Chic Vintage Bride – Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood
March 14, 2012
Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, married Henry Charles George, Viscount Lascelles on the 28th February 1922 – and what a beautiful, stylish bride she was!
Her wedding was the first royal wedding to be featured in new (at the time) fashion magazine Vogue, who described her dress as a combination of ‘youthful simplicity and royal splendour’. Created by William Wallace Terry of British fashion house Reville Ltd, who was Court Dressmaker to Queen Mary, the dress was beautiful – ankle-length silk, exquisitely embroidered with pearls, diamonds and silver in a trellis work of roses, quite possibly my favourite royal dress ever!
Today, it is seen as only proper for royal brides to wear long sleeves (who could forget the beautiful long sleeves on the Duchess of Cambridge’s Sarah Burton dress last April) so I loved reading that Princess Mary was one of the first to begin this tradition. ‘The rather long sleeves a departure from the very short ones usually worn by Royal brides, but from the point of view of mere appearances, far more becoming for day time wear.”
The groom was in the full dress uniform of the Brigade of Guards whilst Queen Mary was dressed, in contrast with the white and silver scheme of the Royal bridal cortege, a wonderfully rich cream and gold gown.
(Image Source Tuppence Hapenny Vintage)
I absolutely ♥ these pictures taken from a paper or magazine at the time – sadly I have no idea which one, so if anyone can shed a little light, please do let me know.
You may recognise the bridesmaid in the next photo – standing at the back row second from left?……
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (known to most of us as The Queen Mother) was friends with Princess Mary and made her first public appearance as one of her bridesmaids – it was the first time that she’d been present at a Royal occasion. Like the bride, Princess Mary’s bridesmaids gowns were white and silver, made by Reville Ltd, with delicate lace and tulle sleeves, and tulle softening the fashionably square-cut decolletage. Each maid wore a juliet cap veil held in place with crowns of beautiful pointed silver leaves and diamond berries.
I love this wedding….how can you not?
Amy
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