Is Kate a copycat bride?
TWO brides each married a prince, but the similarities between Kate Middleton and Italian actress Isabella Orsini didn’t end there.
A striking likeness between the wedding dress of the Duchess of Cambridge and that of Ms Orsini when she married Belgian Prince Edouard de Ligne two years ago prompted a controversy across Europe yesterday and led some commentators to dub the new Duchess as “Copycat Kate”.
In the past few days, newspapers and magazines in Germany, Belgium, France, and Italy have suggested that Kate’s bridal gown might have gained inspiration from the dress made for Ms Orsini, the goddaughter of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, by Belgian designer Gerald Watelet.
“Copy-Kate” was the headline in Germany’s BZ tabloid newspaper.
“As soon as the Duchess of Cambridge went out to go to church, I thought her dress was a copy of mine,” Ms Orsini was quoted as saying by the Italian magazine Novella 2000.
“It means Kate Middleton has good taste.”
The V-neck line, the elaborate lace work, the corset waist, even the tiaras and earrings look alike.
They were two fairytale weddings, although only a few hundred turned out to see Ms Orsini, 36, wed Edouard, a member of Belgium’s most noble family which traces its origins back to the Holy Roman Empire.
In contrast, two billion people – almost a third of the world’s population – were said to have watched William and Kate’s Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29.
But fashion experts said yesterday there were other reasons why the gowns looked familiar at first glance.
It means Kate, Duchess of Cambridge has good taste
“The reason they are similar is they both referenced Grace Kelly’s iconic wedding dress,” said Miranda Eason, editor of You & Your Wedding magazine.
The homage paid by Burton to the dress worn by Hollywood star Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956 has been well documented, but Ms Eason stressed there is a difference between a look inspired by another designer, and one directly copied.
“It’s a similar neckline and there are other similarities but the skirt, for example, is different,” she said.
Claire Brayford, deputy fashion editor of the Daily Express, echoed her assessment.
“It’s the quintessentially classic bridal gown and if you’re going for a classic look, there is only a small number of basic shapes and designs.
“It’s the tiny tweaks that make all the difference and put your individual stamp on it,” she said.
Sarah Burton, the designer at Alexander McQueen who made the Duchess’s dress, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
