Royal Wedding Gowns: A Look Back Through The Years!

Wedding Couture

In honor of Friday's Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton, I have decided to do a posting on all the wonderful Royal Weddings of the past and, of course, what they wore! I hope you enjoy seeing all the wonderful ensembles as much as I did...plus I included a little Couture Dish!

Grace of Monaco: Helen Rose

Prince Rainer and Grace of Monaco--in a Helen Rose (an MGM Costume Designer) gown. Edith Head--Hollywood Costume Designer for the A-List of the time (and of Kelly) was reportedly saddened to not have been picked, for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. COUTURE DISH: The gown was worked on by six seamstress at MGM and 30 million people around the world watched it. The gown has remained THE SYMBOL--and ruler-- of what a "Royal Wedding Gown" should be. Elegant, timeless, classic, serene, and above all, royal. Guests of the wedding included actresses Gloria Swanson and Eva Gardner, the Agha Khan, and many others.

Princess Caroline: Christian Dior Haute Couture by Marc Bohan

Their eldest daughter, Princess Caroline wore Christian Dior Haute Couture by then House Designer, Marc Bohan, when she married Commoner--and French Playboy--Philipe Junot, in 1978. The gown featured a high neck, scalloped edge embroidered gown, bishop sleeves and blouson top. I especially remember (I was VERY YOUNG!) how modern she looked with ringlets of flowers--a la Princess Leia--in her hair--as opposed to wearing a tiara or crown.

Queen Elizabeth: Norman Hartnell

Queen Elizabeth (then Princess Elizabeth of York) and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh (then Prince of Greece and Denmark--he's actually German and Danish but born in Greece). Her wedding gown was designed by British designer Norman Hartnell. COUTURE DISH: The Queen Mother had specifically asked that Hartnell should use an unusually rich, lustrous stiff satin which was made at Lullington Castle. The satin was ideal for the train, but Hartnell thought that the dress required a more supple material of a similar tone. He ordered the similar fabric from the Scottish firm of Winterthur. Difficulties arose when rivals put about the rumor that the Scottish satin was made from "enemy silk worms", either from Italy or possibly Japan. A telephone call to the town where Winterthur was based, settled the scandal. Mr. Hartnell was assured the silk worms were from Nationalist China and were not "enemy silk worms". Good to know...

Princess Diana: Elizabeth Emanuel

Continuing with the Brits: Prince Charles and Diana in 1981: Her gown was designed by British designer Elizabeth Emanuel is iconic, of course, especially for its infamous 25 foot (wrinkled) silk taffeta train. COUTURE DISH: The entire gown--including the train and veil--were comprised of (wait for it), 275 total yards. The gown epitomized the excess that were to be the 80's.

Princess Anne: Maureen Baker

Another gown I loved was the one Princess Anne (only daughter of Queen Elizabeth) wore when she wed then-Lieutenant Mark Phillips (he was soooo handsome!!) in 1973. The gown was inspired from the Medieval and Tudor styles. It was very "Lady Macbeth Gets Married".

The gown--designed by Maureen Baker, head designer for Susan Small--featured Trumpet sleeves that hid inner Bishop Sleeves (FIERCE!), as you can see above. COUTURE DISH: Fifteen women worked on the dress and each worked on a different section, and they didn't know what the final outcome would look like--this was done for fear that the design would be "leaked" to the press by one of these girls.

Wallis Simpson: Mainbocher

Of course, when speaking of Wedding Couture, we can't leave out the Mainbocher gown worn by Wallis Simpson when she married Edward, Duke of Windsor (also Prince Edward, King Edward XIII of course) in 1937. This pale blue gown and hat--have gone down in history as the epitome of understated chic. The groom wore a Morning Suit, of course. There were only sixteen guests, not one a member of the royal family.

Princess Margaret: Norman Hartnell

Then , there was the Fashionista and "Party Girl" Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (Queen Elizabeth's sister) and her wedding to Anthony Armstrong-Jones. Her gown was designed and created by the house of Norman Hartnell--same designer who created her sister's wedding gown.This was also the first royal wedding ever televised, and was watched by over 300 million viewers worldwide!Empress/Shahbanu Soraya of Iran: Christian Dior by Yves Saint Laurent

I also absolutely LOVE the wedding gown worn by Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari (of German-Persian descent) , who would become Empress and Shahbanu Soraya of Iran when she married the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (his second marriage) in 1951. She wore a a custom gown designed by Yves Saint Laurent for the House of Christian Dior.

