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A Dress for Diana
Kate Middleton’s royal wedding to Prince William on April 29, 2011 will be the fashion event of the century. And with the whole world watching, Kate’s royal wedding dress will redefine elegance and grace for the next generation of royalty—just as Princess Diana’s legendary wedding gown did a generation ago. When British designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed Diana’s dress, they helped her become the most beloved princess in the world. Like Ann Lowe’s wedding gown for Jacqueline Kennedy or Vera Wang’s many celebrity wedding dress designs, the gown that the Emanuels created for Princess Di changed the future of wedding fashion. Now, you can revisit the beauty and innovation that went into Diana’s wedding dress in this lavish, full-color book, written by the dressmakers themselves—the perfect way to make the magic of Princess Kate’s wedding story come to life.
207 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 21, 2017
I really enjoyed this. The photographs and book design was stunning. Plus, I now have endless more "fun facts" about nothing useful stored in my brain.
September 5, 2008
Okay, so this is kind of a coffee table book, but I really enjoyed reading it. The Emmanuels, who designed and created Princess Diana's wedding dress, have an amazing story and the photographs of the dress's construction and detail are beautiful. I think it's the most iconic wedding dress of the twentieth century. If you like to sew, you would also appreciate each stage the dress went through--I loved the photos of the dress muslins that Diana tried on during fittings and of David Emmanuel trimming the tulle petticoats--the book also shows good examples of the romantic look of the early eighties--I wish it would come back into style so I would have an excuse to wear more ruffles!
May 15, 2019
5 stars for how great the book itself is, but 3 stars because the dress is friggin' ugly. It was the early 80s! I won't judge too much. But the book itself is amazing, with behind the scenes stories and pictures and a just overall sense of "I was there!" Written 25 years after the wedding.
July 6, 2019
I love this book...it is the perfect mix of history and photography and telling the story of how Diana's dress was made. I learned a little about individuals such as Nina and Rose who put in the hours to construct the gown that the Emanuels designed. It was such a big deal for the E's--the commission of a lifetime.
Once the Diana exhibit came to town, and with it the DRESS. What an unforgettable experience it was to see it in person. I could not touch it, nor could I photograph it, but I could view the mother-of-pearl sequins which had been sewn on by hand onto the veil, and I could with a little bit more insight appreciate the collaborate love and effort that went into creating it.
When I finished the book, I looked up the video of the wedding to see the dress in action. What a day it was, not only for the Royal couple, but for the Emanuels and all of their supporting people.
Once the Diana exhibit came to town, and with it the DRESS. What an unforgettable experience it was to see it in person. I could not touch it, nor could I photograph it, but I could view the mother-of-pearl sequins which had been sewn on by hand onto the veil, and I could with a little bit more insight appreciate the collaborate love and effort that went into creating it.
When I finished the book, I looked up the video of the wedding to see the dress in action. What a day it was, not only for the Royal couple, but for the Emanuels and all of their supporting people.
July 11, 2021
loved it!
November 18, 2018
This is exactly what you think it is - the fashion designers telling the story of how they created Lady Diana Spencer's wedding dress to HRH Charles, Prince of Wales.
Starting with a short history of the couple to their introduction to the royal family and eventually being given a commission that can make or break a designer's reputation. The massive amount of security surrounding every part of the dress from design, fabrics and laces, shoes, flowers and more. The additional dresses they created for various other functions that Diana attended.
Lavishly illustrated with photos and drawings, it goes into detail about finding the British sources of all aspects of the dress as well as the bridesmaid dresses. There were also things that most people never knew about - the golden horseshoe charm sewn into the dress to wish Diana good luck. A miniature version of the dress as well as a pair of the shoes. The near-copy of the dress that the Emanuel's provided to Madame Tussand's.
It provides an interesting look into the massive amount of preparation that went into only one aspect - abet a very important one - of the royal wedding. Unless you're a big fan of Princess Diana, interested in dress-making and/or fashion design, reading it once would be enough. But if you are such a fan, this would be a good addition to your personal library.
Starting with a short history of the couple to their introduction to the royal family and eventually being given a commission that can make or break a designer's reputation. The massive amount of security surrounding every part of the dress from design, fabrics and laces, shoes, flowers and more. The additional dresses they created for various other functions that Diana attended.
Lavishly illustrated with photos and drawings, it goes into detail about finding the British sources of all aspects of the dress as well as the bridesmaid dresses. There were also things that most people never knew about - the golden horseshoe charm sewn into the dress to wish Diana good luck. A miniature version of the dress as well as a pair of the shoes. The near-copy of the dress that the Emanuel's provided to Madame Tussand's.
