This Italian Bride’s Custom Cotton Wedding Dress by Dior Is the First of Its Kind

October 2, 2023

Fantasy wedding gowns typically involve silk, satin, or wisps of cloud-like tulle. When Virginia Valsecchi walked down the aisle in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, she did so wearing a rather different—but no less dazzling—proposition, courtesy of Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri. Virginia’s one-of-a-kind gown is the first wedding dress from the maison crafted in cotton.

Photo: Alejandra Ortiz

“To be able to wear a dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri is an honour, a privilege,” the bride told Vogue Italia. “I admire her work and her vision of women, and I couldn’t be happier to wear a dress that represents her perfectly as an artist. She was able to read my romantic and strong soul, and she transferred it into her creation that will accompany me all my life. A dream dress.”

Unusually for a wedding dress, Virginia’s Dior gown was crafted with a cotton voile, symbolizing the freshness and lightness of love, and giving the dress an inherently modern feel. It was embellished with two-tone ivory and écru guipure lace in a tribute to Roman tradition, an addition that allowed the maison to unite past and present in the wedding dress. The finishing touch? A long veil made of cotton tulle, and adorned with two-tone antique lace appliqués that add to the romantic feel.

Photo: Alejandra Ortiz

As Dior puts it: “In this dress, tradition and modernity come together harmoniously, creating a unique and unforgettable experience for the wearer—and those who admire it.” As for Chiuri, the designer described it as “the most memorable dress ever”. “So happy and excited to be in Rome for Virginia and Dario and to have participated in such a special day for them,” she wrote on Instagram in the wake of their wedding, which was followed by a reception at Rome’s Palazzo Borghese. “Thank you to Virginia for entrusting me to create the most memorable dress ever.”