Will Erdem finally get his big moment as Eugenie’s designer?

Eugenie’s bridal surprise! Princess stuns in an elegant gown by Peter Pilotto – with a low cut at the back to show her scoliosis surgery scars

  • The Yorks have kept decidedly tight-lipped about Eugenie’s dress designer
  • In engagement interview, she said only stipulation was ‘no meringue shoulders’
  • Told Vogue she’s gone for a British-based designer, rumoured to be Erdem
  • But bookies have suspended betting on Stella McCartney after late flurry  
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Princess Eugenie has pulled off a major surprise by choosing designer Peter Pilotto after being widely expected to wear Erdem. 

The bride stunned in the V-neck dress with a low back, designed to display the scars from her childhood operation for scoliosis. 

It was been designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, who founded the British based label Peter Pilotto, in London in 2007. 

The brand is known for its innovative textile design, paired with a modern feminine silhouette.

Princess Eugenie met the designers when she was co-hosting an event in support of women artists. Her Royal Highness has been wearing designs by the brand for several years.

Princess Eugenie, Mr Pilotto and Mr De Vos have worked closely together on the design of the dress. The designers undertook archive research into previous dresses worn by Members of the Royal Family and identified a silhouette.


Princess Eugenie has pulled off a major surprise by choosing designer Peter Pilotto after being widely expected to wear Erdem


Eugenie’s dress featurd a sprawling train and was designed by Peter Pilotto who she met while  co-hosting an event in support of women artists.

The Queen’s granddaughter was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent corrective surgery that saw a pair of eight-inch titanium rods inserted alongside her spine.

She has invited the doctor who performed the life-changing operation to her big day and won’t try to hide her scars as she walks up the aisle this morning.

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The Princess, 28, said: ‘I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that.’

Eugenie has been widely tipped to wear a gown by the British-based designer who was born in Canada when she arrived at St George’s Chapel.


Erdem remained the favourite at the bookmakers at 2/1, but Ladbrokes said there has been a flurry of bets for British design brand Suzannah, with odds cut from 9/2 to 3/1.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power has suspended betting on Eugenie wearing Stella McCartney after a flood of bets.

The British designer created the Duchess of Sussex’s halterneck evening gown, which she wore for the wedding afterparty at Frogmore House when she married Prince Harry in May. 


Princess Eugenie in Erdem, the Canada-born designer tipped to be unveiled as her wedding dress designer when she arrives at St George’s Chapel today 


Stella McCartney is also in the running after a flurry of last minute bets. The designer created Meghan’s halterneck gown for her evening reception when she married Prince Harry in May 

Suzannah was founded by Suzannah Crabb and is known for creating wedding dresses with vintage charm and a modern edge.

McCartney designed the halter neck gown Meghan wore to her evening wedding party.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: ‘We’ve seen a lot of action on Stella McCartney to be the designer of Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress this morning, forcing us to stop taking bets.

‘The level of wagers could indicate insider knowledge, and the brand seems a good fit for the day with their positive environmental standpoint.’


Princess Eugenie showed her support for Erdem when she wore one of his elaborate floral creations for her engagement portrait with Jack Brooksbank in January this year 

Eugenie has told how her wedding will be an environmentally friendly, anti-plastic affair. 

Jenny Packham is at 5/1 with Ladbrokes, Preen is 6/1 and Suzanne Neville is 8/1.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: ‘We know Princess Eugenie’s flying the flag for British designers, and punters are beginning to wonder if an upset could be on the cards for the likes of Suzannah or Preen, leaving Erdem to miss out on the big day.’

Eugenie has already revealed she has chosen a British-based designer, and that she was set on the style she wanted from the start of her wedding planning, seeming to hint at Turkish-born Erdem.


Erdem Moralioglu and Samantha Cameron, wife of David Cameron, during The British Fashion Awards 2012 at The Savoy Theatre




The Duchess of Cambridge (right) is well known for her love of elegant, subtle designs. The dark fabric and long sleeves on this dress enhance her svelte frame. Style maven Alexa Chung (left) teamed her embroidered organza dress, from Erdem’s Autumn 2017 catwalk collection

‘(The dress) is the one thing that I was really decisive about,’ the princess told British Vogue magazine.

‘As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away. I never thought I’d be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I’ve been pretty on top of it.’

Eugenie will arrive at Windsor Castle at 11am and was walked up the aisle by her father, the Duke of York, in front of 850 guests including the Queen and a host of A-listers.

In her engagement interview in January, she told the BBC’s Matt Baker that her only stipulation was ‘no meringue shoulders’, calling them ‘unfashionable’.