It provides an interesting look into the massive amount of preparation that went into only one aspect - abet a very important one - of the royal wedding. Unless you're a big fan of Princess Diana, interested in dress-making and/or fashion design, reading it once would be enough. But if you are such a fan, this would be a good addition to your personal library.
October 31, 2016
Beautiful photographs of the inspiration dress, the sketches, the under dresses, the bodice and decorated shoes, alongmwith some pics of the Emanuels and their staff. All stock pictures of the wedding day and posed pictures of the dressmakers. Some letters from the to-be-bride and from the newlywed bride to the Emanuele. Pretty usual stuff. What would have made the book a 4-star book? More pics, such as when Charles kisses Diana on the balcony and such as what some the copycats dresses looked like. More commentary: What Diana's mother Mrs Kydd and the Queen said about the dress? Maybe the more commentary part may just be beyond the scope of the book? Yet may not as Queen Victoria's dress is pictured, so background so provided. The book was pretty and the items included were all correct. I just wanted, okay expected, more.
January 2, 2022
I remember Diana and Charles’s wedding as if it was yesterday. My family and I were in Britain. I was in my early teens and glued to the TV all day.
This book is pure nostalgia, and I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. It’s a lovely coffee table book. It's classy and gorgeous, which is not surprising given that it's written by the Emmanels, such talented designers.
Until recently, I was a die-hard Diana fan, not as much anymore. Regardless, that’s not the point. This is just a delightful book about the creation of the dress, and all the fun wedding stuff. The photos and illustrations are simply gorgeous, and the writing is beautiful also.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Fun at the Fittings
“… when we did manage to get everyone together, the bridesmaids brought a lot of fun to the fittings. They were young and pretty and thought it was incredibly exciting that they were going to be part of this enormous wedding. They would rush in, fling their arms around Diana and kiss her, and we had quite a job getting them to stand still. On one particular day, they all arrived in roller-skates, which they insisted on wearing with their toiles during the fittings. It was total chaos. … And so there they were in their bridesmaids’ outfits, looking all official and ‘don’t I look smart.’ And then you lower your eyes and they’d put roller skates on. I wish we had a picture of that; that would have been great!”
Wedding Day
“One of the most dramatic moments of the whole wedding was watching Diana slight from the carriage – it was like seeing a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. As she got out, the train expanded and it just kept on coming and coming and you wondered when it was ever going to end. You could hear the crowd gasp with disbelief that a train that long could come out of a coach so small. Everybody seemed to love that magical moment.”
This book is pure nostalgia, and I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. It’s a lovely coffee table book. It's classy and gorgeous, which is not surprising given that it's written by the Emmanels, such talented designers.
Until recently, I was a die-hard Diana fan, not as much anymore. Regardless, that’s not the point. This is just a delightful book about the creation of the dress, and all the fun wedding stuff. The photos and illustrations are simply gorgeous, and the writing is beautiful also.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Fun at the Fittings
“… when we did manage to get everyone together, the bridesmaids brought a lot of fun to the fittings. They were young and pretty and thought it was incredibly exciting that they were going to be part of this enormous wedding. They would rush in, fling their arms around Diana and kiss her, and we had quite a job getting them to stand still. On one particular day, they all arrived in roller-skates, which they insisted on wearing with their toiles during the fittings. It was total chaos. … And so there they were in their bridesmaids’ outfits, looking all official and ‘don’t I look smart.’ And then you lower your eyes and they’d put roller skates on. I wish we had a picture of that; that would have been great!”
Wedding Day
“One of the most dramatic moments of the whole wedding was watching Diana slight from the carriage – it was like seeing a butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. As she got out, the train expanded and it just kept on coming and coming and you wondered when it was ever going to end. You could hear the crowd gasp with disbelief that a train that long could come out of a coach so small. Everybody seemed to love that magical moment.”
October 6, 2024
Amazing backstory of The Wedding Dress of the 20th century, certainly of the decade, for the soon to be HRH Diana, Princess of Wales.
Even though husband and wife designer team David and Elizabeth Emanuel were recent grads, with their talented team, they were starting to gain a following: e.g. Bianca Jagger and members of the Royal family, due in part to the location of their studio near British Vogue. But it was Diana’s wedding dress that made them household names, forever linking them to this magical time.
Includes dresses for Diana the Emanuels made before the wedding, especially ‘the black dress’, strapless with décolletage, which made quite the splash because innocent Diana leaned over too much when exiting the car. Compared to today’s standards, not that shocking, but she was about to become a British Royal.
More than that slight misstep though, if ever there was an example for people who don’t care what they wear or who dismiss the communication of clothing, THAT dress is it: the transformation of Diana from a perceived shy, nursery school teacher into a Princess, a glamorous one, soon to be the most photographed woman in the world.
