Phyllis Brown
Choosing the perfect wedding dress is like finding a soulmate – it’s not easy.
In the past, iconic women have donned bridal gowns that transcend time, captivating brides for decades to come. These timeless dresses hold a special place, each telling a unique story of love and style.
In this article, we’ve collected 7 vintage wedding dresses worn by famous women that celebrate the enduring beauty of bridal fashion through the ages.
1. Princess Diana, 1981
Princess Diana’s wedding dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, is one of the most famous dresses in the world, and one of fashion’s best-kept secrets in fashion history.
The dress was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace, featuring a stunning 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. At the time, it was valued at £9,000.
One observer described it as “ a crinoline, a symbol of sexuality and grandiosity, a meringue embroidered with pearls and sequins, its bodice frilled with lace.”
The gown was lavishly adorned with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, all arranged around a heart motif. For good luck, an 18-karat gold horseshoe was stitched into the dresses.
The lace trimming was antique and handmade, including a piece of Carrickmacross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary. Additionally, a small blue bow was sewn into the waistband as Diana’s “something blue”.
The twenty-five-foot train posed problems. In his book “Diana: Her True Story,” Writer Andrew Morton mentions that the gown’s designers realized too late that they hadn’t accounted for the train’s length in relation to the glass coach Diana and her father would use to get to the ceremony.
Squeezing into the coach was tough, and despite Diana’s efforts, the train got badly wrinkled. This explains the visible creases in her dress when she arrived at the cathedral.
The dress set wedding fashion trends after the wedding. Trends like large puffed sleeves, a full skirt, and “soft touch fabrics” became popular.
Dressmakers began creating copies of her gown almost immediately after the 1981 ceremony. For many bridal experts, Diana’s dress became the “gold standard” in wedding fashion for years to come.
2. Priscilla Presley, 1967
On May 1, 1967, Elvis Presley and Priscilla got married in a private suite at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.
Elvis chose a custom-made brocade silk tuxedo for the occasion, while Priscilla wore a white chiffon gown she found at a local department store. Her floor-length dress featured an empire waist, lace sleeves, and pearl details.
Though simple, Priscilla’s wedding gown has become one of the most iconic bridal looks in history, cementing her status as a ’60s style icon. Their wedding attire was so beloved that in 2008, Mattel released Barbie dolls of the couple in their wedding outfits.
Priscilla shared an intriguing story about shopping for her wedding dress while in disguise. To keep their plans secret and avoid the paparazzi, she had Charlie Hodge, a musician and vocal coach who worked with Elvis, pretend to be her fiancé.
“This was such a well-kept secret because we wanted it to be our wedding, with our friends and not to be loaded with paparazzi,” she explained. “So, Charlie Hodge went with me and I found a beautiful, beautiful shop, all wedding dresses. They had no idea who I was. I came in with glasses, actually, on.”
She visited several department stores before ending her search at a place called Westwood. There, she discovered her beaded chiffon gown, bought it off the rack, and only required one fitting.
“It wasn’t extravagant, it wasn’t extreme — it was simple and to me, beautiful,” Priscilla later said, per Vogue. “I didn’t have time to stay there forever and look at dresses; I had one fitting for this dress and that was it, I was out of there.”
3. Audrey Hepburn, 1952
During the filming of “Roman Holiday” in 1953, Audrey Hepburn was engaged to English industrialist James Hanson. For her wedding, she asked the Fontana sisters, who also worked with Edith Head on her costumes for the movie, to design her dress.
Hepburn’s first wedding dress was elegant and simple, reflecting her unique fashion sense. It featured a demure boatneck, long sleeves, and a playful high-low hemline.
Although the wedding was called off and Audrey never wore the dress as a bride, a photo exists of her wearing it during a fitting.
The actress requested that the designers donate the dress to a bride who could never afford such a luxurious wedding gown. This wish was fulfilled when an Italian girl named Amiable Altobella wore it on her wedding day.
