I hope this article has not already been posted. I don't have time to read the posts in this thread that I haven't seen. This article answers my question of did the bride includeanything blue following the tradition of something borrowed, something new, something blue:
Kate wows in second Sarah Burton outfit
<CITE class=subtitle>kempSat, Apr 30, 2011 08:59 GMT+00:00</CITE>
Kate Middleton followed up her highly-anticipated wedding dress with an evening outfit by the same designer.
The elaborate creation by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen for the wedding was made of ivory and white satin gazar and designed to resemble an open flower.
Its intricate train stretched two metres 70 centimetres - modest in comparison to previous Royal brides.
Kate's second Burton outfit for the evening celebrations was a strapless white satin gazar evening gown with a circle skirt and diamante embroidered detail round the waist.
She was also wearing a white angora bolero cardigan, St James's Palace said.
Kate's earlier dress was praised by the woman who designed the outfit for Princess Diana on her big day in 1981.
Elizabeth Emanuel said Kate's gown would be copied for years.
She said: "I think the thing about that dress is it is very wearable and that style would fit so many different shapes.
"I'm sure it is going to be a very coveted look and there will be copies of it from tomorrow onwards."
Burton was only revealed as the designer as the bride arrived at Westminster Abbey with her father Michael.
The 29-year-old newlywed had been determined to keep the gown a well-guarded secret in the run-up to her marriage to retain an element of mystery for Prince William.
And her efforts worked perfectly because as she came alongside her husband-to-be, he leant in and said: "You look so beautiful."
The bodice and train were decorated with handcrafted lace applique flowers, made according to the Irish Carrickmacross lace-making technique.
The dress was praised by fellow designers, with many in the fashion world describing it as a classic style.
British bridal designer Suzanne Neville said the outfit was timeless.
"It's not actually a new design, I don't necessarily feel, but she has absolutely brought out that classic British look.
"I thought it was exactly what most people thought she was going to wear, but it was beautiful, absolutely stunning.
"She has not shocked anybody or done anything out of character, but it absolutely suits her and her tiny frame."
St James's Palace said Kate chose McQueen because of the "beauty of its craftsmanship" and "respect for traditional workmanship and technical construction".
"She had a vision in mind that she wanted to support the Arts and Crafts tradition," a spokesman for the palace said.
The four floral emblems of the United Kingdom - the rose, thistle, daffodil and the shamrock - were incorporated into the lace design.
Because the lace was coming from different sources, great care had to be taken to ensure each was exactly the same colour.
Individual flowers were hand-cut from English and French Chantilly lace and hand-engineered into the ivory silk tulle to create an "organic" design.
Kate wore her hair - which has become her signature - in a demi Chignon with the Queen's little-known 1936 Cartier "halo" tiara as her "something borrowed".
She opted not to wear a necklace but did have a pair of beautiful pear-shaped diamond drop earrings, which were a wedding gift from her parents.
They were her "something new". For her "something blue", a blue ribbon was sewn inside the dress. The Carrickmacross craftsmanship was her "something old".
Her veil, which fell to just below her waist, is made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle and decorated with hand-embroidered flowers.
In keeping with Royal tradition, Kate's arms were covered with full-sleeved lace overlay which was built into the dress.
Her bodice was narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, drawing on the Victorian tradition of corsetry which has become a hallmark of Alexander McQueen.
The lace applique for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court palace.
Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to make sure the lace and threads remained pristine. Needles were swapped every three hours to keep them sharp.
The bridal bouquet - in a nod to her husband - contained a bouquet of sweet William as well as the traditional sprig of myrtle, the herb of love.
Burton said in a statement that designing the dress was "the experience of a lifetime".
"I have enjoyed every moment of it," the designer said, adding that Kate looked "absolutely stunning".
"It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created.
"The last few months have been very exciting and an incredible experience. I wish the HRH Prince William and Princess Catherine every good wish for the future."
Pippa Middleton, the maid-of-honour, also wore a stunning full length ivory gown while the bridesmaids wore creations by Nikki Macfarlane.
Burton, 36, was tipped as the designer back in March but the McQueen label had denied the rumours to keep Kate Middleton's secret.
Originally from Manchester, she took over as creative director at McQueen after the designer's suicide last year.
She started at the label as an intern in the 90s before joining full-time on leaving St Martin's College in 1997.
Over a period of 14 years, she became McQueen's closest aide. She has previously designed one-off creations for Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga.
Designing the wedding dress has been hailed as the biggest commission ever and is set to catapult Burton to worldwide fame.
Kate, now the Duchess of Cambridge, is said to have been heavily involved in the design of the dress and apparently had very clear ideas about how it should look.
Her mother Carole chose the Catherine Walker label for her outfit - a sky blue dress and matching long coat. Her hat was by the family favourite Jane Corbett.
Catherine Walker, who died of
cancer last year, was a favourite of
Diana, Princess of Wales.
Elsewhere hat designer Philip Treacy was a clear favourite with Victoria Beckham and many members of the
Royal Family selecting his work for the day.
Mrs Beckham, heavily pregnant with her fourth child, wore one of her own creations for the service - a midnight blue boat neck tunic dress.
TV presenter Ben Fogle's wife Marina - also close to giving birth to the couple's second child - opted instead for a beautiful emerald green dress and a fascinator.
The Queen wore a primrose yellow dress and coat with matching hat - both designed by Angela Kelly. She also wore the Queen Mary's True Lovers Knot diamond brooch.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wore an Anna Valentine dress - as predicted opting for the same label behind her own wedding dress in 2005.
Her dress was a champagne silk with matching duck egg blue and champagne, hand-embroidered coat. She too donned a Philip Treacy hat.
Samantha Cameron decided against wearing a hat despite the occasion, opting for a borrowed headpiece and necklace by Erickson Beamon for Erdem.
She wore a £495 Burberry London teal knee-length dress, £75 shoes from Aldo and followed the trend for block colours by carrying an orange shawl.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's wife Miriam wore an outfit dubbed one of the sexiest of the day - a Spanish influenced polka dot dress with large red fascinator.
http://uk.royalwedding.yahoo.com/blogs/kate-wows-in-second-sarah-burton-outfit-8376
