Kate Middleton's Gown Designed By Some Lady You've Never Heard Of

The question that’s been weighing on us for months has (possibly) been answered! Yvonne Yorke writes in the The Huffington Post that Kate Middleton’s gown was designed by Sophie Cranston, the relatively-unknown creator of the Libélula label. Other news outlets seem to be taking this report more seriously than all the other rumors about Kate’s dress, though it’s unclear why, since Yorke attributes the information to “insider sources.”

Though the names of David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s dress, were revealed one month before her wedding, Buckingham Palace has refused to confirm or deny any rumors about the gown. Yorke claims this is to protect 34-year-old Cranston and her family from intense media scrutiny, as this will be a “Jason Wu-moment — when a talented, previously little-known designer is launched and becomes a globally-recognized name.”

For those of you placing bets on Kate’s attire, Libélula’s online look book features seven wedding gowns. The website also includes this biography of Cranston:

Cranston studied fashion design and honed her skills in the backrooms in Saville Row and Bellville Sassoon. She then won the prestigious Designer of the Year Award at Graduate Fashion Week in 1999, an accolade shared with such luminaries as John Galliano, Christopher Bailey and Alexander McQueen. She then went on to work for McQueen himself, and next set up Temperley in 2000 with Alice Temperley. After 2 years she decided to follow her dreams and went to the South of Spain to learn Flamenco and Spanish and it was here in a small white washed village in Andalucia that Libelula (Dragonfly in Spanish) was born.

As the label grew it made more sense to move the headquarters to the UK and it can now be found in many of the leading boutiques around the country, and also internationally. Cranston’s eclectic explosion of a studio is based in South London and she now juggles dresses with motherhood and family life.

Libelula is fast becoming known for its in-house designed, vibrant prints and beautifully cut, timeless and flattering shapes that together with Cranston’s innate sense of color and use of luxurious fabrics create clothes to treasure for a lifetime. Once you have discovered and fallen in love with Libelula you will be smitten for ever.

Libelula now also offers wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses in their signature shapes and fabrics.

In January, Kate wore a Libélula black velvet dress coat to a wedding, so she does know who Cranston is. And for now, that makes this the most credible designer rumor yet.

Exclusive: Sophie Cranston Chosen as Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress Designer [HuffPo]
Bespoke Wedding Dresses [Libelula-Studio.com]