Incredible 2012 Alexander McQueen Ivory Lace Corseted Wedding Dress w – Shrimpton Couture

This dress is instantly recognizable as an Alexander McQueen piece. And it is an incredibly interesting piece when you fully delve into its history. This was a part of the McQueen wedding dress line for the Spring of 2012. By that date the label was under the direction of Sarah Burton. However this dress is a ivory lace version of the dress that Lee designed for the 2007 runway for Look 20. I have seen the twin of this dress for sale at more then double my price and mislabeled as being a 2007 original. But it is not. It was produced in 2012 as an updated dress made wedding appropriate and was based on the 2007 dress that I have included here. The 2007 collection was titled “Sarabrande” and the Alexander McQueen website stated this of that collection:The inspiration is Handelís Sarabande of the title is a majestic and elegant dance – the portraits of Goya, the turn of the century exotic and socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati and garden flowers. As always, there is a melancholic undertone: faded flowers are trapped in chiffon and lace, ruffled skirts constructed out of tiers of delicate petals and prints are botanical brightly coloured birds and blooms, scattering swallows and winding stems of leaves. Show pieces include a dress made entirely out of frozen flowers. Tailoring is this time more fluid than it has been and clothing indebted to horsemanship is worn with finely worked, oversized pirate shirts. McQueen’s idealisation of the feminine form continues with an exaggerated hour-glass silhouette.’ So the dress is an original Alexander McQueen design but one that was executed after his death. The connection to Lee makes it very interesting and the dress is exceptionally beautiful.

The dress is stunning and even though it is meant to be a wedding dress I think that his work transcends any box assigned to it. As stunning a piece it would make for a bride it would also be spectacular for the events surrounding a wedding weekend or as a gala / event piece. The dress is very fitted through the bodice and waist with a fully built in corset whose boning acts as a secondary design element. You can just see it peaking though the lace over the bust and bodice and the curves and complex pattern iff the boning makes for an interesting detail in itself. The breasts are formed and cupped and and the skirt falls to about the knee, depending on your height, at the front. The sleeves are to the elbow and made from a single layer of that stunning lace. It is set to sit off the shoulder and the runway version in black really gives you an idea of fit. On the runway I think they added a hip peplum or tulle under the back and sides to create a more bustle effect. On this one the train falls in a more graceful and soft feeling down the sides and then down the back to slightly train behind you. If you loved the look of the runway it would be easy to have something made to support the fabric underneath and recreate that look. It is an incredible dress and though it does look pretty on my dress form it is no where near as gorgeous as it will be on an actual body. Excellent condition with one minor note below. 

The bodice has a full complexly boned corset and cups and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The lace snaps into place over the top portion of the zipper and just above it. The skirt is fully lined in an ivory silk. This was never worn but there is a small yellowing spot on the back of the lace above the zipper that happened during storage. It is on the underside of the lace that snaps to close so once it is snapped into place the lace above it hides it completely. I have added three photos after the label shots to show this. The first is the mark on the lining, the second to show that it peaks out on the lace just slightly and the third shows it snapped close with the other side over it completely hiding the mark. The corset does have some stretch. Tagged a 42

Sleeves: 12.5″
Bust: approx 17.5″ flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Waist: 12-14″ flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the bottom of the corset/top of the hips: 16-17.5″
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19″ from top of natural shoulder to bottom seam of the corset
Skirt: 38″ from top of natural shoulder to front hem, 64″ to the longest point of the back 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3907

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2007 Alexander McQueen Runway. Look 20 worn by Camila Finn.  /  (4) Cate Blanchett in Black Lace Alexander McQueen at the 2007 Golden Globe Awards

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.