Deborah Chan
Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been a topic of interest since she married Prince Harry in 2018. The dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy, was simple yet elegant, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The train, however, was a dramatic 16 feet long, made of triple silk organza, and flowing in soft round folds. The dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which are often heavily embellished and feature long trains. Markle's dress was widely praised for its simplicity and elegance, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Designer Affiliation | Artistic Director of Givenchy |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Train Length | 16 feet |
| Veil Length | 16 feet |
| Veil Embroidered Flowers | Yes |
| Veil Work Hours | 500 |
| Veil Cost | $265,000 |
| Design Hours | 3,900 |
| Fittings | 8 |
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first woman artistic director of Givenchy at the time. The two women collaborated closely on the design, with Keller noting that "it was a wonderful way to start the collaboration with her, finding out what she wanted for her day and just [finding] the absolute perfect style for her".
Markle's dress was crafted from double-bonded silk cady, a fabric Keller helped develop by scouring fabric mills across Europe. The dress was constructed with only six seams, creating a contoured silhouette. The gown featured an open bateau or boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waist. The dress was devoid of embellishment, with no lace or embroidery, reflecting Markle's preference for simplicity and a departure from traditional royal wedding dress styles.
The train of the dress was 16 feet long and was intensified with a triple silk organza underskirt. The veil, also 16 feet long, took longer to create than the dress itself, requiring 500 hours of embroidery work. The veil was hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers and symbolic sprays of wheat.
Waight Keller described the process of designing the dress as an "absolute joy", and the two women have remained close, with Markle describing their friendship as "beautiful".
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It was a simple, elegant, and timeless design
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an elegant creation that epitomised timeless minimalism. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy, and it was a departure from the traditional royal wedding dresses of the past.
The gown was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves. The silk cady fabric gave the dress a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The dress was without lace or any other embellishments, focusing on the fabric and the cut. The waist was sculpted, and the skirt had a triple silk organza underskirt, adding volume and structure to the gown. The train of the dress was 16 feet long and made of the same triple silk organza as the underskirt. The dress was widely praised for its simplicity and elegance, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic.
The design was inspired by the iconic wedding gowns of Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The boat neckline was reminiscent of Hepburn's wedding dress in the film Funny Face, while the sculpted waist and underskirt were similar to Bessette-Kennedy's now-classic wedding gown. Markle's dress also drew comparisons to a Givenchy dress worn by Hepburn in Funny Face and to the wedding dresses of Angela Brown and Mary Donaldson.
The Duchess of Sussex's bridal look took the world by storm, setting trends for years to come. The dress was an exercise in simplicity and a nod to her modern sensibilities and desire to make a statement with her fashion choices. It was a collaborative effort between the designer and the bride, who had a clear vision of what she wanted. The result was a timeless design that has become one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time.
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The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an exercise in simplicity, crafted from double-bonded silk cady. The dress was devoid of embellishment, featuring only six meticulously placed seams to construct its contoured silhouette. The fabric, a type of silk cady, is a 2 or 3-ply silk that is often used for couture and evening gowns. It has a matte finish with a subtle sheen, creating a gracefully luminous effect. The silk cady was chosen for its ability to enhance the pure white shade desired by Markle, a colour that was also a nod to the historic framework of traditions in modern royal weddings, which can be traced back to Queen Victoria.
The process of designing the dress involved scouring fabric mills across Europe to develop the perfect fabric for the soft matte, luminous effect. The double-bonded silk cady was crafted with a weave that is double-faced in weft, resulting in a semi-crepe texture and a fluid drape that gracefully embraced Markle's silhouette. The fabric's smooth and stable nature allowed it to hold its shape, contributing to the overall elegance of the gown.
The choice of fabric was not without controversy, as some critics noted that the silk cady's weight and fluidity made it challenging to move in, particularly if the dress had been more form-fitting. However, the dress was designed with a sense of playfulness and modernity, reflecting Markle's personal style and spirit. The use of silk cady, with its subtle sheen and graceful drape, contributed to the overall contemporary and progressive feel of the wedding ensemble.
The dress's design also included an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple silk organza underskirt. The neckline, in particular, struck a balance between risqué and conservative, adding a unique touch to the overall aesthetic of the gown. The use of double-bonded silk cady in Meghan Markle's wedding dress elevated the ensemble, showcasing the fabric's versatility and ability to exude confidence and grace.
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The train was 16 feet long
The train on Meghan Markle's wedding dress was 16 feet long. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy, and it was a stunning, simple yet regal creation. The dress was devoid of embellishment and crafted in white silk with precise seam work, creating a fluted shape as Markle walked up the aisle. The gown featured an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves, and a flowing train with no embellishments or lace. The veil, which was 16 feet long, took longer to create than the dress itself, with embroiderers spending 500 hours on it, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure its immaculate state.
The dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which often feature heavy embellishments and long trains. Markle's gown was incredibly simple, with a focus on the fabric and cut. The silk cady fabric was sourced from fabric mills across Europe, creating a soft matte yet luminous effect. The dress was estimated to cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours of design work, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication.
The royal nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were a worldwide phenomenon, with over 2 billion viewers tuning in to watch the historic ceremony. The dress has become one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time, with its elegance and simplicity capturing the public's imagination. The designer, Clare Waight Keller, has become a household name, and her work for Givenchy continues to receive critical acclaim.
The choice of designer was a significant aspect of the wedding, as Markle herself chose Keller due to her admiration for the designer's work for Givenchy. The dress was also a nod to Markle's modern sensibilities and her desire to make a statement with her fashion choices. The simple, elegant style of the dress reflected the new journey that the Sussexes were embarking on together.
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The veil was hand-embroidered with flowers
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first woman artistic director of Givenchy. The veil, which was 16 feet long and 3 metres wide, took 500 hours to create, with the embroiderers washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure the veil remained pristine. The veil was hand-embroidered with flowers representing the distinctive flora of each of the 53 Commonwealth countries. Markle expressed the wish to have all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. The flowers included India's lotus flower, as well as two of Markle's personal favourite florals: the wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage where she and Prince Harry live, and the California poppy, the state flower of Markle's birthplace.
The veil also included crops of wheat, symbolising love and charity. The inclusion of flowers representing the Commonwealth countries was not universally well-received. In India, some people felt that the gesture was patronising and tone-deaf, reminding them of a painful and bloody time in their history as a former British colony. Others felt that the idea of India as a Commonwealth nation was not something embraced by all Indians. However, many in India's younger generation believed that the marriage of Harry and Meghan was special because of the couple's personalities and their focus on equality and love.
The veil was held in place by a glittering diamond art deco tiara, on loan from the personal collection of Queen Elizabeth II. The dress and veil were an exercise in simplicity, crafted in white silk with precise seam work. The gown featured an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves, and a 16-foot silk train. The dress was devoid of embellishment, with no lace or embroidery, and a soft matte finish. The design process for the dress took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication.
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Frequently asked questions
The train on Meghan Markle's wedding dress was 16 feet long.
Meghan Markle's veil was the same length as the train of her dress, at 16 feet.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a triple silk organza underskirt.