COUTURE DISH: The gown was a silver lame gown studded with pearls and marabou stork feathers (!). To finish the gown, there was a cropped shawl-collar jacket AND a full-length white mink cape which she removed for "let-me-sit-down-and-breathe" photos. Poor Soraya (who was rumored to always have been the Shah's love of his life) soon discovered she could not give him a male heir (she was infertile) and therefore, divorced seven years after their wedding, but was left with a nice you-can-live-forever-in-style bank account.

Queen Sofia of Spain: Jean Dessès

Next of note was Queen Sofia's (then Princess Sophia of Greece) Wedding Gown--designed by Egyptian-born of Greek descent fashion designer Jean Dessès--when she married the future King of Spain Juan Carlos in Athens Greece to much fanfare.

Marie Chantal of Greece: Valentino Haute Couture

Speaking of Greeks, here's Crown Prince Pavlos and his bride, Marie Chantal Miller. Marie Chantal is of US-Ecuadorian ancestry and Pavlos, the son of the exiled King of the Hellenes (Greece), Constantine II, is well, of Danish-German (and not so much Greek) descent. Constantine II is Queen Sofia's (see previous wedding gown pic) brother--yes, keep up!! By the way, the Bride's gown was from Valentino Haute Couture. Don't mess with them darlings!

Maria y Carmen Martinez-Bordiu: Cristobal Balenciaga

Now onto another fabulous Royal Wedding Gown of note. This gown is from Maria y Carmen Martinez-Bordiu y Franco when she wed Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cadiz and Grandson of King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1972. General Franco made him Duke of Anjou and making him a Royal Highness, thereby making her a Princess: Can you say "At-a Girl!" in Spanish?? Momma didn't raise a fool!
COUTURE DISH: Her gown was designed by Cristobal Balenciaga. The Spanish Couturier ended his business in 1968 but came out of "retirement" to design her gown. It featured 14 meters of Abraham silk, 20 silk thread spools, 10,000 pearls, and over 5,000 sequins. It also had the Bourbon "Fleur-de-lis" embroidered into the front of this one-of-a-kind Haute Couture hand-made gown.

The future Queen Noor of Jordan's wedding dress is notable for it's elegant simplicity. It was a blouson gown, with no crinoline, no petticoat, no tulle. This is how you do "restrained" and unfussy, but still beautiful.

Queen Rania of Jordan: Bruce Oldfield

At the opposite end, was Queen Rania of Jordan's wedding gown to King Abdullah II. Her gown was designed by British designer Bruce Oldfield (a name that has been thrown around as a possible candidate for Catherine Middleton's wedding dress designer) and not by a Middle Eastern designer, which was odd.

Princess Maxima of the Netherlands: Valentino Haute Couture

Moving on to the New Generation of Royals--and their Wedding COUTURE: A gorgeous Valentino Haute Couture creation can be seen on Princes Maxima of the Netherlands when she wed Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, and heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands. Maxima is from Argentina darlings, in case you weren't aware. South American girl done did good, as they say...The Netherlands will have an South American-born Queen sometime in the future.

Princess Mette-Marit of Norway: Ove Harder Finseth

Staying in Scandinavia: There was the wedding gown of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. Ove Harder Finseth was the designer. I loved this gown for its elegant simplicity. The shape was perfect for Mette-Marit's lean figure and again, as one of the "Next Generation Royals", I love that she chose to do without the Disneyland Princess Crinoline-and-Petticoat Ball Gown "Princes Diana" silhouette. Norwegians know how to give you "Directional Modern Brides" for sure!

Princess Letizia of Spain: Manuel Pertegaz

I also LOVED Princess Letizia of Spain's wedding gown when she married Crown Prince Felipe in 2004. It was designed by 93-year old (yes, 93!!) Spanish Designer Manuel Pertegaz. I'm sure his "staff" had a lot to do with this and he probably sat there and said "Si!" and "No!". Letizia’s beige Valencia silk wedding dress was graceful and Medieval in its silhouette. It featured long sleeves, a decorative stand-away collar, veil and skirt embroidered with flower-de-luce and ears of wheat. Her wedding dress was 4.6 meters long!!

