Not Meghan Markle, Not Victoria Beckham: This Celeb's Wedding Dress Is The Bridal Blueprint
In the ongoing debate over the best wedding dress, many stars rival for the top of the list, but only one is the definitive star. This wedding dress is, in fact, a blueprint for other wedding dresses to follow; its classical beauty inspired other wedding dresses because it became the mold for future bridal inspiration. Many famous wedding dresses have vied for the top spot. Meghan Markle's gorgeous dress would take a prominent spot. Victoria Beckham's strapless Vera Wang dress also comes to mind. But the truth is, Grace Kelly's iconic 1956 wedding dress has become the blueprint for other brides for decades.
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Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19, 1956, in one of the most famous weddings in history. She brought Hollywood glamour, and he brought European royalty, forming a historical moment that was also hugely influential on brides to follow. Kelly's dress was designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose, according to Brides. It featured long lace sleeves, a high neckline, a cinched waist followed by a voluminous skirt, and a ten-and-a-half-foot-long train. The gown was made from Brussels lace that was 125 years old, along with 75 feet of silk taffeta and thousands of pearls. The gown was a gift to Kelly from MGM studios and was made by the studio artists. Kelly skipped a tiara and instead wore a lace and pearl Juliet Cap to secure her long veil. All combined, Kelly's bridal ensemble became the guide for brides throughout the decades.
Grace Kelly's wedding dress was an inspiration for many famous dresses that followed
When Oscar de la Renta saw Grace Kelly's wedding dress, he understood that there was something transcendent about it. "On her wedding day, Grace Kelly gave new meaning to the word icon," he shared (per Brides). "[Kelly's] whole look, from the regal veil to the feminine lace details and the conservative gown, made her an ageless bride." Sure enough, Kelly's wedding dress became the blueprint for brides to follow. Many of the best royal wedding dresses in the modern era were inspired by Kelly, namely Kate Middleton's gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, with its high neckline, long lace sleeves, and voluminous skirt and train.
Others have followed suit. Of the most extravagant celeb wedding dresses of all time, many on the list looked to Kelly for inspiration. Lily Collins' lace overlay gown, with a high neckline and lace sleeves, had echoes of Kelly's bridal influence. Even some of the celebrity wedding dresses that were outside-the-box have Kelly to thank for a reference point. Paris Hilton's Oscar de la Renta wedding dress unashamedly leaned on Kelly's gown. "I loved Princess Grace Kelly and always thought about how she was so elegant and iconic, and I knew I wanted to be elegant like her when I walked down the aisle," Hilton wrote on Instagram two days after her wedding. Miranda Kerr's 2017 Dior wedding dress was also inspired by Kelly. These brides are all indebted to Kelly and her iconic dress.