Kate Middleton Called Upon Former Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman To Help Select Her Wedding Gown

Apr 10, 2020 by apost team

On April 29 2011, Kate Middleton walked down the aisle to marry Prince William and become the Duchess of Cambridge. For her wedding gown, Kate chose a long-sleeved lace dress that was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, the creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen, and as it turns out former Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman was involved in the decision-making process.

On April 5, 2020, You Magazine published an interview with Alexandra Shulman in which the former Vogue Editor revealed how she played a part in choosing a dress for Prince William’s then bride-to-be:

“Immediately the engagement was announced, there was feverish interest in who would design the dress. As Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, my advice was called on. Naturally, I was hugely flattered and scrambled together a list of designers that I thought might be appropriate, bringing pictures of their work to Clarence House”, Shulman told the magazine. “I remember the Duchess arriving in the large, gracious room and thinking her so much taller and slimmer than I had imagined."

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Shulman went on to describe how Kate Middleton greatly valued her opinion and was curious to hear her suggestions: 

“She was keen to listen to what I had to say, asking questions as we went through the candidates. It was clear that the chosen name should be British, but it was less clear whether it should be a fashion designer or somebody who specialised in bridal wear,” Shulman revealed.

Shulman then talked about how she was involved in Kate Middleton’s final selection of Sarah Burton’s design: 

“We sat on a sofa and discussed the various options, piles of pictures scattered on the floor. As we talked, I began to realise that my favourite was Alexander McQueen, a label which at that point, shortly after McQueen’s horribly untimely death, was newly in the hands of Sarah Burton. I thought that the level of extraordinary craftsmanship and their tradition of working with symbolism would be up to the task, that Sarah and Catherine would get on as women, and that it would be terrific to have a relatively untraditional fashion house given this privilege. And then I left. I didn’t mention the meeting to anyone and I didn’t hear anything more.” 

As we all know, Kate Middleton chose to wear a dress by Sarah Burton on her wedding day – the designer Shulman had suggested. Still, Shulman was not praising herself for being the one who proposed Burton as the designer, instead she humbly concluded:

"I lay no claim to being anything other than one of many sources of that decision, but all the same I was thrilled at being a small speck in the picture of this particular moment in history.”

What were your first thoughts when you saw Kate Middleton walk down the aisle back in 2011? Didn’t she look more than stunning in her wedding gown? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along!