Who is Erdem Moralioglu?

Born to a Midlands housewife mother and Turkish engineer father Erdem, 32,  studied his craft in Toronto.

Growing up in Montreal, his homesick mother surrounded herself with British treasures, so Erdem watched Brideshead Revisited and Room With A View, prizing a romantic view of Britain — references that are very clear in his chintzy designs.

Coming to the UK as a young adult, he learned his trade at London’s prestigious Royal College of Art and on internships at Vivienne Westwood and Diane von Furstenberg.


Erdem Moralioglu was born in Canada to a British mother and Turkish father and now lives in East London 

When he unveiled his debut collection 13 years ago, he won plaudits for his grown-up style that took ethereal fabrics and Renaissance florals and made them appeal to savvy career women.

His talent was instantly recognised and saw a panel of influential judges — including Alexandra Shulman, Joan Burstein, the formidable founder of powerhouse boutique Browns, and designer Roland Mouret — award him the coveted Fashion Fringe prize at London Fashion Week, providing a cash injection for his fledgling business and a springboard to catapult him into the spotlight.

He’s a firm favourite with celebrities, with Alexa Chung, Jessica Chastain and Lily James wearing his designs in the past.

As well as being a popular choice for the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie chose a frock by the designer for her engagement pictures earlier this year, while Pippa Middleton has also worn the brand in the past.

The 42-year-old is, thanks to his confident colour choices and fearless approach to pattern, a ‘Marmite’ designer — people tend to either love or detest his work, with no room for ambivalence.

In just over a decade, he’s conquered high society dressing. The royals are particular fans, as is former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet and Sam Cam.

His brand, owned solely by him, reportedly boasts an annual turnover of £13 million.

He lives with his architect boyfriend of 14 years, Philip Joseph, and his usual day, as described to Vogue, contains none of the flashy parties of other designers: he wakes at 6.30am for coffee, then returns to bed, Princess Margaret style, before a 7.30am calisthenics workout. He works through lunch and dines at 8pm, finishing the day reading in bed.

At the end of last year, he was the latest in a line of high-profile designers to collaborate with High Street chain H&M to create a collection with all the handwriting of his main designer line, but at prices that are a little more purse-friendly.

It sold out within hours and continues to resell at a premium on eBay.

Today, Erdem has made England his home and the base for his internationally acclaimed brand, which sells in more than 170 chic boutiques and department shops around the world, including a flagship store bearing his own name in London’s Mayfair.

He’s based in trendy East London with a reputation for utter discretion, designs traditional enough not to scare away the royals and a roomy studio that has the space to deal with a royal bride.

And speaking to Vogue earlier this year, she said: ‘[The dress] is the one thing that I was really decisive about. As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away. I never thought I’d be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I’ve been pretty on top of it.’  

Commenting on Eugenie’s style evolution this week, Sassi Holford – who famously designed Autumn Phillips’ wedding gown – said: ‘I think Eugenie’s style has changed in the last five years. She’s 28 now, I think she’s at that age where you start to develop that core style.  

‘And things have simplified. So I’d be surprised if it’s Vivienne Westwood, I think she’ll probably go for cleaner lines. Certainly the dress she wore to Meghan’s very clean lines, understated. I think she’s gonna nail it.

‘I think there could possibly be a second dress, with Kate and Meghan the point of the second dress was that both their [day] dresses had sleeves. 

‘And then they went on to have a less formal party with their friends. So if [Eugenie’s] dress has sleeves I think there will be a second dress so she can party with her friends later on.’


A rundown of how Princess Eugenie and her partner Jack’s wedding on Friday 12th October will unfold, following the 11am ceremony at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle 

FROM POP ROYALTY TO THE REAL THING: WHO’S WHO IN EUGENIE AND JACK’S BRIDAL PARTY

Details of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding party have been unveiled ahead of the October 12th ceremony at Windsor Castle… 

Best Man

The groom’s brother, Thomas Brooksbank  

Maid of Honour

The bride’s sister, Princess Beatrice 

Bridesmaids  

Princess Charlotte, three, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 

Savannah Phillips, seven, and Isla Phillips, six, daughters of Peter and Autumn Phillips

Mia Tindall, four, daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall  

Maud Windsor, five, daughter of Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor – and the bride’s goddaughter  

Theodora Williams, six, daughter of Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field   

Page Boys 

Prince George, five, son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Louis de Givenchy, six, son of Olivier and Zoe De Givenchy  

Special Attendants 

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, 14, daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex

James, Viscount Severn, 10, son of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex 

 

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