Wedding Wednesday: Autumn Phillips' Gown

 Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly

May 17, 2008

St. George's Chapel, Windsor, England

The wedding of the Queen's eldest grandchild, Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, was both a royal and non-royal affair. In royal fashion, they were married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle with a reception at Frogmore House; in non-royal fashion, the wedding was not televised (and was instead covered by Hello! in a paid exclusive, but that's a different story). In royal fashion, Autumn turned to British bridal designer Sassi Holford for a bespoke wedding gown.

 

Holford's creation was made of Italian duchesse satin and Chantilly lace with an A-line skirt and a three-tiered sash at the waist. A beaded bolero of ivory Chantilly lace was included to cover the bride's shoulders (in royal fashion).

Autumn seems to be a traditional, modest girl when it comes to fashion - after all, this is a girl that has publicly admitted to seeking out fashion advice from her utilitarian mother-in-law - and so her direction to the designer was that she didn't want to stand out too much on her wedding day. The solution was a dress with a simple front and more interest in the back in the form of a 2 yard cathedral train with Chantilly lace inserts and hand-tied bows.

The whole affair was topped by a Swiss silk tulle veil with a beaded Chantilly lace border, echoing the panels and the bolero.

Autumn borrowed the Festoon Tiara from her mother-in-law, Princess Anne, and accessorized with a necklace and earrings given to her by her groom.

The bride paid an estimated £2,000 - £3,000 for her custom dress (certainly less than what most royal gowns would cost these days, one assumes). Her pistachio bridesmaids wore strapless Vera Wang gowns.

I think the gown is lovely and it certainly suits this happy bride well; but it is, to me, more on the non-royal side of the spectrum. It may have the train and the tiara, but it lacks that certain je ne sais quoi I've come to look for - that mark that sets it apart from something you or I could buy at the local bridal shop. What do you think?

Photos: Hello/BBC/PA/Life

Wedding Wednesday: Autumn Phillips' Gown

 Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly

May 17, 2008

St. George's Chapel, Windsor, England

The wedding of the Queen's eldest grandchild, Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, was both a royal and non-royal affair. In royal fashion, they were married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle with a reception at Frogmore House; in non-royal fashion, the wedding was not televised (and was instead covered by Hello! in a paid exclusive, but that's a different story). In royal fashion, Autumn turned to British bridal designer Sassi Holford for a bespoke wedding gown.

 

Holford's creation was made of Italian duchesse satin and Chantilly lace with an A-line skirt and a three-tiered sash at the waist. A beaded bolero of ivory Chantilly lace was included to cover the bride's shoulders (in royal fashion).

Autumn seems to be a traditional, modest girl when it comes to fashion - after all, this is a girl that has publicly admitted to seeking out fashion advice from her utilitarian mother-in-law - and so her direction to the designer was that she didn't want to stand out too much on her wedding day. The solution was a dress with a simple front and more interest in the back in the form of a 2 yard cathedral train with Chantilly lace inserts and hand-tied bows.

The whole affair was topped by a Swiss silk tulle veil with a beaded Chantilly lace border, echoing the panels and the bolero.

Autumn borrowed the Festoon Tiara from her mother-in-law, Princess Anne, and accessorized with a necklace and earrings given to her by her groom.

The bride paid an estimated £2,000 - £3,000 for her custom dress (certainly less than what most royal gowns would cost these days, one assumes). Her pistachio bridesmaids wore strapless Vera Wang gowns.

I think the gown is lovely and it certainly suits this happy bride well; but it is, to me, more on the non-royal side of the spectrum. It may have the train and the tiara, but it lacks that certain je ne sais quoi I've come to look for - that mark that sets it apart from something you or I could buy at the local bridal shop. What do you think?

Photos: Hello/BBC/PA/Life

Wedding Wednesday: Some Non-Royal Standouts in Monaco

When it comes to royal weddings, I usually have my eyes so peeled for royal wonders and disasters that the rest of the guests just blend into the background. At Monaco's royal wedding, though, there were a few non-royal guests that managed to burst through the haze...for reasons both tasteful and flamboyant. I suppose that's what you get when you invite the cream of Monte Carlo's colorful crop to your nuptials.

