6 Gorgeous Brides Who Wore Long Sleeves After Kate

In case you missed it, Nicky Hilton's wedding dress was gorgeous but unexpected when she married British banker James Rothschild today in a ceremony in London's Kensington Gardens. The hotel heiress wore a lace Valentino gown with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a seriously impressive train. Nicky has never been as flashy as her sister Paris, but the demure choice was a surprise coming from the fashion-forward heiress.

Nicky is one of several brides who bucked the strapless dress trend and opted to wear sleeves on her wedding day, a look that has grown in popularity since Kate Middleton chose a long-sleeved dress for her wedding to Prince William.

Since then, celebrities and royal brides have emulated Kate's iconic look, each putting their own unique spin on it. Many brides who are royal or marrying into royalty choose long-sleeved dresses for traditional reasons, and others choose to do so for religious reasons. For example, when Ivanka Trump married Jared Kushner in 2009, she wore a Vera Wang gown with lace sleeves for their traditional Jewish ceremony.

Nicky Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and scores of other celebrities have chosen long sleeved dresses recently, so here are some of the best looks we've seen since Will and Kate's 2011 wedding.

1. Nicky Hilton

Obviously, Nicky's gorgeous dress makes the list. She looked elegant and regal at her London wedding.

2. Lauren Bush Lauren

When Ralph Lauren's son David and George W. Bush's niece Lauren tied the knot in 2011, everyone knew the dress was bound to be fabulous. The model and her future father-in-law collaborated on a long sleeved gown with a hand-embroidered overlay scattered with crystals and pearls. Her diamond headpiece kept the look modern.

3. Princess Sofia of Sweden

When Prince Carl Philip of Sweden married Sofia Hellqvist in Stockholm last month, the bride clearly emulated Kate Middleton with her lace gown. Though the dresses were similar, Sofia's featured a modern scoop neck that differentiated it from Kate's. Her low bun and veil kept the focus on the gorgeous diamond tiara she also wore.

4. Kelly Clarkson

The singer and American Idol winner married Brandon Blackstock in 2013, and she chose a long sleeved dress with an empire waist and v-neck designed by Alice Temperley. Her wedding took place in the Great Smoky Mountains, so her look was noticeably more casual than Hilton's. Her loose updo and sparkly headband complemented the dress perfectly.

5. Christina Ricci

The actress married James Heerdegen in 2013 while wearing a Givenchy gown with cutout sleeves. The dress' high neckline and tight-fitting sleeves make it classic, but little details like the unique sleeves and tight fit showed off her amazing figure.

6. Kim Kardashian

No list about long-sleeved dresses would be complete without Kim Kardashian's Givenchy gown from her wedding to Kanye West. The reality star collaborated with the brand's creative director, Riccardo Tisci, on the custom-made dress, which featured a sheer lace back and cutouts. The star is famous for her curves, so it made sense to pick a form-fitting gown.

It's clear from this list that long sleeved gowns are here to stay, and there's a ton of options to pull inspiration from.