Royal wedding: ralph & russo tops british bookies’ shortlists for gown – wwd since 2007

Ralph & Russo, the London couture label founded and run by Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo, have long been the front-runners to design the wedding gown as they created Markle’s black ruffled maxiskirt and sheer, gold-embroidered bodysuit for her official engagement photo with Prince Harry last December.

Sources have also said the dressmakers who worked with Markle on the engagement skirt and top were booked for a further three months by the bride-to-be, although they could also be making the look she plans to wear at the Saturday night reception, which will be hosted by Prince Charles.

Royal wedding: ralph & russo tops british bookies’ shortlists for gown – wwd Wakeley dresses the Duchess

Other candidates for that eveningwear role include Erdem Moralioglu, a friend of Markle’s and one of her favorite designers, and Mouret, another friend of the bride’s who will be attending the wedding. Earlier this week The Times of London speculated that Mouret will be her designer for the evening affair.

Parvin, who’s been designing dresses for Queen Elizabeth since 2007 and who created Zara Tindall’s wedding gown, was an early favorite, as was Packham, another unsurprising contender as she’s known for her wedding dresses and is a favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge.

Wickstead, who regularly dresses celebrities, royals and British aristos, launched a bridal line in April 2017 as part of the strategy to expand her business, while Amanda Wakeley dresses the Duchess of Cambridge and also created designs for Princess Diana.

Wakeley, who has a stand-alone bridal collection, recently dressed Markle in the white topcoat that the American wore for her first official engagement with Queen Elizabeth.

Bailey, who is officially leaving Burberry this year after nearly two decades at the company, is friends with Markle and his name has consistently surfaced. Speculation reached a fever pitch this week after Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, was seen carrying a Burberry garment bag on her way to London for Saturday’s wedding.

While Bailey isn’t known for his bridal wear, he did design the sweeping Empire waist gown that Alannah Weston, the former creative director and now co-chairman of Selfridges, wore on her wedding day in 2007.

Rumors about Burberry could also mean that Tisci, the brand’s new chief creative officer, has won the prize. Although he won’t show his first collection until September, he famously designed Kim Kardashian’s wedding gown when he was head designer at Givenchy.

Resourse: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/royal-wedding-british-bookmakers-shortlists-bridal-gown-designer-1202676711/

Royal wedding: ralph & russo tops british bookies’ shortlists for gown – wwd
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