Handicapping the designers
The race is on to find the designer and copy Kate Middleton's wedding gown
Those crafty Brits sure know how to keep a secret.
With only a couple of days to go before the royal wedding, no one has been able to ferret out who's designing Kate Middleton's wedding gown, although rumors are flying.
One thing is for sure: It will be the most copied wedding gown in history.
Already, the giant wedding dress manufacturer JS Collections has announced it will have a knockoff of Middleton's wedding gown on Nordstrom.com by Sunday. Customers can pre-order or inquire about the gown, which is expected to retail at under $1,000 and be available for delivery in August.
Just about every designer mentioned has denied that he or she is designing the gown, which is to be expected (in this case, it's OK to tell a white lie). But a palace source tells US Magazine that the fittings are complete.
The only thing certain is that the designer must be British, which leads to these leading candidates:
1. The Huffington Post reports that little-known designer Sophie Cranston had gotten the nod. Cranston designs for her Libélula label. Middleton wore a vintage-inspired, black velvet dress coat with a diamante clasp designed by Cranston to a friend's wedding in January. Cranston denies she is the one.
2. Almost from the day that Prince William and Middleton announced their engagement, Sarah Burton, the lead designer at Alexander McQueen, has been the most mentioned. Burton designed the red gown that Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner for the Chinese premier in January and is known for dreamy couture-quality gowns that leave an impression. I think she would be a great choice. Burton denies she is the one.
3. Stella McCartney has curiously been out of the discussion, which leads some to believe she may be the one. McCartney is the daughter of pop royalty (Paul McCartney is her dad) and she designed Madonna's wedding gown, which, on second thought, might be reason enough to disqualify her from this big assignment.
4. At first Bruce Oldfield seemed liked the odds-on favorite, particularly after Middleton's mother, Carole, and sister, Pippa, were photographed leaving his London boutique. A veteran of the royal scene, he has dressed Queen Elizabeth and was a favorite of Princess Diana. But his look is probably too traditional for a young bride. However, mother of the bride or stepmother of the groom (Camilla Parker Bowles) is not out of the question.
5. Although Catherine Walker died in 2010, her namesake label lives on. Style watchers aren't counting on it, but Middleton might choose the designer's label because it was one of Princess Diana's favorites and would be a poignant tribute to the woman who will be on everyone's mind on Kate and William's wedding day.
