women who won

Everyone Loves Chelsea Clinton’s Wedding Dress — Except Cathy Horyn

Once an awkward First Daughter, Chelsea Clinton rocked an ivory strapless Vera Wang gown at her wedding yesterday, showing off toned arms and a lovely smile. The dress featured a draped bodice with a swirling silk skirt and train, which Clinton complemented with a bouquet of white roses. Her cute-as-hell husband, Marc Mezvinsky, wore a custom wool-mohair-blend tuxedo, shirt, tie, and shoes by Burberry. (Christopher Bailey was even at the wedding, looking quite suave himself.) For the reception, Chelsea changed into an ivory silk tulle Grecian dress with a crisscross back and a black grosgrain belt, according to the Times, and her bridesmaids wore strapless Vera Wang gowns in lavender chiffon. Wang hasn’t commented on the wedding dress, but the Times speculates that the gown cost $20,000.

So much ado has been made about Chelsea’s wedding, in spite of, or perhaps because of the fact that she’s always seemed relatively normal for being the scion of a political dynasty. (This is a girl who regularly steals Wi-Fi at Starbucks and took a job at an investment firm.) Despite once being publicly mocked for her looks by John McCain, this girl survived her parents’ crazy careers, stayed largely out of the spotlight, found herself a nice Jewish boy, and worked her ass off at spinning classes for weeks leading up to the wedding. It’s no wonder everyone has been rooting for her — and judging by the critics’ reactions, she didn’t disappoint. Click ahead to read the almost unanimously positive reviews, with the obvious exception of one Cathy Horyn.

• “The word ‘exquisite’ has been in circulation very much this weekend. Ooh!” [• “The beading at the waist, frothy skirt and beautiful white rose bouquet might not have been innovative, but it was beautiful.” [Fashionista]

• “On her wedding day, the bride’s elegant updo —only accentuated her lithesome frame from months of SoulCycle and Core Fusion exercises classes.” [WWD]

• “Like true American royalty, she wore a show-stopper of a dress … The total effect, bridal fashion experts agree: perfection.” [NYDN]

• “Chelsea looked every inch a modern-day princess,” says Millie Martini Bratten, editor in chief of Brides magazine. “Chelsea was the epitome of bridal style today — effortless ease, yet polished and confident.” [NYDN]

• “It was a flattering dress on a woman with pretty shoulders and a small waist, but it was not an especially high-styled choice … The dress … suggested a completely different relationship with fashion — even, perhaps, an ambivalent one … We do not really know anything about Ms. Clinton’s style, and in a way her pretty dress, with its modestly embellished waist and romantic layers, reflects a woman whose focus is not directed in that way, and maybe is not that vain.” [Critic’s Notebook/NYT]

• Chelsea is trending on Twiter this morning, so check out other takes there. [Twitter]

• Wang, who attended the wedding, released this statement: “It was an honor and a privilege to dress Chelsea on her wedding day. I have watched her grow into a beautiful, grounded, and caring young woman. She radiated joy, youth, and happiness. I wish Chelsea and Marc a long, happy and healthy life together.”

Everyone Loves Chelsea Clinton’s Wedding Dress — Except Cathy Horyn