Simple and elegant would make Eugenie’s wedding dress a royal classic – expert
The princess has picked a British-based designer and knew exactly the style she wanted.
Princess Eugenie should opt for an elegant and simple wedding dress to create a memorable royal look, rather than going for over-the-top drama, a bridal expert has suggested.
Peta Hunt, editor-at-large at You & Your Wedding magazine, said fresh, clean lines would suit the Queen’s granddaughter when she weds Jack Brooksbank in Windsor on October 12.
Ms Hunt said designers such as Emilia Wickstead or Suzanne Neville, who are in tune with the shape of a British woman, would be perfect for the royal bride.
“I think she needs to keep it as simple as possible – maybe a cross between Grace Kelly and Meghan – so some kind of updated classic,” she said.
Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, wore a simple, elegant, pure white, boat-necked gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy when she married Prince Harry in May.
“She’s in a very difficult position. She’s not full on in the public eye like previous royal weddings – Meghan and Kate’s.
“But she does need to make a nod to fashion because we’re looking to the royal family in a historical way now to produce iconic looks for the next few years.”
Eugenie has already revealed that a British-based designer is behind her gown, and that she was set on the style she wanted from the start.
“(The dress) is the one thing that I was really decisive about,” the princess told British Vogue magazine.
“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.”
She hinted at her ideas in an interview with BBC’s The One Show on the day her engagement was announced, and said that 1980s style meringue shoulders were off the table.
“No meringue shoulders – that’s a little bit out of fashion – maybe it’s in fashion now? We’ll see what happens.”
Ms Hunt suggested Eugenie might opt for a big-skirted gown with a touch of lace and perhaps with an on-trend pocket.
“Hopefully she’ll go for someone like Emilia Wickstead, or even Suzanne Neville – someone that understands the British woman’s shape because we’re not all stick insects,” she said.
“Lace will be soft and flattering and it can also be structured, it doesn’t have to be fly-away and boho.”
The practicalities of a royal wedding will also be a consideration.
Ms Hunt added: “With a big occasion like this, with the world’s press looking at you, she needs to keep it as elegant and simple as possible.
“She’s got a long way to walk – that aisle is long – she doesn’t want to be bothered with worrying about trains dropping off or whether Prince Philip can see bits.
“She needs to keep it clean with fresh lines so it brings out the best in her.
“Clean, fresh and elegant would be a dream.”
Erdem – often a favourite of Eugenie’s – has been suggested as one of the front-runners for the wedding gown.
The princess wore a floral, cap-sleeve dress by the designer for her engagement photo shoot at Buckingham Palace.
The Canadian-born, London-based designer counts the Duchess of Cambridge, former US first lady Michelle Obama, style doyenne Alexa Chung and actress Keira Knightley among his celebrity clients.
