Grace Kelly's Lace Wedding Dress Is Still Inspiring Brides To This Day
What do Kate Middleton, Paris and Nicky Hilton, and Miranda Kerr all have in common? Their wedding day looks were inspired by the the timeless wedding dress worn by Old Hollywood star Grace Kelly. Though she first came to fame as an actor, Kelly left show business behind after she fell in love with Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The two got engaged in 1955, and a few months later, they were married in a lavish wedding.
Kelly's wedding dress became instantly iconic, and the gown's elegant silhouette has influenced generations of brides. With a high neckline and long sleeves, the delicate lace dress was modest, but undeniably stunning. The gown included a cinched waist that flared out into a taffeta ball-gown skirt with a 9-foot train. MGM costume designer Helen Rose made the dress, which took six weeks and a team of more than 30 seamstresses to construct. It was the intricate details, including thousands of hand-sewn pearls, that took the most time, and the total cost of the gown was an estimated $65,200 (nearly $800,000 in today's money).
The designer paid particular attention to the back of the dress, and for a surprisingly smart reason. "Helen Rose always said she wanted the focal point to be in the back, since that's what most people saw during the ceremony," said Kristina Haugland, associate curator of costumes and textiles for the Philadelphia Museum of Art (via WWD), where Kelly donated the dress after the wedding. Kelly became a princess after marrying Prince Rainier III, making this gown one of the most timeless wedding dresses worn by royalty.
Several celebrities channeled Grace Kelly on their wedding day
Grace Kelly's wedding dress, particularly the gown's silhouette, has become a popular design in bridal shops across the globe, and it's a style multiple celebrities have opted for at their own weddings. While some celebrities' wedding dresses are unconventional (yet memorable), Kelly's gown is a style preferred by those looking for something with more timeless appeal.
In 2015, Nicky Hilton wore a Valentino gown that mirrored the long sleeves, high neckline, lace details, and long train of Kelly's famous dress. Nicky spoke to HuffPost Live (via YouTube) about the inspiration for the gown, saying, "[Grace Kelly] can do no wrong ... I knew in my mind that I really wanted to do something traditional, just classic, and white lace, and beautiful." Nicky's sister, Paris Hilton, followed suit in 2021 with her own Grace Kelly-inspired wedding dress. "I loved Princess Grace Kelly ... and I knew I wanted to be elegant like her when I walked down the aisle," Paris said on Instagram.
Miranda Kerr is yet another celebrity who wanted a vintage-style wedding dress for the big day. For her wedding in 2018, Kerr wore a gown that she confirmed was inspired by Kelly, because she wanted something classic and stunning. Kerr's version of the dress was a little different, as the original version's lace was swapped out for a silkier material. However, the silhouette was spot on, and the timeless look Kerr desired was certainly achieved.