Fashion

Wedding gown poaching: Even Kate Middleton is guilty

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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Every woman wants their wedding to be unique and special, but in this day and age is it actually possible to pull off an original wedding without being called a copycat?

"Wedding poaching" is on the rise and from the flowers to the wedding album, more and more couples are poaching ideas from other weddings they have attended, MSNBC reported.

Even Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, who married Prince William on April 29, has been accused of dress poaching after her Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen-designed gown was likened to that of Princess Grace of Monaco.

Catherine's lace detailed bodice almost replicated Grace's and both wore very similar veils.

But Catherine wasn't only compared to fellow royals. Women from around the world proudly put their hands up and declared "Catherine copied my dress".

Jennie Smith from Avoca Beach on the NSW Central Coast told the Central Coast Express Advocate she couldn't believe it when Catherine stepped out in a replica of her wedding gown.

"I had been talking with a friend of mine on the Monday before the wedding and I said that I bet she would wear a dress like Grace Kelly's," Smith said.

"I never thought of my own dress but when I saw her get out of the car I just started yelling, 'That's my dress, that's my dress'.

"I couldn't believe it. I mean, there are a few differences but it looks almost exactly like my dress. Just like Catherine's dress mine had lace on the bodice, seed pearl buttons, a cap sleeve and a pond train. The only real difference was the skirt, the lapels and my dress had seed pearl buttons down the front."

But wedding poaching isn't just about the style of dress it can also be about the wedding budget.

Amelia Nardinelli, a bride from California passed her dress on to two of her friends to reuse following her big day, the New York Post reported.

The loan was partly due to budgetary concerns but she also wanted to share a special part of her big day.

"It's the most meaningful and memorable piece of clothing I'll ever wear, and to share it with such close friends is an honour," she said.

Your say: Are you guilty of wedding poaching? Is there anything wrong with it?
User comments
i dont think there is any thing wrong in coping what u like people follow their idols its normal human behaviour
Of course it's just about impossible to be original - there's that many great ideas and variations for wedding dress styles that originated from other great ideas...I wouldn't say she poached Princess Grace's style, it's hardly a direct copy. The neckline in Kate's dress is much lower, the fabric is different, particularly in the skirt part, as well as the head piece. And in fact there are now online stores and dressmakers flocking to create exact replicas of many famous wedding gowns, the royal ones included. But isn't it the sincerest form of flattery? My grandmother had to borrow just about all her bridal attire from friends as the wedding was right after WWII, so obviously finances were tight. Did she look beautiful? Absolutely. And it goes without saying, so did Kate. Anyway, isn't this article a bit old considering the wedding was 3 weeks ago?
It's stated in tradition that women who marry in the Abbey have to have covered sleeves. In recent years, lace has overtaken the trend of actual material sleeves. Plus, who really thought that Kate would cover everything? She may have taken some pointers from Grace, but I don't think she stole the idea- just that she was limited in what she could actually have.
as the article states most if not all brides takes ideas from other dresses to use for their own creating their own look! but there was not issue until Kate stepped out of the car at her wedding and then suddenly its all the news! Who cares honestly! At the end of the day it is her wedding and she wore what she wanted to wear!
Yes she is a coopycat, her dress is the same as the one my wife got married in ,it is white, lacy and has pearls on it. Kate should be ashamed of herself ,for copying it. I am sure she had a big enough budget for an original design.
Quite simply . . . imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
Give it a rest ! Given the number of wedding dresses out there, copies or similar are bound to happen. "I couldn't believe it. I mean, there are a few differences but it looks almost exactly like my dress." Its either exactly the same or there are differences - give it a rest! If its not exactly the same then you can't lay claim to it being poached! Kate has been victimized for her dress, given the previous article I read there were a lot of other famous people who "copied" someone elses dress but not much was said about them being a "Copy Kate"
Geez, that woman from NSW who claims Kate "stole" her dress is just trying to get attention. I'm a guy, but I do know a few things about wedding dresses, as my sister recently got married. There's the essential "ingredients" such as lace, satin, veil etc etc. How you throw it all together is totally unique. Basically, what this lady is saying is that pasta bake is the same as lasagne cos it's got pasta in it, uses a tomato-based sauce and is cooked in the oven. The only difference is the meat used! Geez. Get a life.
agreed that Kate's gown loook very familiar not only to Grace Kelly but most recently to that of princess Mary!! thats probably why she wasn't invited

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