Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, speculation has been raging over which designer will be selected to craft the wedding gown for the lucky princess-to-be.
Middleton’s mom Carole and sister Pippa recently visited one of British designer Bruce Oldfield‘s London shops – a shopping trip heard around the world! Although there’s been no confirmation from Kate’s camp (word is she wants to keep the dress private until the big day), Bruce’s name is hot in couture wedding gown conversations.
So, just who is Bruce Oldfield? The designer was born in 1950, and graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art in 1973. The seventies were a busy time for the up-and-comer. He worked for Henri Bendel in New York City, created the wardrobe for Charlotte Rampling in the film Le Taxi Mauve, and set up his signature fashion house in London, all while continuing to collaborate with private clientele. Perhaps his most famous devotee was the late Princess Diana, Prince William’s mother.
Bruce has had a boutique in London since 1984, and unveiled a complete bridal salon a little less than a year ago on the same street. Known for both ready-to-wear and bridal fashions, Bruce has fans across the globe, including Sienna Miller, Rihanna, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He even delivered posh new McDonald’s uniforms to the UK crews back in 2008, which clearly weren’t standard issue!
Carole and Pippa may have simply been scoping out their own wedding attire, or perhaps were doing some of the leg work for Kate. Whatever they were up to, Kate has reportedly decided on her designer, even though she hasn’t admitted anything publicly. Bruce’s fashions are pure elegance, prim and slightly proper, perfect for a royal affair. Even though the designer has gone on record saying he admires Kate’s style, it will be interesting to see how he manages to combine her youthful flair with his own unfaltering sense of sophistication.
We’ll just have to wait and see if Bruce really does provide that fairy tale dress for the princess bride!