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden: Par Engsheden

And last but not least in my Royal Wedding Couture Nick Verreos Hall of Fame, I have to include the gorgeous gown worn by Victoria Crown Princess of Sweden. The silk fit-and-flare gown was designed by Swedish designer Par Engsheden. Simple. Elegant. Sublime. The stunning crown and lace veil finish it off. THAT is a future Queen ladies and gentlemen.

Now....Which one was your FAVORITE Royal Wedding Gown???

Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week: Stéphane Rolland

Power Draping

Prized Invitation: My Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011 Invitation

Two weeks ago, I received a very nice Invitation in the mail (tied in a grosgrain copper-colored bow) from Paris (I know!) from the House of Stephane Rolland, Haute Couture Fashion Designer, inviting me to attend his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture fashion show. Well, unfortunately, I couldn't attend (I'm hoping I will receive another invitation for the Fall/Winter 2011 Show!) but instead, I got to enjoy the next best thing: Photos of the show which occurred yesterday.

Now THAT'S A Sleeve: Wheat-colored asymmetrical dress with exaggerated sleeve, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Stephane Rolland has never met a DRAPE he did not like! Strong, Powerful, Take-No-Prisoners Couture. The line-up was for the "New" 21st Century Roman/Grecian Goddess. Gowns, Gowns and more Gowns...Showstopping dresses that can cost as much as a Mercedes Benz and meant for the A-list actresses and singers who can borrow them--as well as the Middle Eastern Divas who can afford them. I absolutely LOVED the collection. It got my heart doing an excited pitter-patter! Now, THIS...is what Couture is all about. Now, I am REALLY depressed I couldn't attend (insert sad face).

High-Low White: Coat-Gown with high front and long back train in silk gazar with exaggerated shoulders and plunging neckline, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Trends: High-low gowns; SLEEVES; structural and ARCHITECTURAL draping and folds; plunging necklines; Plisses/Fortuny pleating; Colors: ivory, pumpkin orange, bronzed copper, black, gold; metallic accents.

High-Low Black: Mock-turtleneck dress with high front and flowy train back, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Themes: Sparta Queen meets Greco-Roman Warrior Princess; Making an Entrance DIVA; Venus Comes out of the Sea...in one of these Gowns!

Clients Include:

Queen Rania of Jordan

Skeikha Mozah Bint Nasser of Qatar and...

Rihanna

Here are more Highlights from Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011:

Oscar Gown: Strapless bronzed copper side-draped gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Orangina Diva: Plunging neckline silk gown with fitted sleeves, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Imagine Steaming This: Strapless bronzed copper colored silk gown, Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

Crown Princess of Sweden Wedding: Royal Fashion Hits & Misses by Nick Verreos

Royal CoutureStockholm Queen: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden enters the church with her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf

Today the country of Sweden celebrated a Royal Wedding. Their beloved Crown Princess Victoria married commoner Daniel Westling. And as far as Royal Weddings go, this was probably "The Wedding of The Year"! There was a lot of controversy back when the nuptials were announced, since Victoria's father, King Carl XVI Gustaf did not hold back his disdain for the fact that his oldest daughter (and the next Queen of Sweden), was marrying a a fitness trainer with no royal blood (like that matters in 2010, but I guess it does to him). But all that was set aside and it was a day of royal celebration.
Now to the important part: Let's take a look at "those crazy royals" and their "unique" fashion sense ranging from chic Haute Couture to "Oh No She Didn't!".

