A veil of secrecy surrounds the Coco Chanel wedding dress now on display a Ripon Cathedral.
The velvet winter gown, created by the French fashion icon, was not for a princess or a duchess.
It was made in Paris by the famous designer as a wedding present for the daughter of a leading British industrialist.
Chanel’s close friend was due to marry a member of parliament, but the marriage at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, in late 1923 did not take place.
Some of the stylish gowns that will be on display at Ripon Cathedral until 19 September
Kevin Thornhill, who is curating the A Century of Wedding Gowns exhibition at the cathedral, told the Stray Ferret:
“The bride had other ideas from her parents and eloped with her father’s chauffeur three days before the wedding.”
Of the 200 gowns and accessories in a collection assembled by Mr Thornhill over 40 years, Chanel’s classic creation, with its intricate point d’Alençon needle lace and wax orange blossom headdress incorporates an air of mystery.
He said:
“It was provided for the collection by a private individual, with only limited information.”
Mr Thornhill has endeavoured to discover the name of the person for whom Chanel made the dress, but despite his extensive research on he has not yet been able to unearth the identity of the mystery woman or the jilted honourable gentleman.
Like the opening chapters of an Agatha Christie novel, this intriguing exhibit raises many questions, but other wedding gowns that can be seen at the cathedral until 19 September, have received wide media coverage.
County Durham-born designer Mr Thornhill, served his time with David and Elizabeth Emanuel in London’s Mayfair and worked on the famous dress that the late Princess Diana wore on her wedding day.
A copy of the gown with its show-stopping and style-setting long train, will be modelled on the catwalk at two cathedral fashion shows.
The shows, both on July 29, mark the 40th anniversary of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles’ wedding.
Also on display at next month’s fashion shows will be copies of the gowns from the royal collection, including those of the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Margaret and the Princess Royal, along with exact copies of the tiaras they wore at their weddings.
Read more:
- Ripon Cathedral reveals what royal brides wore for their weddings
- Community curator appointed by Ripon Museum Trust
Tickets for the shows are now on sale via the Ripon Cathedral website.
The exhibition featuring 50 wedding gowns from 1885 to the present day is free to enter and open daily.
