By: debbie lynn elias
There is no argument that one of the most breathtaking parts of BREAKING DAWN is the wedding of Edward and Bella, with the one of a kind, Carolina Herrera, gown taking center stage. A collaborative effort, saga author Stephenie Meyer, together with director Bill Condon, selected the winning design from ten sketches submitted by Herrera, and for Meyer, seeing the wedding dress come to life was like a dream come true. “My favorite designer, Carolina Herrera, did the wedding dress. I wanted the dress to be something special, not something that you’re going to see every day. I love what Carolina did with it. She came up with a stunning concept. It’s similar to what I envisioned, but with added elements.” And as a bonus to Twilight fans and fashionistas the world over, new, never-before-seen photos of the dress have been released, together with a featurette on the making of the “the dress.”
Sewn by hand by Herrera and four seamstresses over the course of six months the dress is truly haute couture. Made of crepe satin and French Chantilly lace, the dress boasts 152 buttons lining the back of the dress with 17 buttons on each sleeve and was custom fit for Kristen Stewart. Deemed by Herrera to be one of her most romantic designs ever, she designed the back of the dress to be a surprise, something that was beautifully unveiled onscreen thanks to director Bill Condon.
Valued at $35,000.00, Herrera plans to include the design in her 2012 collection, making it available at her CHNY boutiques next year. But, for those of you that can’t quite afford the boutique price tag, don’t dismay, as bridal dress company Alfred Angelo has a replica available in select stores for the modest price of $799.00, from sizes 0 to 30.