I absolutely loved Giorgio Armani's creation for his niece Roberta (above left) - interesting and chic, right up to the flower vase perched on her head. Also the picture of chic: Hélène Arnault (above right), who has no excuse not to be chic since her husband runs LVMH, and this mustard lady behind Queen Silvia (below).

Anybody know who she is? She brought a little Grace Kelly flair to the event, and she should be properly credited.

Though I found Bettina Wulff (below left) well-dressed, she was noticeable for her unseasonable outfit. How on earth did she not faint in the heat? Does that coat have fans on the inside?

Victoria Silvstedt (above right) was more appropriate for the weather, and surprisingly appropriate overall, though still strutting about like the Swedish Paris Hilton that she is.

Speaking of seasons, I adored Michelle Yeoh's pink cloche hat (below left), but couldn't abide by her brown Azzedine Alaia Christmas tree skirt.

And though Inès de la Fressange (above right) got her seasons correct, she also apparently received the beach party dress code from the civil ceremony. A beach party dress code, however, is ages better than whatever dress code this unknown lady received:

In the world of models, Karolina Kurkova (below left) brought a Chanel Couture suit mullet for our entertainment - business on top, party on the bottom!

And Naomi Campbell (above right) was rather tasteful and elegant in McQueen, especially when you compare it to her evening outfit:

There are many times and many places for a Givenchy Couture like this, but at someone else's wedding reception? I suppose when you invite Naomi Campbell to your wedding, this is what you're signing up for.

As usual, there's always a worse option:

This browned, baked, and over-stuffed bird is Helga Piaget, wife of famed watchmaker Yves Piaget. And I thought Princess Michael was an overflow risk...

Believe it or not, our friend Helga does not get my worst-dressed wedding title. No, that goes to Eva Cavalli, wife of Roberto Cavalli, on the power of sheer tackiness alone:

Who stood out amongst the non-royal guests for you?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Newscom

Wedding Wednesday: Some Non-Royal Standouts in Monaco

When it comes to royal weddings, I usually have my eyes so peeled for royal wonders and disasters that the rest of the guests just blend into the background. At Monaco's royal wedding, though, there were a few non-royal guests that managed to burst through the haze...for reasons both tasteful and flamboyant. I suppose that's what you get when you invite the cream of Monte Carlo's colorful crop to your nuptials.

I absolutely loved Giorgio Armani's creation for his niece Roberta (above left) - interesting and chic, right up to the flower vase perched on her head. Also the picture of chic: Hélène Arnault (above right), who has no excuse not to be chic since her husband runs LVMH, and this mustard lady behind Queen Silvia (below).

Anybody know who she is? She brought a little Grace Kelly flair to the event, and she should be properly credited.

Though I found Bettina Wulff (below left) well-dressed, she was noticeable for her unseasonable outfit. How on earth did she not faint in the heat? Does that coat have fans on the inside?

Victoria Silvstedt (above right) was more appropriate for the weather, and surprisingly appropriate overall, though still strutting about like the Swedish Paris Hilton that she is.

Speaking of seasons, I adored Michelle Yeoh's pink cloche hat (below left), but couldn't abide by her brown Azzedine Alaia Christmas tree skirt.

And though Inès de la Fressange (above right) got her seasons correct, she also apparently received the beach party dress code from the civil ceremony. A beach party dress code, however, is ages better than whatever dress code this unknown lady received:

In the world of models, Karolina Kurkova (below left) brought a Chanel Couture suit mullet for our entertainment - business on top, party on the bottom!

And Naomi Campbell (above right) was rather tasteful and elegant in McQueen, especially when you compare it to her evening outfit:

There are many times and many places for a Givenchy Couture like this, but at someone else's wedding reception? I suppose when you invite Naomi Campbell to your wedding, this is what you're signing up for.

As usual, there's always a worse option:

This browned, baked, and over-stuffed bird is Helga Piaget, wife of famed watchmaker Yves Piaget. And I thought Princess Michael was an overflow risk...

Believe it or not, our friend Helga does not get my worst-dressed wedding title. No, that goes to Eva Cavalli, wife of Roberto Cavalli, on the power of sheer tackiness alone:

Who stood out amongst the non-royal guests for you?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Newscom