History sparkles with the amazing examples in the dreamland of royal weddings. Each royal family, ranging from ousted princes to ruling monarchs, has its own unique tradition, all of which is brimming with grandeur. One major hallmark of this type of wedding is the bride’s stunning appearance in her pricey dress, which was undoubtedly purchased from one of the most expensive clothing brands.
Royal wedding dresses over the years have encompassed tradition while still embracing changing fashions. High-profile individuals and celebrities are used to spending a fortune on the most expensive clothes in the world simply because they can afford them.
There have been a slew of royal weddings in recent memory, ranging from Catherine Middleton and Prince William’s gorgeous wedding ceremony in May 2011 to Princess Beatrice’s exquisite and low-key ceremony in July 2020. The most sought-after and expensive clothes are required to keep these popular figures and celebrities in their lofty positions. You can check out the trend: Kate wore Alexander McQueen, Meghan went with Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, and Princess Beatrice rocked a vintage.
Let us face facts: wedding attire is somewhat pricey, as thousands of dollars are always spent on these expensive dresses. For commoners, it is part of the highs and lows of looking at displayed wedding dresses: “Wow, look at that amazing dress—it would be great! Oh, it costs $400,000. Next.”
Pricey fabrics and celebrity connections have distinguished the most expensive clothes in the world from mass-produced dresses. The most expensive clothing brands have set themselves apart from their competitors through limited-edition and unique designs, as well as client loyalty schemes.
Today, more and more weddings are beginning to emerge by the minute, but only a few remain evergreen in our memories. These memorable weddings seemed to have reflected the significance of high taste and class. Such is evidenced in Princess Kate and Princess Beatrice’s wedding.
Princess Kate
In the lead-up to her increased recognition, the bride’s royal wedding dress appears to have generated a lot of speculation. Few wedding gowns have elicited as much interest as Kate Middleton’s. Princess Kate’s wedding dress has been the subject of a great deal of conjecture, leading to her enhanced prominence and popularity.
The Alexander McQueen gown is still a reference for innumerable brides-to-be who want to recreate the Duchess’s famous style. Despite the fact that Kate and Prince William married in 2011 (almost a decade ago), her wedding gown remains ageless. The design makes it one of the most expensive clothes in the world.
On April 29, 2011, Kate Middleton arrived at Westminster Abbey in a black 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, revealing the Alexander McQueen gown that the world had been dying to see. The lace was reported to have been handmade at London’s Royal School of Needlework. It was then hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle and appliquéd with flowers.
The gown also had a stunning bodice that was cushioned on the hips as she walked, paying homage to the Victorian corsetry tradition. Interesting reports claimed that Sarah Burton, a British designer, was the creator of this magnificent gown. Burton is the creative director of Alexander McQueen’s label and luxury fashion house.
Following the ceremony, Kate switched into another bridal gown that made it easier for her to walk around. From July to October 2011, the original garment for which she exchanged vows and became famous was on display at Buckingham Palace. The outfit, which was on display as part of the Palace’s annual summer exhibition, drew quite a record number of visitors. The dress came in at around $434,000.
Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice’s vintage gown, which she wore as she made her way down the aisle, is another royal wedding gown that has drawn attention. Princess Beatrice married her fiancé, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, in a small ceremony in Windsor on Friday. Still, royal observers had to wait a whole day to see her much-anticipated wedding gown. Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress defied preceding norms by preceding a custom bridal gown, as many royal brides have done in recent years.
Unlike most royal weddings, Beatrice did not commission a couturier to create a custom-made gown. Instead, she donned a classic Norman Hartnell gown that she borrowed from the Queen and had slightly altered to match her figure. The gown was made of Peau de Soie, embellished with Duchess satin, and adorned with diamanté.
There were no unique messages or homages buried in the seams of Beatrice’s gown because it wasn’t designed just for her. Beatrice’s gown, however, paid homage to her royal pedigree in its own way, as it was a dress on loan from the Queen and worn with Queen Mary’s diamond fringe tiara. Either way, the dress remains one of the most expensive clothes in the world.
Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress is similar to the gown worn during the 1962 premiere of Lawrence of Arabia, which was designed by Norman Hartnell (the same designer who made Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown). In the twentieth century, Hartnell was a sought-after designer and a favorite of the Windsors. In addition to Princess Margaret’s wedding gown and other essential royal clothing, he also designed Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown and coronation gown.
Apart from Princess Catherine, here are some of the most expensive clothing brands.
Clare Waight Keller
British designer Clare Waight Keller, known as the artistic director of Givenchy, designed one of the most expensive clothes in the world. Givenchy happens to be one of the most expensive clothing brands ever known. No wonder the dress was designed for Meghan, and it cost approximately $135,000.
Manuel Pertegaz
The artistic director, Manuel Pertegaz, created the wedding dress that Queen Letizia wore during her marriage to King Felipe of Spain. One of the most expensive clothing brands, the royal couturier, charged $8 million for the dress.
Peter Pilotto
Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos founded the British-based label Peter Pilotto in 2007. It happens to be one of the most expensive clothing brands in the world. It is known for its innovative textile design, paired with a modern feminine silhouette. The duo is popularly known for designing one of the most expensive clothes in the world for Princess Eugenie. The cost of this team’s masterpiece was around $135,000.
Prestigious people spend a lot just to possess the most expensive clothes in the world. This may not be the case for commoners. So, before you pack your bags and head for fame and fortune in Silicon Valley, just keep in mind that you must be willing to splurge a lot of cash on the most expensive clothing brands.
