KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M.Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
PRINCESS SABRA AND ST. GEORGE by C.M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
There are many versions of the story of the legend of Princess Sabra and George of Lydda (also known as St. George, patron saint of England). This is one of the popular ones from the 11th century. Princess Sabra was the daughter of the King of Silene (Egypt). George, a crusader, had travelled for many months until he came to Libya. There George met a poor hermit who told him that the land was being terrorized by a dragon. The dragon had demanded that a beautiful maiden be sacrificed by the people every day. The King’s daughter, Princess Sabra, had been selected to be sacrificed the following day. The King of Egypt had offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to any champion who could destroy the terrible dragon. When St. George heard this story, he was determined to try and save the princess, so he rested that night in the hermit’s hut, and at daybreak set out to the valley where the dragon lived. When George drew near, he saw a procession of women, headed by a beautiful girl. It was Princess Sabra being led by her attendants to the place of death. George quickly overtook the ladies. He comforted the princess with brave words and persuaded her to let him intercede. The fearless George entered the valley where he fought the dragon long and hard. At a pivotal point in the battle, he called out to Princess Sabra and asked her to throw him her girdle, which she did. George placed Princess Sabra’s girdle around the dragon’s neck and as he did, the great beast backed down and meekly followed the Princess. After this magnificent conquest of the ferocious dragon, the King and the people rejoiced and soon converted to Christianity. And of course, George married the enchanting Princess Sabra.
The wedding dress below, inspired by Princess Sabra, was designed by Theresa Blake. It was constructed in a sage green matka silk, cut through in “princess line”. A belt worn at upper hip level helps to achieve the perfect Pre-Raphaelite silhouette. The main body of the gown was created in a unique “rustic” fabric (silk matka) - less glossy than dupion. At the hem, lions rampant, interspersed with pomegranates (a nod towards the famous “Proserpina” painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti) were appliquéd. The sleeves, fitted quite tightly to upper and lower arm, are slashed at the elbow to reveal a silk underdress. The same false under-chemise detail is at the shoulder to imply the dress beneath. Brown leather thong is used for lacing.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress by Theresa Blake was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
TO DRESS A PRINCESS
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Alice Pleasance Liddell
THE REAL ALICE IN WONDERLAND MARRIED AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY By C.M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this place in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day.
The Abbey houses a treasure of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artifacts. Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in Great Britain’s history have been buried, including perhaps the most popular Royal princess of all time, Princess Diana, whose funeral took place at the Abbey on September 6, 1997. Westminster Abbey has been the Royal coronation church since 1066, and is the final resting place of seventeen British monarchs.
Alice Pleasance Liddell (the real Alice in Wonderland) was married in Westminster Abbey on September 15, 1880. Other famous weddings at the Abbey include those of Princess Elizabeth II (later Queen Elizabeth II), Princess Margaret (daughter of George VI), Princess Anne (daughter of Queen Elizabeth II), and Princess Alexandra of Kent. Princess-to-be Kate Middleton will join this celebrated list on April 29, 2011.
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell at her wedding in 1880 to Reginal Hargreaves in the Abbey. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in the bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland, by C. M. Rubin and Gabriella Rubin.
Theresa Blake trained at Wimbledon School of Art in period costume design. After helping to design magnificent gowns for major bridal and couture houses in the UK, she formed her own company, Rossetti Couture. Today, Rossetti Couture designs period wedding gowns inspired by historical princesses and theatrical costumes for individuals and prestigious entertainment companies around the world.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin designs many of her own clothes and is also the author of three best-selling, award winning books, including The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Westminster Abbey
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
”The Accolade”
PRINCESS ISOLDE OF IRELAND by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
The legendary love story of Tristan and Princess Isolde takes place in the fifth century during the reign of King Arthur. Princess Isolde of Ireland was the daughter of King Angwish of Ireland. There are several versions of the story behind the legend; here is one of the popular ones. The beautiful Princess Isolde was betrothed to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his handsome nephew, Tristan, to bring home his bride, the Princess Isolde. However, during the journey back to Cornwall, Tristan and Isolde fall madly in love with each other. Princess Isolde goes ahead and marries King Mark upon arrival in Cornwall but continues to see Tristan. King Mark finds out and banishes Tristan from Cornwall. Tristan moves to King Arthur’s court and later to Brittany where he meets and marries Iseult of Brittany (because of her resemblance to Isolde). Tristan, however, is unable to consummate the marriage because of his strong feelings for his true love, Princess Isolde. Tristan falls ill and sends ships for his beloved Isolde. The returning ship’s white sails are the lovers’ signal that Princess Isolde is coming back to Tristan. Iseult lies to Tristan, telling him that the white sails are black. Tristan dies of grief before Isolde can get to him. Soon after, Isolde too dies of a broken heart.
Theresa Blake’s design for Princess Isolde’s wedding gown, shown below, is inspired by the famous painting, “The Accolade,” by Edmund Blair-Leighton, seen above. The white gown of duchesse satin has a sumptuous, multi-layered chiffon skirt and dramatic, flowing, medieval style, long hanging sleeves. The lightly corseted bodice is laced at the back to emphasize the silhouette. A belt of dazzling jewels and facetted stones surround the Princess’ hips.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
To Dress A Princess
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 to Reginald Hargreaves in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in the bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland, by C. M. Rubin and Gabriella Rubin.
