Update 10/12: On Friday, Princess Eugenie wore a gorgeous wedding dress by Peter Pilotto to walk down the aisle in at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The bride accessorized with a glittering Grenville Emerald tiara, loaned to her by her grandmother Queen Elizabeth. The green matched the color of her bridesmaids' outfits and Princess Eugenie's own mom also wore green. For a special touch, the royal wore earrings that were a wedding gift from her husband Jack Brooksbank.
The princess's dress was quite different from both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's own gowns. It featured a slight off-the-shoulder fit, a heavy train, and woven designs on the bodice. According to MarieClaire.com's exclusive royal wedding expert and bridal designer Caroline Castigliano, the symbols "are a Thistle for Scotland acknowledging the couple's fondness for Balmoral, a Shamrock for Ireland as a nod to the Bride's Ferguson family, the York Rose and ivy representing the couple's home. Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos have reinterpreted these symbols in a garland of rope like motifs, woven into a jacquard of silk, cotton and viscose blend."
Original story 9/30:
Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank is set for Friday, October 12 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor (the same place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said their "I dos"). At the top of everyone's mind, of course, is what kind of wedding dress will Eugenie wear on her big day. Here's a sample of questions running through my brain: What will it look like? Who's the designer? Will it resemble Meghan's? Will she have a second dress?
MarieClaire.com's exclusive royal wedding expert and bridal designer Caroline Castigliano, said, "I think it will be entirely different from Meghan’s bridal gown. I think there will be romance in Eugenie’s dress, a fuller skirt, perhaps some detailed lace. There could be organza, the over all feel will be very different to Meghan’s dress."
Though Eugenie has been mum on the details, if you track her style, you can get a sense of what she might look for in a wedding gown. She's known for wearing fashion-forward pieces, from floral minidress to fit-and-flare three-quarter sleeve dresses. She's worn designs by the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Erdem, Michael Kors, and Maggy London. The dresses too often highlight her curves and waistline—something Eugenie might want to emphasize in her wedding gown look.
She's not afraid to give trends a try and has broken royal dress protocols before...in style. For example, all women in the royal family are required to wear tights, but back in 2017 Eugenie skipped wearing hosiery with her heels at the Ascot Racecourse. She's not alone in this though as Meghan's done it too.
In addition, Eugenie has also worn some unconventional fascinators, along with her sister Beatrice, that have become a fixture of internet talk. One thing is certain—Eugenie simply wears what she likes, paying no mind to anyone else. So, when it comes to her wedding gown, expect a surprise or two, whether it be a beaded dress train or a lace bodice. It's safe to say, however, Eugenie's wedding dress might have sleeves for a more conservative look.
After all, Eugenie's mother Sarah Ferguson wore a poofy-sleeved ivory duchess satin gown by Lindka Cierach when she married Prince Andrew in 1986. Plus, Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen wedding dress featured lace sleeves and Meghan's own Givenchy gown had a three-quarter sleeve style. If Eugenie looks to them for inspiration, her arms will definitely be partially covered at the ceremony.
While all these details are fun to speculate, including the tiara she will wear, Eugenie recently revealed one small piece to the wedding dress puzzle. In an interview with British Vogue, the 28-year-old revealed her gown will be made by a British designer.
"[The dress] is the one thing that I was really decisive about," she said. "As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away. I never thought I'd be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I've been pretty on top of it."
Given that Eugenie wore an Erdem dress to announce her engagement in, the fashion house could very well be making her bridal look. In the past, she's also worn creations from British designers like Vivienne Westwood, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Burberry, and Osman. "Stewart Parvin could be a contender as he designs wedding dresses and also makes dresses for the Queen, so he is well known to the royal family. Maybe Alice Temperley, too," said Castigliano.
On Friday, September 28, Eugenie posted a throwback picture on Instagram that may hold a clue about her dress. The picture is from a 2016 Harper's Bazaar shoot, in which she posed in a bespoke Alberta Ferretti lace gown. The post is leading some to speculate that Eugenie might use the designer for her wedding gown.
Ultimately, whatever Princess E chooses to wear for her wedding day, she's bound to look beautiful. As for if she'll wear a second dress, Castigliano said, "I don’t think Princess Eugenie will change from her wedding gown for the evening reception."
