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Sarah Ferguson's 80s Wedding Dress: A Royal Fashion Triumph
23 Jul
Summary
- The ivory duchesse satin dress featured heavy beading and a 17-foot train.
- Intricate symbols on the beadwork included hearts, bumblebees, and an anchor.
- The York tiara, a gift from the Queen, was kept by Ferguson after her divorce.
In 1986, Sarah Ferguson married Prince Andrew in a wedding dress that has become an iconic symbol of 80s royal fashion. The ivory duchesse satin gown, designed by Lindka Cierach, was a lavish creation featuring heavy beading, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt, and a remarkable 17-foot train adorned with a large bow. Its design was a testament to the era's excess and was immediately replicated by designers.
The dress's intricate beadwork included personal symbols chosen by Ferguson and Cierach. Motifs like hearts for romance, bumblebees and thistles from the Ferguson family crest, and an anchor representing Andrew's love for sailing were incorporated. While suggestions for a helicopter and teddy bears were rejected, the intertwined initials 'A' and 'F' were discreetly stitched into the train.
Ferguson completed her bridal look with a diamond tiara commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, known as the York tiara, which she was permitted to keep after her divorce from Andrew in 1996. The wedding ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey, followed by receptions at Buckingham Palace and Claridge's. Despite the couple's separation in 1991 and divorce in 1996, the legacy of Ferguson's revolutionary wedding dress endures.
