Stepping out of London's Old Marylebone Town Hall on Sunday to a sea of confetti, a beaming Dua Lipa was captured hand-in-hand with her new husband, Callum Turner. Yet while the singer, 30, certainly turned heads with her custom Schiaparelli bridal skirt suit, some fans were soon distracted by what appeared to be the hip padding that had slightly slipped down.
Though the design choice may well have been intentional, others suggested that the 'visible padding' would have sent them into a spiral had it happened on their own wedding day. Yet Dua Lipa is certainly not the first celebrity to have suffered an apparent wardrobe malfunction on their wedding day.
From Meghan Markle's alleged 'oversized' £100,000 gown to Princess Diana's creased 25-foot train and Mariah Carey's risky shoulder sleeves, several A-listers have accidentally attracted the wrong attention when they tied the knot.
Expert Insight on Bridal Fashion
According to celebrity stylist Lisa Talbot, even an expensive gown from a top designer does not guarantee a perfect look. She told The Daily Mail: 'The difference between a bridal fashion triumph and a bridal fashion fail often comes down to fit, preparation and practicality. Even the most stunning designer gown can attract criticism if the fit is off, while a well-tailored dress will always look elegant regardless of price point. Brides should also schedule multiple fittings, wear the correct underwear during alterations, and practise moving in the dress before the big day.'
Dua Lipa's Wedding Look
Over the weekend, Dua Lipa tied the knot with husband Callum Turner in a stunning custom Schiaparelli outfit. Yet while much attention was focused on her impeccable look, that didn't stop fans from discussing the bridal co-ord online, admitting that the 'padding' was 'driving them crazy' because it was 'otherwise perfect'. Sharing their thoughts on X, they said: '(love this so much) Dua and how this look truly feels like a personal choice but the visible padding is driving me crazy'; Meanwhile, another wrote: 'The thing about the padding on the sides of the jacket being visible, what does that mean?'; 'It's cute but someone pointed out that the hip pads are showing in almost every shot and I can't unsee it,' added another. Others defended her, saying that the fashion faux pas didn't matter in the grand scheme of things: 'Picture of Dua looking happy and in love and you're looking at her exposed hip line'; 'Visible padding on a wedding dress and you'd let her go? It's not a 4K fashion shoot jeez, it's her wedding day. Celebrities aren't allowed one imperfect angle now? Let Dua live, she looks stunning.'
Lisa added: 'The discussion around Dua Lipa's bridal look highlights how important construction and fit are in tailoring. Internal padding is often used to create shape and structure, but ideally it should remain invisible. When support elements become noticeable, they can distract from the clean silhouette the designer intended.' The couple exchanged vows in a modest ceremony at the famous Marylebone Town Hall with just eight guests present, ahead of a three-day celebration in Sicily this weekend.
Other Celebrity Wedding Fashion Blunders
Meghan Markle – In May 2018, Meghan Markle walked down the aisle at Windsor's St George's Chapel in front of 600 guests to wed Prince Harry. However, while the Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress was loved by many, some accused her of opting for a dress that didn't fit, or indeed was far too big. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Katy Perry said that she believed Meghan's Givenchy gown was in need of 'one more fitting'. Comparing her bridal look to sister-in-law Kate Middleton's wedding dress, Katy Perry jokingly quipped: 'Kate won!' However, in defence of the more oversized design, Harper's Bazaar writer Mahalia Chang explained that Givenchy designer Claire Waight Keller would likely have intentionally chosen that design to allow Meghan to move more freely on the day. 'Fabric, as well as the triple silk organza used to make the underskirt, is extremely thick, stiff and does not allow for much stretch,' she wrote. 'If one were to hazard a guess, you would say that Keller and Markle purposefully chose a more conservative cut along the bodice and sleeves to let the bride move and breathe in the dress more comfortably.' According to Lisa, Meghan's 'beautifully minimalist' gown 'divided opinion because many people expect bridalwear to have a more closely tailored finish'. 'In bridal fashion, even a deliberate loose silhouette still needs precision tailoring to ensure it photographs well from every angle,' she said.
