Royal wedding: Princess Eugenie wears Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos dress

The gown features a low-back design requested by the Princess to reveal her scoliosis scars

Olivia Petter
Friday 12 October 2018 15:33 BST
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Bride Princess Eugenie arrives for royal wedding

Princess Eugenie is wearing a dress designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank.

The ivory gown features a neckline that folds around the shoulders and a low-back design that was a special request from Eugenie so as to reveal the scars on her back she acquired after an operation at the age of 12 to correct her scoliosis.

The fabric of the dress was designed by Pilotto and De Vos at their studio in East London and includes a number of symbols that have specific meanings to Eugenie.

(PA

For example, a Thistle for Scotland had been woven into the dress in a garland of rope-like motifs. This was incorporated as a nod to the couple's fondness for Balmoral.

A Shamrock for Ireland had also been included in the design to acknowledge the Bride's Ferguson family in addition to the York Rose and ivy to represent the couple's home.

The Princess wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, an item lent to her by The Queen which featured a 93.70-carat emerald.

The iconic tiara was made by Boucheron in 1919 for British philanthropist Margaret Greville.

Eugenie also wore wedding shoes made by British designer Charlotte Olympia.

(EPA

Speaking to The Independent, Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, describes the gown as "an elegant timeless" choice for Princess Eugenie.

Hilary Alexander, editor-in-large at Hello! Fashion Monthly, adds that the dress was "classic and beautiful."

"I particularly liked the slightly 50s influence in the off-the-shoulder, shawl-collared neckline," she tells The Independent, "and the low-cut at the back to show the scar from her spinal surgery was a fearless choice."

Fashion stylist Amy Hanson Bevan explains why Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos were the perfect pair to design Eugenie's dress:

"They're known for their unusual, often digital prints, so that combined with the Princess's love of art... they've created a subtly modern dress," she tells The Independent.

Eugenie's choice of a British designer follows a long royal tradition that has seen brides choose homegrown talents to create their gowns.

(AFP/Getty Images

For example, the Duchess of Sussex wore a gown designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy for her wedding to Prince Harry while The Duchess of Cambridge opted for a gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

"I think the fact that she's chosen to wear Peter Pilotto is so lovely," comments fashion stylist Rebekah Roy.

"The design of the dress is surprisingly modern, it's old in a way but the pleats give it a modern edge without being ostentatious," she tells The Independent.

"I love the fact that she's wearing Charlotte Olympia shoes too, as she says she wears them all the time."

Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore describes Pilotto and De Vos as "the most talented designers out there at the moment."

"I have been trailblazing this dynamic duo for a while now and I am such a huge supporter of their stunning designs," she tells The Independent.

"They’ve created the most regal of royal brides, making Princess Eugenie look elegant, traditional but modern at the same time without a veil, which is such a break from tradition with royal brides.

(EPA

"They’ve made history. The elegant lines, the ivory silk, the beautiful detailing - it’s a wedding dress worthy of a princess. Peter Pilotto are the most charming fashion house that you can come across, they are artists in the true sense of the word, and I am so pleased that their talent has been given the world stage."

Today's ceremony took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, which is where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot just five months ago.

This was followed by a short carriage procession through Windsor high street and a lunch hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.

(REUTERS

A nighttime reception will be held at Royal Lodge, the York family’s residence in Windsor Great Park.

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