All eyes on Zara's big day - and her dress

Published on Sunday 24 July 2011 18:50

WITH only five days to go before the "almost royal" wedding of Zara Phillips and England rugby star Mike Tindall, speculation is growing about the dress the bride will wear.

Stewart Parvin, who trained at Edinburgh College of Art, has been chosen to design the gown to be worn by Zara when she weds at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Zara, 30, the Queen's granddaughter and 13th in line to the throne, has said she wants her wedding to be an ordinary family affair. Last week, she asked: "Why are people interested? I just don't get it."

But with a guest list including the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and sporting stars such as former England captains Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson, the wedding will be anything but low-key.

Parvin, 44, who runs his own bridal salon in London, has the reputation for allowing a bride-to-be's personality to shine through, rather than imposing the "signature" look of major couture houses.

While Zara has been praised recently for giving the former Kate Middleton a run for her money in the royal fashion stakes, she has also has a rebellious, fun-loving streak that has included having her tongue pierced and favouring eclectic outfits.

Rachel Scott, who has her own couture business in Dundas Street, Edinburgh, has regular business meetings with Parvin, who, she says, "speaks about the Queen as if she's his granny".

She said his wedding dresses were favoured by a certain type of bride, adding: "The women tend to be professionals who are not 'princessy' and take the less-is-more approach to fashion.

"Parvin's dresses are quite temporary and unusual but not in a flashy way. But they can be quite mesmerising with an element of surprise. I would speculate that Zara may well have chosen a classic dress, quite ballgown in shape, perhaps with ruching across the bust and down to the hips.

"I don't think there will be any tartan, and if there should be a reference to Scotland, it will be something self-coloured contained in the dress's motif. I think she'll most certainly wear a veil and a headdress, which will be not so much vintage as something heavily encrusted and probably in a headband style."

Fashion commentator John Davidson said, despite Zara's previous fashion choices, the dress would be "quite refined and relatively simple".

He went on: "Zara's personal style is classic with a twist. But these days, when she makes an effort, the dresses she chooses for formal occasions are quite classical and elegant.

"Parvin ticks all the boxes for wedding dresses which are traditional but also contemporary. He will absolutely have created something which reflects her personality and won't try to reflect his own fashion vision on to them."

Parvin is one of the Queen's favourite young couturiers. She wore a white Stewart Parvin dress for US president Barack Obama's visit to London earlier this year, and in 2007, he was awarded a Royal Warrant.

Fashion insiders say Zara requested something "modern and chic" and did not want a high-fashion wedding dress similar to Kate Middleton's Sarah Burton design for the Alexander McQueen fashion house.

Not surprisingly, Parvin himself is keeping details of the dress a closely guarded secret.