The Unveiling Of That Dress

So much to write about and so little time. In case you have been living under a rock in another planet with ear muffs on you will, no doubt, know a little something about a certain Royal wedding.

Millions of people tuned in to watch Kate Middleton become a princess (well officially a duchess), but I can guarantee that most of those viewers were only watching to see what she had chosen to wear.

And we weren't disappointed were we?
 
Sarah Burton, who replaced Alexander McQueen when he took his own life last year, has, overnight, become the most sought after designer for making the dress that everyone is talking about.

The boned and corseted bustier top, combined with the nipped-in waist and full skirt made the most of Kate’s slim frame and the vintage-looking lace covered her slight shoulders protecting her modesty.

But many won't realise the amount of work that went into creating the dress.

The back of the dress consisted of 58 satin gazar and organza-covered buttons, fastened with Rouleau loops, which had all been hand-stitched.

The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace.

In order to keep the lace looking pristine, the team would have had to keep washing their hands when touching the dainty fabric and constantly swapping needles to keep them sharp.

But that won't stop dress makers from making copies. Designers worked round the clock as soon as Kate appeared, in order to get replica dresses out onto the high stress and judging by the popularity of the wedding, it is sure to be a huge success!

Kate Middleton's Bridal Hairstyle

Kate Middleton's hair hasn't always looked this good. Photographs of the future princess and budding style icon taken during her college years featured lackluster, wind-tousled hair that was more "sleepy student" than "sexy princess-to-be." Kate's hair has undoubtedly gone through a dramatic transformation over the years. Kate is now nearly always photographed with what Glamour Magazine dubbed as "basically perfect" hair. Her long, chestnut locks look naturally shiny, bouncy, and soft. Her current hairstyle (and most famous one) features long layers, with the ends softly curling upwards, and lots of volume and shine.

For her wedding day, Kate apparently doesn't want to mess with perfection (I wouldn't either). According to The Daily Mail, Richard Ward, Kate's hairstylist, Kate will wear her hair down on her wedding day. "100 percent down and flowy," is how Ward put it. A certain Mr. Pryce, who works at Richard Ward's salon in Chelsea and who styled Kate's hair for her engagement photos, will be doing Kate's hair again for the wedding, while Ward himself will style Carole, Kate's mother, and Pippa, Kate's sister and maid-of-honor.

Kate's hair as a student in 2002, and Kate's hair now

Although it seems at first glance that Kate is not that adventurous, fashion-wise, preferring casual, tailored clothing and simple sheaths, the fact that she chose to wear her hair in such an unorthodox (among the members of the Royal family) way hints that her wedding dress may be a bit avant garde as well!

So how do you get Kate Middleton's amazing hair? If your Mum or Dad gave you the genetic gift of long, thick, healthy brunette hair, it'll be a cinch. Or at least it will be if you're already skilled in the fine art of blow-drying to begin with. If you can't spare the time or the effort but can spare some cash, Richard Ward's salon in London is accepting appointments. Just remember to ask for "the Kate!" A cut and blow dry costs around £88. Expect their prices to go up after the wedding, though.

Kate's Engagement Top Back on the Racks at Whistles

Fans of Kate's cream silk vintage-inspired blouse, which she wore in her official engagement photo, will be delighted to learn that it's back on the racks at Whistles. The blouse was originally from Whistles' Autumn/Winter 2008 collection, making it nearly impossible to get a hold of. However, due to public demand, Whistles has reissued the top and it's now available in all Whistles stores and through the Whistles online shop.

Initially, the people over at Whistles didn't seem too impressed by the fact that Kate brought international attention to their already well-known label. According to Jane Shepherdson, chief executive of Whistles, "“I don’t think Kate’s made a difference to sales: maybe a few hundred pounds. A pretty dress is a pretty dress; it’s going to sell, regardless." However, Shepherdson seems to have taken a complete about-face since she made that statement, saying, "We are delighted that Catherine chose to wear Whistles in her engagement photographs." Hmm. Never mind, we're just glad the top is available again!

The romantic, 100% silk vintage-inspired top features lace trim down the front, gathered long sleeves leading down into old-fashioned buttoned cuffs, and a granddad collar. The fit is quite loose and forgiving, which is a plus for us who don't have Kate's enviable figure! I'm not sure what the name of the style was before Kate wore it, but Whistles has christened it as the "Kate Blouse." The top originally sold for £95.00. It currently costs £125.00 or approximately $205 and you can get it here.

Kate styled herself for her engagement photo shoot, and the now famous cream silk blouse was pulled from her own wardrobe.