Designer Stella McCartney, whose clothes are some of the hottest in Hollywood, created the gown that American Nancy Shevell, 51, wore to marry Sir Paul, 69, on Sunday.
Stella's inspiration, for her new step-mom's dress? Wallis Simpson, wedding guest Barbara Walters revealed. Simpson's famous floor-length wedding gown was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of art in 1950. An American and a divorcee, Simpson stirred up scandal when she married another big-deal Brit, the Duke of Windsor, in 1937. The shade of her gown, a light blue that was such a signature of her style that it's been called "Wallis blue," was one of her favorites because it complemented her eyes, according to popular folklore.
The Stella version of the dress, worn by businesswoman Nancy in London, has a pleated bodice and empire waist, and falls just above the knee. It shows bit more skin at the plunging neckline than Wallis's did.
High-profile wedding gowns have been known to spark worldwide trends, so expect more Wallis-inspired wedding wear in the future.
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