Additionally, the book captures photos of the Emanuels’s entry as students in the Royal College of Art’s show catalogue of 1977 to in 1981, the typed letter of the official Royal commission for the big day; design sketches, detailed photos of the dress as it’s being made, additional written correspondence, including Diana’s thank you note, and numerous photos highlighting theirs and Diana’s fantastic journey of this amazing historical occasion.
Highly recommended for fashion design and merchandising students and of course, Princess Diana fans.
Even though husband and wife designer team David and Elizabeth Emanuel were recent grads, with their talented team, they were starting to gain a following: e.g. Bianca Jagger and members of the Royal family, due in part to the location of their studio near British Vogue. But it was Diana’s wedding dress that made them household names, forever linking them to this magical time.
Includes dresses for Diana the Emanuels made before the wedding, especially ‘the black dress’, strapless with décolletage, which made quite the splash because innocent Diana leaned over too much when exiting the car. Compared to today’s standards, not that shocking, but she was about to become a British Royal.
More than that slight misstep though, if ever there was an example for people who don’t care what they wear or who dismiss the communication of clothing, THAT dress is it: the transformation of Diana from a perceived shy, nursery school teacher into a Princess, a glamorous one, soon to be the most photographed woman in the world.
Additionally, the book captures photos of the Emanuels’s entry as students in the Royal College of Art’s show catalogue of 1977 to in 1981, the typed letter of the official Royal commission for the big day; design sketches, detailed photos of the dress as it’s being made, additional written correspondence, including Diana’s thank you note, and numerous photos highlighting theirs and Diana’s fantastic journey of this amazing historical occasion.
Highly recommended for fashion design and merchandising students and of course, Princess Diana fans.
September 18, 2021
Very interesting. Loved all
The behind the scenes stories and secrecy involved.
The behind the scenes stories and secrecy involved.
March 19, 2022
Got it at the exhibit this last summer and it was a fun read for a Saturday afternoon. Great pics and fun stories -for the ultimate Diana nerd!
January 7, 2026
It was such a wonderful book to read and learn so much of what went behind the scene to make princess Diana’s wedding dress and the friendship that was build
December 26, 2012
This was a fabulous, quick read (more of a coffee table type book). However, it's full of wonderful details and pieces of history. It's such a treat to be able to read a few of the letters that Princess Diana wrote to David and Elizabeth Emanuel. My, how her sweet spirit lives on! There is a steady stream of excitement that is present throughout the entire book. I cannot believe just HOW much effort went into this dress--it makes me wonder what Sarah Burton went through designing and preparing The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding gown. A wonderful book--have already recommended to friends--just received it for Christmas yesterday. Read it easily in a couple hours.
April 23, 2008
One of my favourite picture books. Tells you all about the making of Diana's wedding dress - the story behind it all. The Fairy Tale wedding of the century tragically did not 'live happily ever after'.
I remember being very young watching the Royal wedding ceremony. How I envied Diana then. Even had a haircut like her and collected pictures of Diana from various magazines and newspapers. There was a time when my family started calling me Lady Di.
I wonder what the world would be like if she was still around . . .
I remember being very young watching the Royal wedding ceremony. How I envied Diana then. Even had a haircut like her and collected pictures of Diana from various magazines and newspapers. There was a time when my family started calling me Lady Di.
I wonder what the world would be like if she was still around . . .
February 2, 2009
This book was wrote by the husband/wife team who designed Princess Diana's dress. It was just a whim that I picked it up and really enjoyed reading all the little details special about her wedding day and everything that went into place. Plus, the candid photos are nice to see and I just liked this book! It was a quick read with great pictures!
December 20, 2014
I read this at the request of 14yo Meg. Some interesting details here and there but for the most part a book that promises more than it delivers as far as general interestingness--possibly not helped by the Emanuels no longer having access to the dress itself for detail photos, etc.
August 30, 2007
How this magnificant and beautiful dress came into being. Would have liked more pictures of the completed dress. I'll let you borrow it.
October 13, 2013
One of my favorites.
May 24, 2014
Beautiful photos and memories.
July 5, 2015
Interesting book. Quick, enjoyable read. Beautiful detailed pictures.
August 20, 2015
It's amazing how much work by very skilled and talented people went into that dress and its accessories. The shoes alone blew my mind.
March 22, 2017
5/5
The perfect book for any Princess Diana fan! The detail this book went into was amazing. There is information in here that you could not find any where else!
The perfect book for any Princess Diana fan! The detail this book went into was amazing. There is information in here that you could not find any where else!
March 25, 2011
Going to the Diana exhibit next week. Yes, I'm going a little overboard...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews