Junior Rasmussen
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, has been the subject of much speculation and interest. Markle's gown, which she reportedly paid for herself, is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000. The dress, with its minimalist design and use of high-quality materials, has become an iconic piece in bridal fashion history. The exact cost remains undisclosed, but the world continues to be fascinated by Markle's wedding dress and its elegant simplicity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Cost | Between £110,000 and £387,000 ($265,000) |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady, triple silk organza |
| Veil | 16-foot cathedral veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, and wintersweet |
| Style | Minimalist, boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves |
| "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue" | Fabric from Diana's wedding gown, her bracelet and earrings, the Queen's tiara, fabric from her first date dress with Harry |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000. The exact amount remains undisclosed. Markle personally paid for her wedding dress, in line with royal tradition.
The dress was crafted from double-bonded silk cady, with an underskirt made of triple silk organza. The gown's simplicity was complemented by a 16-foot cathedral veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil took 3,900 hours to embroider.
The dress's high cost can be attributed to several factors, including the use of premium fabrics and handcrafted details. The bespoke nature of the gown, tailored specifically for Meghan, also contributed to its substantial price tag. It involved eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The dress was designed in Paris by a small team of ateliers and was kept confidential until the bride arrived at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding ceremony. The dress's simplicity and minimalist design, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, defied traditional royal wedding fashion trends. It has since become an iconic piece in bridal fashion history.
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The designer, Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director for Givenchy at the time. The dress was crafted from double-bonded silk cady, with an underskirt made of triple silk organza. It featured a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The gown was noted for its minimalist design, which included a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. Markle's veil was also designed by Keller and was 16 feet long, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, honouring Meghan's home state.
Clare Waight Keller is a British stylist and fashion designer born in Birmingham, England, on 19 August 1970. She studied at Ravensbourne College of Art, now Ravensbourne University London, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fashion. She then obtained a master's degree at the Royal College of Art. Keller started her career at Calvin Klein in New York as a stylist for the women's ready-to-wear line and later worked for Ralph Lauren's Purple Label menswear line. In 2000, she was hired by Tom Ford to join Gucci as a senior designer, where she was responsible for women's ready-to-wear and accessories until her departure in 2004.
Following her time at Gucci, Waight Keller became the artistic director of Pringle of Scotland in 2005. During her time at Pringle, she completely rebranded the heritage knitwear label to great critical acclaim. In 2011, she moved to Paris to take on the role of artistic director at Chloé, where she remained for six years. In March 2017, Keller was appointed artistic director of haute couture and ready-to-wear for women and men at Givenchy, becoming the first woman to hold this position at the company. During her time at Givenchy, she designed Markle's wedding dress, which became an iconic piece in bridal fashion history.
In April 2020, Waight Keller stepped down from her position at Givenchy. She has since collaborated with various brands, including ReSee in 2024, where she emphasised her long-standing commitment to fashion circularity and the rewearing of well-made garments. In 2023, she launched a collection with Japanese mass-market brand Uniqlo, and in September 2024, she was appointed creative director of the brand. Throughout her career, Keller has been recognised for her contributions to the fashion industry, receiving numerous awards, including the British Designer of the Year Womenswear Award in 2018 and being named one of Time magazine's most influential people of the year in 2019.
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The dress's simple design
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy's then-creative director and the first woman to hold that position. The dress was made of pure white double-bonded silk cady, with a classic boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The design was simple and elegant, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidery. The gown featured only six seams, showcasing the fabric's graceful luminosity and soft matte finish.
The dress was inspired by Markle's admiration for Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown, which was known for its surprising simplicity. Markle's dress also drew references from Old Hollywood, particularly Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy in the 1957 film Funny Face. The off-the-shoulder neckline of Markle's dress was inspired by Hepburn's iconic look.
Waight Keller worked closely with Markle to develop the fabric for the dress, scouring fabric mills across Europe to create the perfect double-bonded silk cady. The fabric had a luminous effect, with a soft matte finish that added to the overall elegance of the design. The dress was constructed with only six seams, highlighting the fabric's graceful lines and fluidity.
The simplicity of the dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding gowns, which often feature intricate details and embellishments. Markle's choice reflected her personal style and preference for simple, timeless designs. The gown's clean lines and relaxed aesthetic made it one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time, surprising and captivating audiences worldwide.
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The veil's intricate embroidery
The veil that accompanied Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a 16-foot-long (or 25-foot-long, according to some sources) cathedral veil, featuring intricate embroidery. The embroidery included flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy (Meghan's home state), and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, where Meghan and Harry lived. The embroidery on the veil required 3,900 hours of work, contributing to the overall cost of the wedding dress, which is estimated to have been between £110,000 and £387,000.
The veil was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy, who also designed Markle's wedding dress. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with an underskirt made of triple silk organza. The gown was noted for its minimalist design, featuring a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves.
The choice of designer was a well-kept secret, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been selected. Markle chose the designer because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who had served as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture it.
The veil and dress became iconic pieces in bridal fashion history, setting trends and inspiring millions. The simplicity of the dress and the intricate embroidery on the veil created a timeless and elegant look that defied royal wedding fashion trends. The veil, in particular, with its handcrafted and personalised details, added to the overall cost and uniqueness of Markle's wedding ensemble.
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The dress's place in history
The wedding dress of Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, has secured its place in history as an iconic piece of bridal fashion. Markle married Prince Harry on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in a ceremony that was watched by over 2 billion viewers worldwide.
Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with an underskirt of triple silk organza. The design was noted for its simplicity and minimalist elegance, with a boat neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. The dress was inspired by the royal's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, particularly Hepburn's iconic dress from the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's dress also drew comparisons to a formal dress worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, whom Markle has long admired for her style.
The veil, which was 16 feet long according to some sources and 25 feet long according to others, was hand-embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, Markle's home state flower, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil took 3,900 hours to create and was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen.
Following the wedding, Markle's dress and accessories were displayed at the "A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex" exhibition at Windsor Castle in October 2018. Since then, the dress has been returned to the care of the British royal family, with its exact location undisclosed but likely preserved within the Royal Collection.
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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's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
The dress was crafted from double-bonded silk cady, with an underskirt made of triple silk organza.
The dress featured a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train. The design was noted for its minimalist aesthetic.
Yes, following royal tradition, Meghan Markle personally paid for her wedding dress.
