David’s dressing- down
Princess Diana’s dress designer had sew much trouble dealing with bogus brides – and their tattoos
TOP designer David Emanuel has revealed how bogus brides tried to dupe their way on to his TV show.
Say Yes To The Dress UK is the British version of the hit US show.
The series sees the man who designed Princess Di ana’s wedding dress try to come up with the perfect big day look for brides-to be.
But he admits it often proved hard work.
“A lot of the girls who applied were just trying to get on TV,” said David, 63.
“We found quite a few weren’t even getting married and we had to weed them out and only go with the real brides.
“The series was a huge challenge. One girl insisted she had to have sleeves as her entire arm was covered in tattoos.
“She had it covered in a stretchy sleeve and the only person who didn’t know anything about it was her dad. He was at the fitting and he was so shocked.
“I thought he was going to have a heart attack!”
David has just been in Scotland for a designing pilgrimage, visiting the exhibition of the Queen’s dresses at Holyroodhouse and creations of Jean Muir at the National Museum of Scotland.
He admitted he owes a massive debt to Muir, whose dad was from Aberdeen, as she provided vital introductions to New York fashion houses for him when he was an unknown student.
Along with then-wife Elizabeth he shot to global fame with Diana’s dress 35 years ago but it wasn’t his first piece of work for her.
“In the very early days she rang up and made and appointment and I did four gowns for her.
“One was a black strapless dress she was photographed in getting out of a car.
“It made this nursery teacher look like a movie star and Buckingham Palace press office called to say the worldwide interest had gone mad.
“To this day people are fascinated by Diana and I was very privileged to have met her before everything, as well as during.
“I designed many outfits for her foreign tours and she was a very special person.
“I still read a lot of rubbish about her. Despite what people say, she was happy, fun, smiling and full of life.
“If yo u’d met h er you’d understand the magic of Diana.”
There’s set to be another wedding with regal connections with Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, now engaged to billionaire James Matthews.
“I’d be more than happy to be asked to do the dress,” admits David.
“She’s not a royal so we shouldn’t be expecting a royal wedding dress.
“I’d do something soft and pretty and with tons of chiffon and lace. She’s got a great figure and something really romantic would look beautiful on her.”
David was one of the huge success stories of I’m A Celebrity in 2013.
Tipped to be first out, his kind manner and guts in taking on the most horrific challenges won over millions and he was runner-up to winner Kian Egan.
“Until I went into the jungle people called me ‘Mr Emanuel’ and thought I was a bit grand and pompous,” he smiles.
“After it was, ‘Oi! David!’ from cab drivers and tattooed builders who said they’d never have been able to do what I did.
“I loved the whole thing and I’d do it again tomorrow.”
Say Yes To The Dress UK, TLC, Fridays, 9pm.
If you had met her, you would understand the magic of Diana