Kate Middleton's dressmaker reveals how her wedding gown reflected her personality

The dressmaker behind Kate Middleton's world-famous wedding gown explains how it represented her personality

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: TRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge smile following their marriage at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Chloe Savage, who worked on the embroidery of the bridal gowns of both Kate and Meghan Markle, has explained how the iconic dress reflected the Duchess of Cambridge’s personality. 

Kate Middleton's bridal gown was a reflection of her personality, says royal dressmaker Chloe Savage. 

The Alexander McQueen gown was drawn up by fashion powerhouse Sarah Burton after Kate had seen the British designer’s work at another royal wedding. The Duchess of Cambridge reportedly teamed up with Sarah for the project, to ensure that the dress was inspired by her personal style and values. 

According to Chloe, the show-stopping garment perfectly ‘symbolized’ Kate’s personality. 

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"Every bride's dress is a statement of themselves," she said. "A good wedding dress designer will help you show off both your figure and everything about you to the best.” 

With its ivory bodice, laced sleeves, and full skirt, Chloe described the dress as ‘demure and very clean.’ The no-fuss design was praised by both fashion critics and the public at the time, receiving multiple comparisons to the wedding gowns of Grace Kelly and Queen Elizabeth. 

Rather than making a statement with excessive fabric, Sarah focused on the smaller details to enhance the dress’s wow factor. Its sleeves were delicately embroidered with flowers from all four countries of the United Kingdom, while its body was made with a combination of ivory and white satin gazaar. The sentimental designer also sewed a blue ribbon into the inside of the dress to signify the ‘something blue’ line of the bridal rhyme. 

This high-profile operation demanded a huge amount of effort from the design team. Chloe revealed the intense working conditions during the project, as well as the strict rules staff had to follow. 

"It's very similar to working for a couture house," Chloe said. "Slightly longer hours, less sleep, a little more obsession with the handwashing. They banned eating and drinking anywhere near anything. And whatever you do, don't bleed on the work!" 

Chloe, who had been sworn to secrecy regarding this rigorous dressmaking process, recalled meeting Kate during fittings. Despite her lofty title, the duchess's behavior was ‘incredibly normal.’ 

"Kate came in a few times, she was lovely," Chloe said "The usual blushing bride. She was excited about the dress, nervous about the day, questioning what we were doing … all that sort of stuff."

The real excitement for Chloe came on the big day though, when she finally saw the finished dress on its way to the altar. 

"Oh, it's always lovely watching a bride walk down the aisle in your garments," she said. "I don't often get to see it."

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.