NYC Designer At Work To Design, Create Royal Wedding Dress Replica
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For weeks prior to the royal nuptials at Britain's Westminster Abbey Friday morning, speculation about the wedding dress to be worn by the woman now known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was rampant.
And as she walked down the aisle in a fairy tale-like procession that captivated billions, one designer on Long Island went to work to replicate the gown, designed for Middleton - with help from the bride - by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen's fashion house.
Shala Moradi, principal designer of Faviana, a line known for creating sophisticated, stylish evening wear, is looking to produce a much more affordable version of the frock for those that want to cop Middleton's style on their own wedding day.
Having previously designed knock-off dresses based on looks from events like the Oscars and even America's version of a royal wedding, Chelsea Clinton's nuptials to Marc Mezvinsky last summer, Moradi is well practiced for this type of situation.
"I don't get nervous," she told the New York Post. "But it's a little bit of pressure with the timing."
The dress, which will be designed and put together by Moradi's team at Faviana's Seventh Ave. showroom, will likely cost under $2,000 – but it won't be a carbon copy, the paper said.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa Speaks With Another Designer Who Can Help You Look Like A Royal Princess Bride
Podcast
The train on the gown worn by the Duchess measured almost nine feet long, and won't be included in Moradi's design.
In a CBSNews.com poll, 70 percent of voters said "I love it!" when it came to Middleton's dress, which included lace appliqué on the bodice and a hand-made skirt that incorporated rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.
"Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work," the palace said in their Web site statement. "Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress."
The fact that she had a large hand in designing her own gown should come as no surprise, as Middleton has previously worked in the fashion industry.
Even as a commoner, the bride captivated many with her style choices, setting fashion trends across the globe. Here in New York City, local boutiques benefited greatly from the "Kate Middleton Effect," seeing sales skyrocket after she chose to wear looks from British lines Reiss and Links of London in her engagement portraits.
The bride's earrings, a gift from her mother and father on her big day, were diamond-set stylized oak leaves by Robinson Pelham, inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms. The jewels were made to match the tiara worn by Middleton, which was made in 1936 and originally purchased by King George VI for his Duchess.
Please offer your thoughts on Kate's dress in the comments section below.
