There's no doubt that the most buzzed-about dress of the decade is Duchess Catherine's wedding gown, and now fans of the royal couple can see the historic garment with their very own eyes beginning July 23.
The dress was kept under lock-and-key along with its details and designer up until the Duchess's entrance at her April 29th wedding to the Duke of Cambridge, 28. The gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, will be on display at Buckingham Palace during the annual Summer Opening, according to a release from the Royal Collection Press Office.
"The Duchess chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing," the Royal Collection Press Office said. "Her Royal Highness worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress."
Calling it "the experience of a lifetime," Burton explained that "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 team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created."
The 29-year-old royal and her gown, made from ivory and white satin-gazar, received praise from some of the fashion world's most renowned designers:
"The dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor," Karl Lagerfeld told Women's Wear Daily. "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."
Her shoes, by Alexander McQueen, and her diamond earrings, by Robinson Pelham, will also be a part of the display. Joining the wedding ensemble will be the Duke and Duchess's multi-tiered wedding cake, created by Fiona Cairns, a Leicestershire-based cake designer. The exhibit will be on display through October 3, 2011.