Lets begin with the Bride:Victoria chose a Swedish designer by the name of Par Engsheden to create her simple yet very elegant gown. It was a cream colored silk duchesse gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline that came to a "V" back. It featured a fitted midriff bodice, A-line shaped skirt and a VERY LONG train (of course, she's the future Queen!). She also wore the same Cameo Tiara that her mother, Queen Silvia of Sweden, wore on her wedding day back in 1976. The tiara is thought to be from Empress Josephine-Charlotte of France and it was a gift from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Queen Silvia's wedding gown was decisively not, by a Swedish designer, but actually from the House of Dior's then-designer Marc Bohan.
Speaking of Queen Silvia, the Mother of the Bride, looked REGAL, in a lilac lace embroidered gown with a side-front chiffon godet and scooped neckline. Let's just say as far as Mother-of-the-Bride dresses, this is how you're supposed to do it ladies! Victoria's sister (yes, the one with the Movie Star Looks!) Princess Madeleine looked dazzling in a sky blue multi-layered, off-the-shoulder gown. Not a big fan of her gown (maybe a bit too much for such a young, beautiful girl) but I have a feeling, she could wear a Trash Bag and still look great! Now, in case you wonder what a Mother-of-the-Bride should not wear? See below for what Groom Daniel Westling's mommie wore:Royal Divas:Queen Rania of Jordan didn't disappoint as one the most stylish women on the planet, as she arrived (with her husband, King Abdullah), in a deep purple crepe sheath gown with diagonal side slit.
A definite FASHION HIT at the Swedish Royal wedding was Best Dressed Hall of Fame (and a Valentino muse) Rosario Nadal y Fuster de Puigdorfila, Princess of Preslav (Bulgaria) after marrying the sexy Kyril of Preslav. Last year, it was announced that they would "live separately" but with no intentions of a divorce(?). They were at the wedding together looking like the "Brad and Angelina" of European Royalty. Her gown was Couture PERFECTION. She looked like a Grecian sculpture.Another HIT for me, was Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo and her mother, Queen Sofia of Spain. Elena has become a serious Fashion Plate, embracing her "Inner Fashion Diva", especially after her separation and later divorce from Jaime de Marichalar. I give her "ten Nick V Points" for just GOING FOR IT! Not only did she decide to wear a strong bubblegum pink silk gazar gown! But then she's like "You know, I don't think that gown is enough!" So she throws on a snappy embroidered Toreador bolero jacket: Viva España! Her mother Queen Sofia, elegant in a pale silk shirred bodice gown gave a nice subdued "balance" to Elena's "This might be Princess Victoria's day...but I'm going for it!".
Continuing with Spain, Crown Prince Felipe looked dashing in his military uniform, next to Letizia, Princess of Asturias. First of all, I have to say this: She looks TOO THIN! There, I said it, I had to get that out of the way. Her gown was nice, but I think the color choice was wrong. It was just too close to her own skin color. She should have looked at her sister-in-law Elena for some color advice.Points for Looking Like a Queen Should Look Like: Queen Sonja of Norway. It's a mess, yes, but I didn't expect anything less. It's still quite fabulous. It all evens out for me. The Fortuny-pleated coral full gown PLUS a matching Fortuny-pleated attached shawl-cape. I mean: Really!!! Total Queen!

The Royal Misses:
Well, now that we got the royals with some fashion sense out of the way, here were some royal guests who missed the mark. You just know that during the wedding reception dinner, people were saying "Did you see HER mess of a dress??" For now, I've just highlighted two, and they happen to be from The Netherlands (coincidence?): Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands. Oh Laurentien, your Mother-In-Law, Queen Beatrix would be proud (she loves them crazy prints!). The Black and White Print, on it's own is not too bad. But once you mix it with the Red sash, matching bolero jacket and Orange detailing(?) it became a definite Royal "What Was She Thinking?"...
But the prize goes to Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands): The slate-gray shirred bodice is actually nice, but then...wait...are those PANTS???? It's a cross between an outfit created by a bad Fashion College student and something from Victor-Victoria. Maybe she was trying to tell us that she's both a Man AND a Woman, when it comes to fashion, or she just wanted to be that "artsy fashion ingenue" royal. Whatever the case, in both instances, they are not giving Dutch Fashion a good name.

Well, Hej då! (goodbye in Swedish) from the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and my own "Nick Verreos Red Carpet" Royal Fashion Report...Until next time.

Click BELOW for video of the Wedding (in Swedish):

The Fashionable First Ladies of The Near and Middle East

Sheikha Divas
Fashion Queen: Rania of Jordan in Elie Saab

With all the bad news coming out of the Middle and Near East, I wanted to post something pretty about that region. Specifically, its First Ladies and their fashion sense. I know that some would argue that several of these women have (or have had) controversial or not-so-nice husbands, i.e., Iran and Syria, but that's not the topic here at NickVerreos.com. It's about fashion here. If I wrote a blog for BBC or CNN, then that's where I would discuss their shady husbands.Bell Sleeved: Farah Diba of Iran

In almost every interview I have done, I get asked "Who are your muses?" or "What inspires you?", and besides 1970s Pan Am Flight Attendants and Miss Venezuelas, I always mention Empress Farah Diba of Iran and Queen Rania of Jordan as muses of mine. It seems of late that the "new guard" of Queens, Princesses, Sheikhas and First Ladies from the Middle East are taking cues from the former Empress and becoming quite the fashion divas.
Here is my Fashion Tribute to the Divas of The Middle East:

