90 Years Later, Wallis Simpson Remains The Blueprint For Chic Town Brides

Not even the royal family can escape scrutiny from time to time – and long before Harry and Meghan had tongues wagging and press speculation, there was another couple who caused their fair share of trouble in the palace. Shadowed by rumours of affairs and public disapproval, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor had something of a rocky start to their relationship. But despite the odds, they have one of the most well-remembered royal love stories in history. And one very big moment in their story? Their wedding day. Here, we revisit Wallis Simpson’s famous blue wedding dress, which fashion historians claim went on to become one of the most copied wedding dresses of the mid-century. 

A Look Back At Wallis Simpson’s Wedding Dress

Unlike most royal romances, Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson met while they were seeing other people. The then-Princes of Wales was reportedly introduced to the American socialite, who at the time was married to Ernest Aldrich Simpson, by his mistress, Thelma Furness, in 1931.

While the exact beginnings of their romantic relationship are slightly murky – with Wallis claiming she only began seeing the royal after splitting from her husband – sightings of the two in bed together by palace staff as early as 1934 suggest that they might have been an item long before divorce papers were served. 

Before coupling up with Prince Edward, Wallis had been married twice before: to the aforementioned Ernest, and before that to Earl Winfield Spencer Jr. The socialite allegedly split from her first husband in 1927, after 11 years of marriage, due to the US Navy pilot often being stationed far away. Her split from her second, meanwhile, was filed on claims of adultery on his part with another woman – although it also aided in her being able to marry her new beau, the future King Edward VIII.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor

It wasn’t until the death of Edward’s father, King George V, died in 1936 – when the Prince was lined up to ascend the throne – that it was brought to public attention his relationship with Wallis, and his intention to marry her. Being a twice-divorced woman, the proposal was met with disapproval both from the Church of England and Parliament, who dubbed her ‘politically, socially and morally unsuitable as a prospective consort’. The public backlash grew so harsh, in fact, that Wallis fled the UK later that year to a villa in France.

Undeterred, Edward stuck with Wallis and made the decision to abdicate the throne to his younger brother, King George VI, the father of Elizabeth II. He was king for just 325 days.

The couple eventually married on 3 June 1937, a month after Wallis’ divorce was made official. The ceremony, which took place in France at Château de Candé – a stunning French castle lent to the couple by millionaire Charles Bedaux – saw no members of the royal family attend. But all in all, it seemed a happy day for the couple – and an even happier marriage. They remained married for almost 36 years, until the Duke’s passing in 1972. 

Aside from the grand setting and family drama, one of the most memorable moments from the wedding day of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor was the fashion – namely, the bright blue wedding dress worn by Wallis Simpson.

Who Designed Wallis Simpson’s Wedding Dress?

Known for her coveted sense of style, the future Duchess of Windsor turned to one of the best designers of the era for her wedding dress: fellow American Main Rousseau Bocher. While the socialite remained his most famous patron, the designer also boasted an A-list clientele including Hollywood starlets Mary Pickford, Constance Bennett, Kay Francis, Claudette Colbert, Irene Dunne and Loretta Young.

Wallis had worked with the couturier for several years in the lead up to her wedding day, often paying visits to his Parisian boutique, Mainbocher, to discuss new designs and ideas. But his most famous design for her, by far, was her pretty blue wedding dress.

 

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What Did It Look Like?

Unlike the ballgown-inspired structures we’re used to seeing at royal weddings, Wallis Simpson’s bridal gown adhered to the haute couture trends of the late 1930s. Opting for a long, floor-length gown with a nipped-in waist, the tailored silk dress featured a wide-fitting waistband and a gathered bodice decorated with delicate buttons.

The bride also kept styling quite simple, with a halo-shaped straw hat by Parisian milliner Caroline Reboux (no tiaras here) with flowing blue tulle, a long-sleeved jacket and a pair of silk crepe gloves (tailored to accommodate her emerald and diamond engagement ring).

She also donned a small collection of jewellery, including a sapphire and diamond brooch, pinned at the neckline of her gown, as well as a Cartier charm bracelet hung with nine crosses made of precious stones (including an amethyst, baguette diamonds, blue and yellow sapphires, and rubies). Each charm was engraved with a message, including one that read ‘WE Are Too’ and the date 25 November 1934, a date speculated to be around the time the two became romantically involved. On her other wrist, she wore a bespoke ‘Jarretière’ bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, consisting of a garter bracelet set with diamonds and sapphires.

Aside from falling on the side of trendy, rather than traditional, there was one more element that broke from royal protocol: the dress (and its accessories) was blue. 

Her ‘Something Blue’ Was The Main Event

While many brides of the time opted for ‘something blue’ on their wedding day, very few chose to wear an all-blue dress – but Wallis, it was the main event. It was uncommon for second-time (and especially third-time) brides to wear white on their big day, and many opted for fairer shades that could pass off as bridal without actually wearing the traditional colour palette.

And for Wallis, blue was an especially special colour. A few years before her whirlwind love affair with the Duke of Windsor, she and Bocher had worked closely on a few bespoke pieces. During the process, the designer dubbed a vivid shade of blue ‘Wallis blue’ – a pale, soft blue-violet that was said to match the socialite’s eyes perfectly.

It was likely with this in mind, as the future Duchess of Windsor set about choosing her wedding ensemble, that she and Bocher decided on the colour of her dress.

In the 2005 film Wallis & Edward, the costume department worked on a faithful reproduction of Wallis Simpson’s ‘Wallis blue’ wedding dress (Joely Richardson and Steven Campbell Moore in Wallis & Edward, 2005 © Company Pictures)

Can You See It In Person?

Unlike most royal wedding dresses, which sit in the archives at the Royal Collection Trust, Wallis Simpson chose to donate her blue gown to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1950 – just 13 years after she wore it on her wedding day. 

Forming part of the museum’s Costume Institute collection, the dress has gone on public display: first in 1995-1996 for the exhibition Haute Couture, and then in 2002-2003 for Blithe Spirit: The Windsor Set. Due to the fragility of the garment – which has now faded from its original Wallis blue to a light ivory – it has not gone on display since. But for those curious, you can see photos of the dress as it now looks on the official Met Museum collection archive.