OK, it’s been a long time (in fashion time) since the royal wedding took place in April and more than 2 billion people watched Kate Middleton wed Prince William of Wales. Nearly 22 million viewers were from the United States alone. You know what that means, right? Since then, almost everything the royal posse was sporting that day has been documented—and then immediately sold out.
The royal wedding would leave quite the fashion forecast for weddings to come both in the U.K. and here at home—after all, we wear white gowns because the Queen of England did.
Observers noticed and took note of the dresses both the bride, Kate Middleton, and the maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, wore down the aisle. It’s a sure bet that plenty of brides-to-be will be wearing Alexander McQueen for their upcoming nuptials. But McQueen isn’t the only fashion this royal wedding has royally spotlighted.
From Pippa’s shoes to Princess Beatrice’s hat, the royal family brought a whole lot of fashion into focus.
Fashion eagles quickly zoomed in on the most minimal royal wedding details including Pippa’s show-stopping shoes, which have quickly gained worldwide notice and immense popularity.
Aruna Seth, a British-born bridal shoe designer, was the chosen one for Pippa’s feet. Her Lynn butterfly heels that are a farfalla platform satin peep toe heel, retail for more than $700 (and have to be shipped across the pond for another few hundred). These shoes have basically knocked Manolo Blahnik’s Something Blue’s—thank you Carrie Bradshaw—off the shelf, and we don’t mean because they’re sold out.
“We are so happy Pippa chose our brand and tremendously happy as so many people loved her look at the wedding,” says Aruna Seth representative Nia Thomas. “The style has sold mega-well and ladies are loving the shoes.”
The best part about these shoes: there are a ton of colors and different styles available so you can sport them as a bride, a bridesmaid or just as a wedding guest. As far as Pippa’s shoes, the Aruna Seth rep said the shoes now have a waiting list and are backordered (Here’s a secret, you can nab a pair at PWP, one of the only New York boutiques that have them!)
Another accessory now on the wedding wish list are hats. Hats of all kind are hot and they’ve definitely staged their comeback at the royal wedding. Everyone from the Queen to a former Spice Girl and her soccer star hubby was sporting one on the big day.
The go-to hat designer for the royals and celebs was Brit Philip Treacy. Victoria Beckham was wearing the designer’s small pillbox hat in blue satin with crystal spikes, while hubby David Beckham carried a Philip Treacy classic top hat. (Did you know that it’s tradition that you don’t take off your hat until the mother of the bride removes hers?)
But the most notable hat at the royal wedding was Princess Beatrice’s piece. She donned a definite statement hat that featured a coral color and prominent bow detail. The Philip Treacy creation silk bow hat appeared on almost every magazine cover around the world. Following the wedding and the hat’s wielding popularity, the Princess auctioned the “unique sculptural celebratory headpiece in delicate tea rose silk” on eBay. After 64 bids, the hat fetched $131,648.
So, for your next wedding, don’t be a Samantha Cameron and not wear a hat at all. Instead, rock a hat like the royals.
“After the wedding everybody has been coming in wanting a great hat,” says bridal expert Laurie Savino of Bridalblog.mjtrims.com. “I just had a bride and her friends come in and they all wanted hats for their wedding. The royal wedding has really influenced us, we really embrace the fashion and we can really wear it. But you have to wear it with confidence and feel great and beautiful!”
But, as far as New York goes, Savino adds, “Here, we don’t go as over the top. We choose a smaller, easier style of hat.”
One more great look for guests thanks to the royals was the monochromatic look (an outfit comprised of only one color). Subtle, sophisticated and so stylish, this look is a keeper.
Everyone who has got a diamond tiara and royal title followed this fashion trend. Royal followers included Princess Victoria of Sweden, who donned a salmon Elie Saab number; Prince Albert of Monaco’s fiancé Charlene Wittstock, who wore a gray coat, gloves and clutch; and Princess Letizia of Spain, who wore a blush-colored dress and hat by Felipe Varela.
If you’re a wedding guest wanting to achieve a monochromatic look, here’s some advice. Don’t dress head-to-toe in one shade; instead, use multiple shades of the same color tone. If you want to stand out, try creating contrast with different textures.
“There were a lot of monochromatic color looks at the royal wedding and usually they were dress and jacket or dress and coat ensembles that coordinated, which is quite a traditional way of dressing for a wedding,” says Colleen Sherin, senior fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue.
Sherin’s expert advice for a guest looking to achieve a monochromatic look?
“It was a dress and jacket that relate tonally or a dress and a lightweight coat over a dress, sort of a dress ensemble look that we saw at the royal wedding and that would be a way that someone would achieve that look,” she says.
“Go for either a skirt and jacket or a jacket over a dress in colors that are either the same or it may even be a bit more modern to do it tonally where each piece is a shade of a certain color but not completely matching. You can play with different textures and embellishments and color tones to work that look too.”
What are we going to do now that the royal wedding is over? Well, good news, we can look forward to another royal influence in July, when Prince Albert II, Prince of Monaco weds Charlene Wittstock. The royal couple is set to wed at home in Monaco, one of the most luxurious countries in the world, known for its fortunes and fabulous fashions.
