Kate Middleton Wore a Wedding-Worthy Alexander McQueen Dress on the Red Carpet

From their elegant evening gowns to their diamond-encrusted accessories, the royals always provide some of the best fashion inspiration. Still, it’s not every day that they grace the red carpet wearing a bridal-inspired dress. For the BAFTA Awards on February 19, 2023, at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre, Kate Middleton tapped her wedding dress designer, Alexander McQueen, to create a white ensemble for the show. The princess of Wales donned a Greek goddess-inspired one-shoulder chiffon piece that’s the perfect choice for romantic and vintage-loving brides. According to People, Kate actually wore the same exact number to another event in 2019, but she revamped it by swapping the corsage detail on the shoulder with a flowing chiffon sleeve. 

What really elevated the design were her accessories. Kate paired the light and airy gown with full-length black velvet opera gloves, which provided an unexpected contrast to her white look. For vintage-inspired brides, gloves are the perfect finishing touch to your dress, and choosing a bold black hue will bring a modern and dramatic flair to any look.

Cornelia James, whose family business has supplied gloves to the royal family for over 70 years, tells People that the accessory can single-handedly transform an outfit. "They turn any event into an occasion and a dress into a statement,” she says. “Imagine Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's without the gloves. It's just another little black dress. With the gloves, it becomes iconic and emblematic of our age: always relevant, always contemporary.”

Kate also chose a bold pair of earrings to tie her look together, and they’re extremely affordable. She added a hint of glam to her attire with rose gold floral dangling earrings from Zara—and they cost just $28. Although the actual piece of jewelry she wore is sold out, you can replicate the look with another pair of statement floral earrings. If you’re getting married in the spring or summer or hosting your vow exchange in a garden, the floral accent is especially fitting.

Of course, this isn’t the first time the royal has worn a wedding-worthy design by Alexander McQueen for the BAFTAs. In 2020, Kate rocked the red carpet in a white gown with a sweetheart neckline adorned with gold embroidery by the designer for the award show. The glittery design makes it an excellent choice for glamorous brides. She tied her hair back in an elegant updo and accessorized with floral earrings and a floral necklace. 

One of the most noteworthy times Kate wore Alexander McQueen was for her 2011 nuptials to Prince William. The bride sported a custom Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen ensemble that’s considered one of the most influential of all time. The dress includes handmade lace, floral appliqués, a deep V-neck, and an eight-foot train. “Kate has had a relationship with the house for many years wearing Sarah Burton’s designs, so I think it was a very organic and authentic choice,” celebrity fashion stylist Micaela Erlanger told Brides.