Junior Rasmussen
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is estimated to have cost $265,000 and took 3,900 hours to design. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a 16-foot train with a triple silk organza underskirt. The design process involved eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication between Markle and Waight Keller. The dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face, as well as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's simple and elegant wedding gown.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Dress material | Silk |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter length |
| Neckline | Boat, off-the-shoulder, or bateau |
| Veil length | 5 metres or 16 feet |
| Veil embroidery | Flowers, sprays of wheat, and symbols of the Commonwealth |
| Dress cost | $265,000 or £100k |
| Number of fittings | 8 |
| Number of design hours for veil | 3,900 |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British designer who had served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
Waight Keller described Markle as having a clear vision of what she wanted for her wedding dress, and the two worked closely together to design it. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture it and eight fittings.
The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which Markle paid for herself. The veil, which featured flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California, took 3,900 hours to design and was just as important as the dress itself.
Markle's wedding dress was considered unexpected and unique, as it did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details, which had been common in previous royal wedding dresses. The dress was compared to those worn by Angela Brown, Mary Donaldson, and Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film *Funny Face*.
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The dress's design and style
The wedding dress of Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry in 2018, was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of pure white silk with a soft matte but luminous effect, an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The gown culminated in a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The design process involved 3,900 hours of work, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication between Markle and Waight Keller. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. Waight Keller stated that Markle wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and that the two worked closely together to create a timeless, minimal, and elegant design. The dress was inspired by Old Hollywood fare, with references to Audrey Hepburn's iconic bateau-neck wedding dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle's gown also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's surprise choice of a simple wedding dress in 1996.
The silk tulle veil was even more intricate than the dress, taking 3,900 hours to create. It featured a variety of hand-embroidered flowers and symbolic sprays of wheat on its 5-metre-long (16-foot) and 3-metre-wide trim. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry. Markle chose two of her favourite flowers, wintersweet and the California poppy, along with individual flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The veil took longer to create than the dress itself, and the embroiderers spent 500 hours completing it, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure its immaculate state.
Markle's wedding dress was estimated to cost around $265,000, paid for by the former Suits actress herself. The dress was considered an act of royal rebellion, as Markle chose a French designer instead of following the tradition of commissioning a British designer. The gown's simplicity, devoid of embellishment, also set it apart from previous royal wedding dresses, such as Princess Kate's long-sleeve lace look and Princess Diana's voluminous ball gown.
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The veil's design and style
The veil that Meghan Markle wore with her wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. It was 5 metres (16 feet) long and 3 metres wide and took 3,900 hours to create. The veil was embroidered with a variety of flowers, including the California poppy, wintersweet, and flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The veil also featured symbolic sprays of wheat and a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry.
The veil was made of silk tulle and featured hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. It took the embroiderers 500 hours to complete, and they washed their hands every 30 minutes to ensure that the veil remained immaculate until the wedding day. The veil was held in place by a glittering diamond art deco tiara, which was lent to Markle for the occasion.
The veil, along with the wedding dress, was designed in Paris by a small team of ateliers. There were eight fittings for the veil and dress, and the entire process took five months to complete. The veil was kept secret until the wedding day, when Markle arrived at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and stepped out of the car, revealing the elegant and intricate design to the world.
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The dress's cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. It is estimated to have cost $265,000, paid for by the bride herself. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers.
The design process for the dress and veil took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings, and five months of clandestine communication between Markle and the design team. The veil took longer to create than the dress itself, with embroiderers spending 500 hours completing it. The veil was also hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers on its hem, symbolic sprays of wheat, and a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry.
The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The gown's contoured silhouette culminated in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The dress was also described as having a "sculptural silhouette", with a "small, rounded, neat shoulder".
The dress was simple and elegant, with no lace, embroidery, or embellishments. This was a departure from the usual royal wedding style, with previous royal brides such as Princess Kate and Princess Diana opting for lace and volume and ruffles. Markle's dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic 1957 Givenchy dress from the film Funny Face, as well as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's simple wedding gown.
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The dress's inspiration
The dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, who was the artistic director of Givenchy at the time. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour" and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent.
Markle and Waight Keller worked closely together to design the dress, which they wanted to reflect a "timeless minimal elegance". The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The designer and royal bride aimed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The dress was inspired by classic gowns in Old Hollywood, particularly those worn by Audrey Hepburn. Markle's open neckline, for instance, was influenced by Hubert de Givenchy's bateau-neck wedding dress for Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle and Waight Keller also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised everyone with its simplicity.
The veil, on the other hand, was a vision shared by both Markle and Waight Keller, who wanted to embrace the Commonwealth flora. The veil featured a variety of flowers, including Markle's two favourite flowers, wintersweet and the California poppy, along with individual flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
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Frequently asked questions
The dress is estimated to have cost between £110,000 and £387,000.
The 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.