The Old Guard:Of course, I have to start with Farah Diba, wife of the late Shah of Iran who was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution back in 1979. Here she is on the cover of Life Magazine back in 1959, announcing her engagement to the Shah. I didn't realize Life Magazine was the UsWeekly of the 1950s. In this Dior gown, she was already giving a hint of the Fashion Diva that she was to become.Come Fly With Me: I LOVE this photo of the Empress Farah Diba, looking like one of my other muses, a Pan Am stewardess. I am LIVING for the pillbox hat, crystal-trimmed suit and diamond pin. Effortless. Remind me why women don't dress like this anymore?Couture Diva: Princess Firyal of Jordan is also one of the "original" Divas of Middle East Fashion. She was married to the youngest brother of the late King Hussein of Jordan (therefore the title) but divorced him back in 1978 (scandal!). Back in the day, she was the Bianca Jagger of Princesses, partying at Parisian and Manhattan nightclubs, hobnobbing in Monte Carlo (the city not the hotel thank you very much). Besides being a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992, she is also famous for being a front-row fixture during Haute Couture Fashion week (Couture darling, NEVER Pret-a-Porter) .

The New Guard: The Winning Queen Diva
Queen Rania of Jordan (in a gorgeous Stephane Rolland silk crepe ivory gown) at a recent visit to Rome with her husband, King Abdullah II

Of course, the title of the Queen of the Middle East Fashion Divas has to go to the stunning Queen Rania of Jordan. Every year, she tops all the "World's Best Dressed" lists and one can see why. She rarely gets it wrong when it comes to fashion. Queen Rania with Mayor Bloomberg of NY

She definitely has that fashion "gene".She wears all the top designers and is especially fond of Lebanese designer Elie Saab, whose gowns she is always seen in.

First Runner Up: Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned
Turban Happy: Sheikha Mozah is a serious fashion Diva. And I am adding her to my list of muses, like tomorrow! She is the second of three wives of the Emir of Qatar (I would hate to be the other two). Besides being the President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Qatar and a UNESCO's Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, she is also known for wearing Haute Couture (naturally) and her iconic turbans.
Carla Who: It's not easy to upstage Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the First Lady of France and former model. But I barely notice Carla when the Sheikha is around.Can You Get Out Of The Picture Please: Again, the Sheikha upstages another First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva of Azerbaijan with a fabulous fitted suit and (of course) her trademark turban. Aliyeva--who is very stylish in her own right (more on her below)-- looks like her assistant standing next to her. Poor thing.

Rania Runner-Ups--Chic Ladies In Waiting:First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. Above we saw her looking uncomfortable with the Sheikha of Qatar and in this photo, she's at a recent State Visit to Jordan meeting Queen Rania. You know she had to "step up" her fashion game if she had to stand next to her. First Lady of Syria, Asma al-Assad. She's tall, a size zero and loves to look glamorous and fashionable. No chadors in her closet. Many comment that she's a bit of a Queen Rania copy-cat and only had a heightened sense of style since the Jordanian Queen came into the scene. Whatever it is, who cares. She's out to dispute the myth that all women in the Middle East are covered from head to know and don't enjoy the so-called more frivolous desires such as fashion and looking fashionable.
Daytime Syria: Here she is giving you Daytime--with a capital D. Love this dress and the statement necklace. Ten out of ten "Nick Fashion Points".Princess Amira Al-Taweel is another "Mini Rania". She's a Saudi Princess married to global tycoon Prince Alwaleed Bin Talaal, nephew to Saudi King Abdullah and the 13Th wealthiest man in the world and she looks like a movie star.

Finally...An honorable "Fashion Mention" could go to Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco. I know, Morocco technically isn't in the geographic Middle East and in fact is in North Africa, but I am still including her. She is a "Rania Mini-Me" and as of late, has been seen sporting more fashionable ensembles straight out of Vogue as opposed to a Marrakesh Bazaar but she still loves her caftans and takchita.
Until next time my dear fashionistas--I'll be on the look out for more Fashionable First ladies, Queens and Princesses of the World in my ever-expanding quest to search for more NIKOLAKI muses. If you have any suggestions, feel free to "drop me a note" here...