George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, reportedly cost about $265,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. The dress featured an open neckline, a small rounded neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette. The design process entailed 3,900 hours of work for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication. Markle wore a second wedding dress, a custom Stella McCartney gown, to her 185-person evening reception at Frogmore House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Veil design hours | 3,900 |
| Number of fittings | 8 |
| Months of communication | 5 |
| "Something Blue" | Fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry |
| Reception dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Reception dress style | Silk crepe halter dress |
Explore related products
$43.99 $49.99
$38.37 $49.99
What You'll Learn
- Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost $265,000
- The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
- Markle wore a Stella McCartney gown to her wedding reception
- The gown was inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
- Markle's dress was almost 18 times more expensive than Kate Middleton's
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost $265,000
The Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress was certainly a break from the usual royal wedding style. Unlike the lace, embroidery, and volume seen in previous royal wedding gowns, Markle's dress was characterised by its simplicity and minimalist design. This unique approach to her wedding dress may reflect American fashion, which is often described as more practical and less adorned than European styles.
Markle's choice of designer was also a departure from traditional royal choices. By selecting Clare Waight Keller, the first woman artistic director of Givenchy, Markle opted for a contemporary fashion house while also uplifting a British woman designer. This decision aligns with Markle's personal style, which has been described as innovative and individualistic.
The wedding dress also included a sentimental "something blue" detail—a piece of blue fabric stitched into the veil. This fabric was from the dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry, adding a romantic touch to the ensemble.
In addition to her ceremony dress, Markle also wore a custom Stella McCartney gown for her wedding reception. This silk crepe dress featured a high halter neckline and a sexier silhouette. The choice of designer for the reception dress may have been influenced by Markle's desire to showcase British design, as McCartney is a UK-born designer.
Transforming Wedding Dresses: Creating Garters with Memories
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress reportedly cost about $265,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. The design process for the veil alone took 3,900 hours, and the dress required eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication.
Waight Keller, who was the artistic director of Givenchy at the time, described the process of designing the dress with Markle, saying that they "talked a lot about her personal style." Markle's dress was inspired by classic Old Hollywood gowns, particularly the bateau-neck wedding dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film "Funny Face." Markle's dress featured an open neckline, "a small, rounded, neat shoulder," and a sculptural silhouette, all signatures of the French fashion house.
Markle's choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer was a departure from traditional royal wedding style. Her dress stood out for its minimalist design, lacking the lace, embroidery, and decorations typically seen on royal wedding gowns. Professor Sarah Collins of the Savannah College of Art and Design noted that Markle's gown "reflective of American fashion, which has always been more practical and less adorned than European fashions."
In addition to the Givenchy wedding dress, Markle also wore a custom Stella McCartney gown for her wedding reception. The silk crepe dress featured a high halter neckline and a sexier silhouette. The label later produced an evening gown collection called "Made With Love" inspired by the reception dress.
Sheer Wedding Dresses: Legit or a Big No-No?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Markle wore a Stella McCartney gown to her wedding reception
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a topic of much discussion when she married Prince Harry in 2018. Markle wore a custom Stella McCartney gown to her wedding reception, which was an 185-person evening reception at Frogmore House. The silk crepe dress featured a high halter neckline and a sexier silhouette. The dress generated so much attention that a month later, the label produced an evening gown collection called "Made With Love".
The Duchess of Sussex's wedding reception dress was designed by UK-born designer Stella McCartney. In an interview with WWD, McCartney shared her pride and honour in being chosen by Markle to make her evening gown, representing British design. She also expressed her humility at having created the dress, thanking her team for their contributions.
Markle's wedding dress for the ceremony was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. It is estimated to have cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication. The dress featured an open neckline, "a small, rounded, neat shoulder," and a sculptural silhouette. The design was inspired by Old Hollywood, particularly Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Funny Face.
Markle's wedding dress stood out for its departure from the usual royal wedding style, with no lace, embroidery, or decorations. It reflected American fashion, which is often characterised by simplicity and practicality. Markle's choice to wear a contemporary fashion house and uplift a British woman designer also diverged from the choices of her sister-in-law, Princess of Wales, who wore Alexander McQueen, and Princess Diana, who opted for a frothy '80s fairytale dress.
Shopping for a Wedding Dress: Alone or With Company?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$39.59 $49.99
$34.99 $39.99
The gown was inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress reportedly cost $265,000, making it one of the most expensive royal wedding gowns in history. The design process for the veil alone took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication.
Markle's dress stood out from traditional royal wedding styles, notably departing from the lace, embroidery, and decorations seen in previous royal gowns. Its minimalist design reflected American fashion sensibilities, which tend towards practicality and a less adorned aesthetic. This unique approach to a royal wedding dress may be attributed to Markle's background in Hollywood and her desire to incorporate her personal style into the design.
The choice of designer also reflected Markle's desire to blend contemporary fashion with British tradition. Clare Waight Keller, the first woman artistic director of Givenchy, created a gown that captured the new journey the Sussexes were embarking on as nonworking royals based in the United States. The dress's sleek and simple silhouette, with its boat-neck ceremony, made it an iconic and timeless choice for the royal bride.
Stacey Silva's Wedding Dress: The Price Tag Revealed
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Markle's dress was almost 18 times more expensive than Kate Middleton's
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress reportedly cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours to design the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication. The dress featured an open neckline, "a small, rounded, neat shoulder", and a sculptural silhouette.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress, on the other hand, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The gown cost an estimated $332,000 in 2011, which is significantly less than the cost of Markle's dress. The dress featured lace, embroidery, and a long train.
When comparing the two dresses, it is evident that Markle's dress was almost 18 times more expensive than Middleton's. This is likely due to the extensive design process and the use of expensive fabrics and materials. Additionally, Markle's dress was designed by a contemporary fashion house, while Middleton's dress adhered more closely to traditional royal wedding styles.
It is worth noting that while Markle's dress was more expensive, both dresses captured the public's imagination and set trends for bridal styles. Additionally, the dresses of both royals were paid for by their respective families, with Markle's father, Thomas Markle, footing the bill for her gown.
Dressing for a Wedding: A Guide for Guys
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost $265,000, making it the most expensive royal wedding gown in history.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Her custom Stella McCartney gown for the evening reception featured a high halter neckline.
It is rumoured that Meghan Markle paid for her wedding dress herself. However, some sources claim that the King paid for everything.
