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Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been a topic of interest since her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. The dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy, was simple and elegant, with a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a flowing train. The train, made of triple silk organza, was 16 feet long and complemented the dress's timeless minimal elegance. The dress received mixed reviews, with some praising its simplicity and elegance, while others criticised its fit and finish. However, with its nod to Hollywood and American royalty, the gown has become one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Veil Fabric | Silk tulle |
| Train Fabric | Triple silk organza |
| Train Length | 16 feet (5 meters) |
| Veil Length | 16 feet |
| Veil Width | 3 meters |
| Veil Embroidery | Flowers representing 53 countries of the Commonwealth |
| Neckline | Boat neckline/Open bateau neckline |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter length |
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Number of Fittings | 8 |
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What You'll Learn
The dress's design and designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a flowing train. The fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, which gave the dress a smooth and structured look. The dress was widely praised for its simplicity and elegance, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic.
Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired her work for Givenchy and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. The two worked closely together to create a dress that was simple yet regal, with a focus on the fabric and the cut. The design was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which often feature heavy embellishments and long trains.
The veil, made of silk tulle, was also a prominent feature of the wedding ensemble. It was 16 feet long and embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as two flowers that held personal significance for Markle. The veil took longer to create than the dress itself and required hundreds of hours of hand embroidery.
The dress's design was kept a closely guarded secret until the wedding day, with only a small team of ateliers in Paris involved in its creation. It is estimated that the dress and veil took around five months to create, with eight fittings taking place during this time.
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The veil's length and details
The veil Meghan Markle wore at her wedding to Prince Harry was made of silk tulle and measured 16 feet (5 metres) in length and 3 metres in width. It was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy, who also designed Markle's wedding dress. The veil was embroidered with a variety of flowers on its hem, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as sprays of wheat and a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry.
The veil took longer to create than the dress itself, requiring hundreds of hours of handwork by embroiderers who washed their hands every 30 minutes to ensure the veil remained immaculate until the wedding day. The veil was secured to Markle's head with the Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara, which belonged to Queen Mary.
Markle's veil was described as "extremely long" and "dramatic", with some critics mocking its style and length. However, it has also been praised for its elegance and thoughtfulness, with many considering it a standout feature of her wedding ensemble. The veil has been credited with setting a new trend for long veils among brides, showcasing the impact of Markle's fashion choices.
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The dress's simplicity and elegance
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of French fashion house Givenchy. The dress was simple yet elegant, with a timeless and minimal design that referenced the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, a luxurious fabric known for its softness and durability. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a flowing train, with no embellishments or lace. The fabric gave the dress a smooth and structured look, and the sculpted waist and underskirt created a flattering silhouette that accentuated Meghan's figure.
The simplicity and elegance of the dress were widely praised, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic. The design was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which often feature heavy embellishments and long trains. Meghan's dress was seen as a nod to her modern sensibilities and her desire to make a statement with her fashion choices. The dress also drew inspiration from iconic wedding gowns of Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The boat neckline was reminiscent of Hepburn's wedding dress, while the sculpted waist and underskirt were similar to Bessette-Kennedy's gown.
Markle worked closely with Keller to create a dress that reflected her personal style. They collaborated on the pure white sheen of the fabric to evoke a sense of modernity, and Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop the perfect double-bonded silk cady. The dress featured six meticulously placed seams, which constructed the gown's contoured silhouette. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves added a contemporary and progressive touch while still respecting tradition.
The veil, also designed by Keller, was made of silk tulle and featured intricate hand-embroidered floral motifs representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. It was 16 feet long and required hundreds of hours of handwork to create. The veil was held in place by a diamond bandeau tiara that belonged to Queen Mary. The overall look, from the dress to the veil and accessories, was elegant and sophisticated, capturing the new journey that Meghan and Harry were about to embark on as a married couple.
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The dress's cost and production
The dress cost and production
The designer behind Meghan Markle's wedding dress was British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the French fashion house Givenchy. The dress is estimated to have cost $265,000, paid for by the former Suits star herself.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a flowing train. The fabric was chosen to evoke a sense of modernity, with a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The dress was without lace or any other embellishments.
The veil was made of silk tulle and measured 16 feet long. It took longer to create than the dress itself, with embroiderers spending 500 hours completing it, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure the veil remained immaculate. The veil featured intricate embroidery of 53 individual flowers, representing the countries of the Commonwealth.
The design process for the dress took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication. The dress was widely praised for its simplicity and elegance, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic.
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The dress's reception and comparisons
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller, was simple, elegant, and regal, with a focus on the fabric and cut. The dress featured a boatneck or bateau neckline, long or three-quarter-length sleeves, and a flowing train with no embellishments or lace. The fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, which gave the dress a smooth and structured look. The dress received mixed reviews, with some praising its simplicity and elegance, while others criticised its cut, shape, and fabric.
For her reception, Markle changed into a custom Stella McCartney halter-neck gown made of silk crepe. The dress had a slinky, figure-hugging design that contrasted with the simplicity of her wedding dress. It featured a high halter neckline and a sexier silhouette, paired with one of Markle's signature piece-y updos. The reception gown generated significant attention, with fans getting a glimpse of it as the newlyweds climbed into a vintage Jaguar en route to the exclusive party hosted by Prince Charles.
Comparisons have been drawn between Markle's wedding dress and those of other notable figures. Some media outlets noted similarities with the gowns worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004. Markle's dress has also been compared to a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face. Additionally, critics suggested that Markle's dress attempted to mimic the style of the late fashion icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, particularly a formal dress she wore during her lifetime and her classic wedding gown.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress train was 16 feet long, or 5 meters.
Meghan Markle's veil was 16 feet long, or 5 meters.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of French fashion house Givenchy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The train was made of triple silk organza.