“The whole experience must have been incredible for [Altobella and her fiancé],” says Kerry Taylor, founder of London-based Kerry Taylor Auctions, about the couple’s visit from Latina.
“They had three daughters and five grandchildren. Amiable said, ‘I’ve had a happy marriage, so the dress brought me luck,’ and that was very much the feeling when the dress was handed over,” says Taylor, who auctioned the dress in 2009 for $23,000. “The whole family felt such pride at having had something so special and so unique.”
This wedding dress, though it never walked down the aisle, looks absolutely stunning. It undoubtedly deserves a spot on any list of remarkable vintage gowns.
4. Princess Margaret, 1960
On May 6, 1960, Princess Margaret tied the knot with Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, a talented British photographer and filmmaker. For her special day, she chose a long silk organza gown crafted by Norman Hartnell, a favorite designer of the royal family.
The skirt of the dress used around 30 meters of fabric. Hartnell intentionally kept the dress simple, minimizing crystal embellishments and beading to complement Margaret’s petite figure.
Though the dress might appear understated for a royal wedding, it highlights the beauty of minimalism and ensures the bride remains the focal point.
Vogue praised the gown as “stunningly tailored,” while another writer described it as “a study in simplicity.” Life magazine, in 1960, called it “the simplest royal wedding gown in history.” This dress is also considered one of Hartnell’s most elegant and sophisticated creations.
5. Elizabeth Taylor, 1950
Elizabeth Taylor’s first wedding, to Conrad Hilton, the heir to the Hilton Hotels chain, marked the start of her journey down the aisle a total of eight times. Despite the marriage’s ups and downs, Taylor’s wedding attire stole the show.
Her stunning white satin gown, designed by MGM’s Helen Rose, was a masterpiece. With its fitted waist, voluminous skirt, and drop-shoulder neckline adorned with gold beading, it exuded elegance. Completing the ensemble was a dramatic veil secured by a delicate tiara.
MGM spared no expense in crafting this iconic dress, employing over 15 full-time workers who dedicated three months to its creation. The gown’s journey didn’t end at the altar; it fetched an impressive sum of over £120,000 at auction in 2013.
6. Jacqueline Kennedy, 1953
Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding dress, worn when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953, remains iconic in bridal fashion history.
The gown was the creation of African-American fashion designer Ann Lowe, who was not credited as the designer at the time of the Bouvier-Kennedy wedding. When asked about the creator of her dress, Jacqueline Kennedy referred to Lowe as a “colored woman.”
This bridal gown, made from ivory silk taffeta, boasted a striking portrait neckline and a voluminous round skirt. Intricate details included interwoven tucking bands and delicate wax flowers. What adds intrigue is the nearly-lost tale of the original gown designed by Lowe.
A flood in Lowe’s workshop on Lexington Avenue, just ten days before the wedding, devastated the bride’s gown and nine others meant for the bridal party.
Despite the setback, Lowe and her team worked tirelessly for eight days to reconstruct the gowns and ensure they were delivered on time. However, instead of making an anticipated $700 profit, Lowe faced a loss of $2,200 on the project.
7. Grace Kelly, 1956
Grace Kelly’s wedding dress, gifted by MGM Studios for her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco, holds a special place among the most beloved bridal gowns of the 20th century
Hand-made by the studio’s wardrobe team, it boasted an elegant design using ivory faille and 100 yards of silk net.
Grace Kelly’s wedding dress was a masterpiece, taking months to make. It had a high neckline, snug bodice, and a silk taffeta skirt adorned with thousands of hand-sewn pearls, all topped off with a three-foot train.
Layers of undergarments, including slip skirt support, foundation, and ruffled petticoats, were carefully assembled to achieve the perfect silhouette.
Over 6 decades later, this iconic gown continues to inspire brides worldwide. Famous women like Kate Middleton and Nicky Hilton have been spotted wearing dresses reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s timeless style.
