Designers, Critics Praise Middleton's "Elegant," "Discreet" Dress
Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Catherine Middleton gets an A from the fashion world!
Legendary designers instantly weighed in on the 29-year-old bride's Sarah Burton bridal gown -- featuring a plunging neckline, ornate detailing and a structured bodice -- and compare the piece to frocks worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Grace Kelly on their own wedding day.
PHOTOS: The most amazing royal wedding dresses
"She is very elegant," Karl Lagerfeld said, according to Women's Wear Daily. "The dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor. I love the modest veil with the Queen Mother's Thirties scroll tiara and balanced volume of the whole gown. She's radiant; She never was so beautiful."
"Kate's dress was beautiful," Donatella Versace said. "She looked very regal."
PHOTOS: Inside the royal wedding
Added celeb designer Elie Saab: "It was a very elegant dress, subtly refined and discreet, in keeping with her style. I would have liked it even more with a little extra volume and a longer train."
Peter Copping of Nina Ricci: "Very much in a royal tradition, reminiscent of Queen Elizabeth's – and a little bit Grace Kelly. She looks happy, radiant and natural."
PHOTOS: Kate Middleton's style evolution
"The dress is very simple and very nice," added Hubert de Givenchy. "The veil is a little flat, but because she has such a lovely face, she can afford to wear it this way. She is very pretty."
PHOTOS: Celebs who attended the royal wedding
E! Online's George Kotsiopoulos tells Us Weekly: "Kate in Alexander McQueen makes her officially "cool." The open neck [of the dress] makes it more modern and yes, she played it safe but c'mon? The world is watching and it's not the time to take a fashion risk!"
Entertainment Tonight Special Correspondent Steven Cojocaru weighed in exclusively to Us. "The dress is pretty -- exquisite in its simplicity and femininity, elegantly understated, but safe and painfully dull. I was not blown away, but I do give Kate high marks for being totally true to herself. It seems like a very confident choice from a real and earthy, modern woman who clearly didn't want a dress with a lot of bells and whistles. If she was going for a soft and refined feel, then she nailed it."
Designer Vera Wang tells Us: "Catherine truly exuded elegance, grace and poise. Sarah Burton's creation beautifully conveyed timelessness and a classic sensibility. To me, the gown was traditional yet modern, making it a perfect choice for a Royal bride."
