From Grace Kelly to Diana – the famous frocks that continue to inspire

When it comes to celebrity wedding dresses, fairy tale frocks come to life in full force. Under the watchful eye of the press there’s huge pressure to look magnificent, so all the stops are pulled out in order to wow the crowd.

As wedding dress designers, it’s the breadth of style that is inspiring. From Elizabeth Taylor to Kate Middleton, our beautiful celebrities tie the knot in some of the most striking gowns in the world.

Let’s start with Margaret Whigham’s ornate and detailed dress made by Norman Hartnell in 1933. It’s the extremely fine details that set this gown apart. Looking at this dress as a 21^st Century designer there are elements that are rather dated, but the rich chiffon detail around the edge of the train is sumptuously lovely.

Notice how the edges of the train almost resemble the seashore as the waves hit the sand. This is a truly tactile and pretty frock.

Then there’s the gorgeous Grace Kelly, who in 1956 married Prince Rainier of Monaco in what can only be described as a jaw-droppingly stunning wedding dress. Designed by Helen Rose, Kelly’s striking gown featured an elegant round collar and full skirt of ivory, with a fitted bodice that showed off her doll-like physique beautifully.

And then in 2011 Kate Middleton married Prince William in a frock reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s dress, designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Although not a courageous dress, it is undoubtedly timeless, and will most likely still be in fashion 30 years’ down the line…

But as wedding dress designers, we believe it’s all about creating what’s right for the bride’s unique personality and style, regardless of how it will be viewed in the future. It’s about living in the moment.

For example, Princess Diana’s magnificent gown now looks very outdated, but at the time it went down a storm. And for Elizabeth Taylor’s marriage to Eddie Fisher, she wore a wedding dress that suited her perfectly and captured a moment, but would most likely not be seen on a modern day catwalk…

Does it matter that Diana’s and Elizabeth’s frocks wouldn’t be worn in the 21st Century? Absolutely not. Of course there’s always room for timeless frocks that can be recreated time after time, but there’s something spectacular in creating new and exciting designs that capture a personality.