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.

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ELEGANT EVOLUTION

Houston designer Christy Lynn celebrates 5 years with River Oaks pop-up

Photo by Quy Tran

The designer opened her new space with a Spring 2025 Collection fashion show.

Houston designer Christy Lynn Lee has had a whirlwind five years and is celebrating with a pop-up store in River Oaks District and a new Resort 2025 Collection. The pop-up boutique will be open through the end of February, offering shoppers curated picks from the designer's Fall/Winter 2024, Resort 2025, and the first drop of Spring 2025 on February 1.

"I wasn't looking for a pop-up during the holiday season, but the opportunity presented itself, and I made the decision within two weeks," Lee tells CultureMap. "I have a beautiful store in Memorial, and being there for over a year has taught me a lot about that part of the city. There are a lot of people that shop in River Oaks District from out of town and even internationally, and we felt we could learn a lot about those customers just by being there for the next four months."

Houston-based designer Christy Lynn Lee and her husband Christophe Chung.Photo by Quy Tran

After founding her ready-to-wear label in 2019, Lee became known for her romantic and ephemeral dresses with hand-painted floral motifs and exquisite fabrics from Italy, France, and China. In the past year, Lee has focused on evolving her brand to include more separates, knitwear, and suiting. The Resort 2025 Collection will showcase these efforts with a capsule wardrobe that is ready for holiday travel with beautiful skirts, cashmere, and embroidered treatments on leather and suede.

"The collection is available now through January, and it is holiday-inspired," said Lee. "I wanted it to feel like a transitional capsule collection, so if you are traveling for the holidays to somewhere warm or skiing, it is easy to take it away with you."

Shoppers can peruse the ready-to-wear Resort 2025 Collection at the River Oaks District pop-up. Photo courtesy of Christy Lynn

In addition to the new pop-up boutique and launch of her latest collection, Lee is celebrating five years of her eponymous brand. The designer says the first three years were the honeymoon phase, while the last two dealt with trials and tribulations. She and her business partner and husband, Christophe Chung, have been focused on sustaining the business's progress.

"The first three years we had a lot of growth. I have a store, a team here in Houston, and a team in New York, so now it is about planning for the next five years.," said Lee. "I am fortunate that I have built a really good production and design group. It is very small, but it allows me to concentrate more on the outward-facing parts of the fashion business."

Christy Lynn Lee celebrated her 5 year anniversary with a fashion show and the debut of her River Oaks District pop-up. Photo by Quy Tran

While Lee has focused on expanding nationwide and globally (she began international shipping in the last six months), she says Houston will remain her home base. The designer's atelier, warehouse, and flagship store are all in Houston, and over the past several years, Lee and her husband have built a welcoming community around them.

"We couldn't have grown so much without the support from Houston. I feel like it is my home," said Lee. "Houston embodies diversity, creativity, and opportunity. It is an international hub that offers access to a global audience while still having a fantastic local community."

Photo by Quy Tran

The designer opened her new space with a Spring 2025 Collection fashion show.

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