Princess Diana – Designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel were behind the antique lace and ivory silk taffeta gown Lady Diana Spencer wore as she walked down the aisle to meet Prince Charles. However, Elizabeth said she was 'horrified' with how creased the gown had become. The dress had taken months and months to prepare, with the designs being kept top secret until the wedding day on July 29 1981. But as the wedding dress designers watched a then-20-year-old Diana walk to St Paul's on the television, Elizabeth said she was 'horrified' on seeing how creased the dress had become. Speaking to ITV during the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in 2018, Elizabeth said: 'We did know it would crease a bit but when I saw her arrive at St Paul's and we saw the creasing I actually felt faint. I was horrified, really, because it was quite a lot of creasing. It was a lot more than we thought.'
Mariah Carey – In June 1993, singer Mariah Carey tied the knot with Tommy Mottola at New York City's St Patrick's Cathedral. For the big day, the singer took inspiration from Princess Diana and opted for a lavish ruffled Vera Wang gown with a 27-foot train and 10-foot veil. According to Vera, Mariah 'was very moved and influenced' by Princess Diana's 1981 royal wedding to then-Prince Charles'. She previously told Page Six: 'It was very much like Diana at Westminster Abbey. She wanted that level of pomp and circumstance and romance and volume. She really wanted a princess look, and it was just one of those weddings that was truly a fairytale in the sense of scale.' However, while the dress was certainly a head-turner, some took note of the voluminous off-the-shoulder sleeves, and indeed the possibility a fashion faux pas. Fortunately for Mariah, she had a rather large bouquet of flowers to cover any accidental arm slips. Lisa added: 'Off-the-shoulder styles are romantic and timeless, but they require careful fitting and support. If straps continually slip or need adjusting, it can affect both comfort and confidence throughout the day.'
Nicky Hilton – When Nicky Hilton exited a Bentley to say 'I Do' to wealthy English heir James Rothschild in a £50,000 Valentino couture dress, her lengthy train became tangled underneath the wheel of the bridal car. Escorted out of the hotel by her father, the hotel heiress had a brief scare when she tripped over her train as she got into her car but managed to hold herself up and made it into the vehicle without losing her dignity. Fortunately, a hotel heiress was on hand to help assist her with the gown and avoid the wardrobe malfunction from escalating any further. For her star-studded nuptials at Kensington Palace, Nicky donned a stunning long-sleeve lace gown and traditional veil fit for a royal, which bore a remarkable resemblance to the wedding dress worn by Kate Middleton. Yet according to Lisa, her 'long cathedral veil' came with expected 'practical challenges'. 'The longer and more elaborate the veil, the greater the risk of it catching underfoot or snagging during the celebrations,' she said.
Celine Dion – Celine Dion tied the knot with her late husband René Angélil in December 1994 in Montreal, Canada, and left her mark with her striking bridal look. The singer was dressed in a stunning white lace and satin dress with plunging neckline, and she added a touch of opulence with a sparkling headpiece covering her forehead, along with a traditional white veil. However, while it may have been a look that would be discussed for decades to come, Celine's crystal headpiece weighed nearly seven pounds and was sewn directly into her hair. And not long after she said 'I Do', the strong pressure of the tiara, which was covered in 2,000 Swarovski crystals, began to cause her an immense amount of pain. The morning after her wedding day, Celine discovered a bump 'the size of an egg in the middle of my forehead' and paid a visit to a doctor where she was given three week course of antibiotics. Despite the fashion disaster, Celine was said to have joked to her late husband 'It's too late now, we're married', and has always insisted she has no regrets from the big day. 'Celine's bridal look is a reminder that bigger isn't always better. Statement accessories can create unforgettable fashion moments, but comfort and wearability should always be considered alongside visual impact,' said Lisa.
Katie Price – Former glamour model Katie Price is certainly no stranger to a wedding, but few can forget the pink designer dress she wore for her high-profile nuptials to Peter Andre in September 2005. Katie hit the headlines when she walked down the aisle in the showstopping number by designer Isabell Kristensen, which at the time was worth £20,000 and boasted a whopping seven-metre train. However, while the impeccable train certainly turned heads, it also ran the risk of being crumpled, particularly given that the reality television star travelled to the venue in a Cinderella-style 'pumpkin' carriage pulled by six horses. The unique gown was voted the Worst Wedding dress by a LIVING poll in 2009, and the following year Katie described the dress as one of her biggest fashion faux pas to date. Lisa noted: 'A wedding dress should retain its shape and elegance throughout the day. Fabrics that crease heavily or don't hold their structure can appear less polished in photographs, particularly during a long celebration.'
