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When Pippa Middleton followed look-alike sister Kate Middleton up the Westminster Abbey aisle at the April 29, 2011, royal wedding of Kate to heir to the British throne, Prince William, the world’s media – and millions of viewers – followed the younger sibling up the long walk as she carried the train of her sister’s regal wedding gown.
This perfect view of Pippa’s – well – perfect rear inspired much admiration, a social media frenzy, and an almost outshining of her soon-to-be Duchess sister on her big day. One expert even claimed Pippa “had a false bottom.”
“As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and – you may say – its backside,” Pippa – who is now married to James Matthews and has a four month-old-son Arthur – joked in 2014, saying the tight dress “fitted a little too well.”
Why was the dress so popular and why did it get so much media attention?
Pippa’s dress showed off her “perfectly peachy posterior” as the Daily Mail called it. “It’s a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30, on account of your sister, brother in law and your bottom,” said Pippa.
In an interview with the US Today show, Pippa, who seems to have a very supportive relationship with Kate, said the media furore “was completely unexpected. You know, I think the plan was not really for it to be a significant dress, really just to sort of blend in with the train.”
She also revealed in that interview that she has kept the dress in case her children want to see it one day.
Who Designed it?
Like sister Kate, Pippa was dressed in an Alexander McQueen frock designed by the label’s creative director Sarah Burton. It was very similar to a bright red silky Alexander McQueen design that Cameron Diaz wore to the Golden Globes in 2009.
What style of dress was it?
Unlike Kate’s regal choice for the 2011 wedding, Pippa’s dress, with a cowl neckline that revealed her tanned décolletage, was a close fit across her bum, with a tantalising 58 organza-covered buttons leading the eyeline down to her snugly covered rear.
Even though her hairdo was simple, adorned with lily of the valley flowers, and the cap sleeves of her dress were demure, the tight fit of the straight, long skirt meant that Pippa had to tread carefully in her Jimmy Choos as she carried the train of Kate’s dress down the aisle, showing off her backside to best advantage.
What materials what it made from?
Pippa’s dress was made from an ivory satin crepe with a delicate lace trim and gazar and organza covered buttons.
How much did it cost?
Although the exact price of Pippa’s frock is unknown, you can get an Alexander McQueen gown for $5,000-$15,000, though you would expect a couture one to cost about 10 times as much. WomanGettingMarried.com states, “You can expect a custom Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding dress to start around $50,000 and go up from there.”
Is it possible to buy a similar dress?
Pippa’s dress made such an impact that several companies immediately planned to make copies.
“The second we saw it on the screen, it was beautiful. We want to get to market. The demand is now,” dressmaker Omid Moradi told the New York Times. “Before she even walked down the red carpet, we were getting calls from customers and consumers, ‘When can we get it?’”
Similar dresses are available to buy, including an Alexander McQueen one here and more reasonably priced options here and here. There was also a now sold out similar Monique Lhuillier design here.
What did Pippa wear to Harry and Meghan’s wedding?
Fast forward seven years, and Pippa, now a married woman herself, chose a dress far less bridal looking for her second royal wedding, the May 2018 nuptials of Harry and Meghan. Pregnant with her first child, Pippa wore a mint green dress by The Fold. The off-the-rack “Hepburn” silk frock retails for £412.50 ($AU975).
The royal sister-in-law teamed the outfit with scrappy nude heels, a bronze clutch and a traditional headpiece.
The floral design of the frock inspired a social media post to say it looked like the Arizona green-tea can.
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