The “Spare” Wedding Dress
 

In the run-up to the Royal Wedding, the Emanuels were under intense scrutiny by the media and realized the importance of taking on additional security to guard the wedding gown. Although we had two security guards, Jim and Burt, I decided to create a spare wedding gown just in case all our precautions failed and the gown was stolen, burnt in a fire, or its secret exposed. I never expected the gown to be used, but knowing it was there hanging on the rail gave me some peace of mind.

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After the wedding, the spare gown stayed on the rail and eventually made its way to the sample rail with other half-finished gowns. At the time, we didn’t think there would be any interest in the spare gown, and like other uncompleted samples in those days, it was forgotten and lost over time.

The gown is made from the palest ivory embroidered silk taffeta and has a fitted bodice with a wide V-neckline with taffeta flounce and a tiny waist. The sleeves are slim and have double flounces of taffeta at the elbows. The center front and back panels of the bodice have been embroidered with tiny pearls and sequins. The bodice is attached to an embroidered gathered top skirt, which is hitched at the front and is worn over a separate plain taffeta skirt with a small train. The top dress and skirt are worn over a very large frothy off-white petticoat to give volume and emphasize the waist.