halo" tiara, and the teardrop diamond earrings were a personal gift from her parents.

Style expert and Fashion Police host George Kotsiopoulos declared of Kate's bridal look, "Yay! May the fashion world rejoice, for It's Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen! Now Kate is officially cool and of course totally modern."

Indeed. It's a breathtaking gown fit for, well, a princess.

What do you think of Kate's dress? Weigh in below!

WATCH! Kate's arrival!!