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Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is reported to have cost $265,000. The Duchess of Sussex's gown was one of the most highly anticipated elements of her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, with much speculation about who would design the dress. Markle's dress was a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, a departure from the usual royal wedding style with no lace, embroidery, or adornments. The design process for the dress took five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team, with 3,900 hours spent on the veil alone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Veil | 3,900 hours of design |
| Fittings | 8 |
| Communication | 5 months |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady |
| Neckline | Boat-neck, near-off-the-shoulder |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter-length |
| Silhouette | Sculptural, contoured |
| Train | 16-foot-long |
| Reception dress designer | Stella McCartney |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle paid for her wedding dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost $265,000, and the former Suits star paid for it herself. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, and it took 3,900 hours to design the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication. The dress featured a pure white sheen to evoke modernity, with a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte, but gracefully luminous effect. The gown's contoured silhouette culminated in a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves felt contemporary and progressive while respecting tradition.
Markle's choice of designer was a departure from the usual royal wedding style, as she opted for a contemporary fashion house and uplifted a British woman designer. The dress stood out for its simplicity, with no lace, embroidery, or decorations. This minimalist design reflected American fashion, which is known for being more practical and less adorned than European fashions. Markle's "something blue" was a nod to her love story with Prince Harry, as she stitched a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on their first date into her wedding veil.
For her wedding reception, Markle wore a custom Stella McCartney gown. The silk crepe dress featured a sexier silhouette and a high halter neckline. The label later produced an evening gown collection called "Made With Love" that included a halter neck design. McCartney expressed her pride and honour in being chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to create her evening gown, representing British design.
While there is speculation and criticism about the cost of Markle's wedding dress and whether she paid for it herself, the details of the financial arrangements remain unconfirmed. However, it is believed that Markle paid for her own dress, showcasing her independence and personal style.
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The dress was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. It is estimated to have cost $265,000, which was paid for by the bride herself. The design process for the dress took five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team, including 3,900 hours of work on the veil. The dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face, which featured a similar off-the-shoulder neckline. Markle's dress also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's simple and surprising wedding dress from 1996.
Clare Waight Keller, the designer of the dress, was the first woman artistic director of Givenchy. She worked closely with Markle to determine the pure white sheen of the fabric, which was designed to evoke a sense of "modernity". Waight Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady fabric with a soft matte, yet luminous effect. The gown's silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves gave the dress a contemporary and progressive feel while still respecting tradition.
Markle's choice of designer was highly anticipated leading up to the wedding. There was speculation as to whether she would choose the same designer as Kate Middleton, Sarah Burton, or opt for an American designer as a nod to her California roots. Ultimately, Markle chose to work with Waight Keller, departing from the usual royal wedding style by selecting a contemporary fashion house and uplifting a British woman designer.
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The dress was made from double-bonded silk cady and triple silk organza
The wedding dress of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made from double-bonded silk cady and triple silk organza. Waight Keller scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop the double-bonded silk cady, which gave the dress a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The dress's six seams construct its contoured silhouette, which culminates in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The triple silk organza underskirt enhances this effect.
The choice of fabric and design reflects Markle's desire for a modern and playful dress that represents her spirit and freshness. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves feel contemporary and progressive while still respecting tradition. The dress is estimated to have cost $265,000, and it took 3,900 hours to design the veil, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication.
The dress stands out from other royal wedding gowns by departing from the usual style. It is unique in that it features no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. This minimalist design is reflective of American fashion, which tends to be more practical and less adorned than European fashions. Markle's dress has been compared to the bateau-neck wedding dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face.
The Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress is a testament to the skill and creativity of its designer, Clare Waight Keller, and it has become an iconic symbol of modern royal fashion. The use of double-bonded silk cady and triple silk organza showcases the attention to detail and desire to create a unique and contemporary silhouette. The result is a graceful and luminous gown that captured the world's attention.
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The dress reportedly cost £250,000
Meghan Markle's wedding dress reportedly cost £250,000, which is around $265,000. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, and it featured a pure white sheen to evoke a sense of modernity. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady fabric with a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. The dress had a near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, which felt contemporary and progressive while still respecting tradition. The gown's contoured silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train.
Markle's wedding dress stood out from typical royal wedding styles, as it lacked lace, embroidery, or other decorations. Instead, its minimalist design reflected American fashion, which is often characterised as more practical and less adorned than European fashions. The dress was also unique in that it featured a boat neckline, a small, rounded, neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette, inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic wedding dress in the film Funny Face.
The creation of Meghan Markle's wedding dress entailed 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication. The designer, Waight Keller, spoke about how the process started out quite relaxed, with discussions centred around Markle's personal style. They also considered Old Hollywood gowns and American royalty when designing the dress.
Markle's wedding dress was almost certainly the most expensive aspect of her wedding, but it is unclear who paid for it. While it is traditional for the bride's family to pay for the wedding dress, there are speculations that Markle's dress was paid for by her or the royal family.
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The dress was more expensive than Kate Middleton's
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Givenchy's then-creative director, Clare Waight Keller. The pure white dress was made from double-bonded silk cady, with a classic boat neckline, and was cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The bride's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The extensive hand-embroidered veil alone required 3,900 hours of work.
The dress is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000, with one source placing the figure at around £200,000 and another at £250,000. The exact amount remains undisclosed. This means that Meghan's wedding dress cost between £117,000 and £344,000 more than Kate Middleton's, which cost around £40,000. The dress was paid for by Meghan herself, which is standard when it comes to royal weddings. Meghan was a successful actor before joining the royal family and was independently wealthy, with a net worth of roughly $5 million.
The dress was rumoured to have been designed by Ralph and Russo, the designer of Meghan's engagement dress, Erdem, Alexander McQueen, or Stella McCartney. Ultimately, the Duchess of Sussex wore a dress by Givenchy.
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Frequently asked questions
The exact amount remains undisclosed, but it is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000.
Meghan Markle paid for her wedding dress. The bride paying for her dress is standard when it comes to royal weddings.
The dress was designed by Givenchy's then-creative director, Clare Waight Keller.