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will once again be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, Rubin and Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories from CMRubinWorld entitled “KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS.” The stories focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
Theresa Blake trained at Wimbledon School of Art in period costume design. After helping to design magnificent gowns for major bridal and couture houses in the UK, she formed her own company, Rossetti Couture. Today, Rossetti Couture designs period wedding gowns inspired by historical princesses and theatrical costumes for individuals and prestigious entertainment companies around the world.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin designs many of her own clothes and is also the author of three best-selling, award winning books, including The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Theresa Blake and C. M. Rubin
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
KATE’S DRESS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
I admired Princess Diana enormously. For awhile, she went to a secondary school not far from mine. Our schools played netball matches (English version basketball) against each other. I grew up in her time, in her neighborhoods, and in her culture. I watched her fairytale wedding, and like everyone else, I expected her love story to continue happily ever after.
While her marriage did not last, Princess Diana can be proud of the two wonderful children it produced, whom she loved and cherished her whole adult life. When Prince William announced that he had given his fiancée, Kate (Catherine) Middleton, his mother’s ring, because he wanted his mother to be part of his engagement announcement, it was not Diana’s ring that brought tears to my eyes. It was Prince William’s proud smile as he spoke. In his smile, I saw his mother, Diana, and I then believed that her dreams for her son Prince William were well on their way to being realized.
Prince William’s bride-to-be is someone I know would make his mother proud. She is a modern woman. She is tall and slim. She is magnetic. She looks natural and beautiful, and has a classic sense of style that is both elegant as well as very contemporary.
Over the past three weeks, Theresa Blake and I have explored wedding dresses inspired by Princesses and Queens through the centuries. Today we reveal the wedding dress we visualize for Kate (Catherine) Middleton on her wedding day.
We have selected a gown (see the Athenae style below) created by Theresa which bridges the centuries. It is elaborate and sculptural. It has hints of the 1880’s bustle gowns and is combined with a fully boned corset bodice. The draped asymmetrical skirt has multiple layers of taffeta, lace and satin, and is trimmed with satin bows to one side. The eau de nil silk taffeta gown is further embellished with antique lace, lilac cut-velvet flower decorations, diamante, pearls and Swarovski crystals.
Indeed, a magnificent dress for a beautiful Princess-to-be Kate (Catherine) Middleton, for her wedding on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress by Theresa Blake was featured in C.M. Rubin’s bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland.
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Kate (Catherine) Middleton
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 to Reginald Hargreaves in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in the bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland, by C. M. Rubin and Gabriella Rubin.
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will once again be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, Rubin and Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories from CMRubinWorld entitled “KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS.” The stories, which began on Wednesday, February 16, focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
Theresa Blake trained at Wimbledon School of Art in period costume design. After helping to design magnificent gowns for major bridal and couture houses in the UK, she formed her own company, Rossetti Couture. Today, Rossetti Couture designs period wedding gowns inspired by historical princesses and theatrical costumes for individuals and prestigious entertainment companies around the world.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin designs many of her own clothes and is also the author of three best-selling, award winning books, including The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Theresa Blake and C. M. Rubin
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Alice Pleasance Liddell
THE REAL ALICE IN WONDERLAND MARRIED AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY By C.M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the Royal Wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, author C.M. Rubin and designer Theresa Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories which focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses and Queens over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this place in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day.
The Abbey houses a treasure of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artifacts. Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in Great Britain’s history have been buried, including perhaps the most popular Royal princess of all time, Princess Diana, whose funeral took place at the Abbey on September 6, 1997. Westminster Abbey has been the Royal coronation church since 1066, and is the final resting place of seventeen British monarchs.
Alice Pleasance Liddell (the real Alice in Wonderland) was married in Westminster Abbey on September 15, 1880. Other famous weddings at the Abbey include those of Princess Elizabeth II (later Queen Elizabeth II), Princess Margaret (daughter of George VI), Princess Anne (daughter of Queen Elizabeth II), and Princess Alexandra of Kent. Princess-to-be Kate Middleton will join this celebrated list on April 29, 2011.
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell at her wedding in 1880 to Reginal Hargreaves in the Abbey. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in the bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland, by C. M. Rubin and Gabriella Rubin.
Theresa Blake trained at Wimbledon School of Art in period costume design. After helping to design magnificent gowns for major bridal and couture houses in the UK, she formed her own company, Rossetti Couture. Today, Rossetti Couture designs period wedding gowns inspired by historical princesses and theatrical costumes for individuals and prestigious entertainment companies around the world.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin designs many of her own clothes and is also the author of three best-selling, award winning books, including The Real Alice In Wonderland.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS
Kate Middleton
KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS by C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake
C. M. Rubin and Theresa Blake met when they collaborated on a reproduction of the design of the original wedding dress worn by Alice Pleasance Liddell (the Alice behind Wonderland) at her wedding in 1880 to Reginal Hargreaves in the world reknowned Westminster Abbey in London. An illustration of Alice Liddell’s dress was featured in the bestselling book, The Real Alice In Wonderland, by C. M. Rubin and Gabriella Rubin.
On April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey will once again be the setting for the most anticipated wedding of the year — the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Kate (Catherine) Middleton. To honor the event, Rubin and Blake have joined forces to bring you a series of stories from CMRubinWorld entitled “KATE MIDDLETON - TO DRESS A PRINCESS.” Beginning on Wednesday, February 16, the stories will focus on wedding dresses worn by famous Royal Princesses over the centuries that continue to inspire wedding dress designers and brides to this day. Who knows? Perhaps one of these historic royal gowns has already inspired the best kept secret for April 29, 2011 — what will Princess-to-be Kate Middleton be wearing?
Theresa Blake trained at Wimbledon School of Art in period costume design. After helping to design magnificent gowns for major bridal and couture houses in the UK, she formed her own company, Rossetti Couture. Today, Rossetti Couture designs period wedding gowns inspired by historical princesses and theatrical costumes for individuals and prestigious entertainment companies around the world.
C. M. (Catherine) Rubin designs many of her own clothes and is also the author of three best-selling, award winning books, including The Real Alice In Wonderland.
Theresa Blake and C. M. Rubin
