If you’d have asked me a few weeks ago to predict the designer of Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy’s wedding gown, I would have confidently put my money on Natan’s Edouard Vermeulen. After all, Natan is a Belgian brand from a Belgian designer and of course our fair countess is Belgian; her major public appearances to date have all been in Natan; and her future mother- and sister-in-law are big fans. But if Mr. Vermeulen
ends up on a commentary team for the wedding broadcast, I might have to retract my bets (the designer needs to be there to tend to the bride, not gabbing for the cameras, no?). Regardless, it’s still worth a look at his royal wedding gown history. We gots to be prepared.
Natan is a staple with royal ladies in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Luxembourg. There are three major royal wedding gowns attributed to Natan - and it will shock no one that they all belong to Benelux princesses. What may come as a shock - to those that join me in getting tired of the often ill-fitting off the rack creations some of these princesses endlessly sport from this designer, at least – is how well he fares on the bridal front.
The coat dress worn by
Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz for her 1999 wedding to Prince Philippe of Belgium has a spot on my current list of top 10 royal wedding gowns (though, to be honest with you, it would probably get the boot if I redid the list now). It was a wonderful solution for a December wedding, and the high collar gives it just a touch of flair – but not too much, for this bride was a little too sweet for something with heavy design features. (
Incidentally, he also designed the gown of Mathilde’s sister Elisabeth.)
Laurentien Brinkhorst chose Natan for her 2001 wedding to Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands. This is a lot of dress, with a lot of fabric and some strong design features, but the bride pulls it off. I give it a thumbs up, even though it doesn't make my list of eternal favorites.
There is a Natan design on my list of eternal favorites – on my current top 10 and will forever be.
Claire Coombs’ dress for her 2003 wedding to Prince Laurent of Belgium is perfection. The skirt has just the right amount of fullness – and just the right length of train, swooping out at a delicious angle – while the lace top adds the required modesty and a bit of sweetness. If all the dresses were like this, I wouldn’t mind one bit if Vermueleon ends up being the designer behind our upcoming Luxembourg wedding.
What do you think: how does Natan rate in the bridal world? Who do you bet will be behind Stéphanie's wedding gown?
Photos: Corbis/Rex Features
There is a Natan design on my list of eternal favorites – on my current top 10 and will forever be. Claire Coombs’ dress for her 2003 wedding to Prince Laurent of Belgium is perfection. The skirt has just the right amount of fullness – and just the right length of train, swooping out at a delicious angle – while the lace top adds the required modesty and a bit of sweetness. If all the dresses were like this, I wouldn’t mind one bit if Vermueleon ends up being the designer behind our upcoming Luxembourg wedding.