Deborah Chan
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a white silk gown designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. The dress featured three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The veil, also designed by Waight Keller, included floral embroidery representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. Markle's choice of a white wedding dress, particularly as a divorcee, sparked some commentary and discussion, with some sources noting that it may have gone against traditional royal fashion norms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Color | White |
| Material | Silk |
| Sleeve length | Three-quarter length |
| Neckline | Open boat |
| Train | Built-in triple silk organza underskirt |
| Veil | Embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, and wintersweet |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Bride | Meghan Markle |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Venue | St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle |
| Comments | The Queen was reportedly surprised that Markle chose a white dress, as she is a divorcee. |
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What You'll Learn
- Meghan Markle's wedding dress was white
- The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
- The dress had an open boat neckline and a silk organza underskirt
- The Queen reportedly raised an eyebrow at Meghan's choice of a white dress, as she is a divorcee
- Meghan's dress was compared to those worn by Angela Brown and Mary Donaldson at their weddings
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was white
The dress was simple and white, with an open neckline, a small, rounded, neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette. It was said to showcase a "timeless minimal elegance" and convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts." The design departed from the usual royal wedding style, with no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. It reflected American fashion, which tends to be more practical and less adorned than European fashions.
The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
Markle's wedding dress received mixed reviews from the public and fashion critics. Some described it as "beautiful" and "stunning," while others called it "boring," "baggy," and "ill-fitting." Critics noted that the dress seemed to be inspired by a dress worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in 1996. Despite the mixed reviews, the Duchess of Sussex's bridal style has become one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
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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 was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open bateau neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The veil, also designed by Waight Keller, was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
Waight Keller, a British designer, was the first woman to lead the Givenchy fashion house when she joined in 2017. She had previously been the creative head at Pringle of Scotland and Chloe. Markle's wedding dress was noted for its simplicity, with some drawing comparisons to Audrey Hepburn's wedding dress in Funny Face.
The choice of Waight Keller as the designer of the royal wedding dress brought significant attention to the designer and the Givenchy fashion house. Markle and Waight Keller maintained a close relationship after the wedding, with the designer creating looks for Markle for other notable events, such as Ascot, the trooping of the colour ceremony, and Remembrance Sunday.
Waight Keller left Givenchy in 2020 and has since become the creative director of Uniqlo, overseeing mainline collections for both menswear and womenswear. She continues to design sought-after pieces, with Markle owning several of her Uniqlo designs.
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The dress had an open boat neckline and a silk organza underskirt
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a silk organza underskirt. The open boat neckline of the dress added a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall design. This style of neckline is characterized by a wide, curved shape that gracefully follows the line of the collarbone, providing a subtle hint of sensuality without revealing too much.
The choice of a boat neckline by Meghan Markle was a departure from the more traditional wedding dress styles often seen in royal weddings. It offered a modern and contemporary twist, reflecting Markle's own sense of style and fashion preferences. The open nature of the neckline also provided a sense of lightness and airiness to the overall silhouette of the dress, creating a visually appealing and flattering effect.
The silk organza underskirt of the dress added a layer of volume and movement to the design. Silk organza is known for its sheer and lightweight nature, providing a delicate and ethereal quality to the gown. The use of this fabric underskirt likely contributed to the overall fluidity and grace of the dress, ensuring that it moved gracefully with each step Markle took down the aisle.
The combination of the open boat neckline and silk organza underskirt created a harmonious balance within the design of the wedding dress. The neckline provided a subtle frame for Markle's face, while the underskirt added a touch of drama and elegance to the overall silhouette. The use of silk throughout the dress, including the underskirt, likely contributed to a luxurious and refined finish, befitting the occasion of a royal wedding.
The dress was described as "breathtaking" by Hello magazine and was later put on display in Windsor and Edinburgh. The design and maker of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret until the bride arrived at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding ceremony.
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The Queen reportedly raised an eyebrow at Meghan's choice of a white dress, as she is a divorcee
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was simple and white, with a bateau neckline and slim three-quarter sleeves. It featured six meticulously placed seams, a train, and an underskirt in triple silk organza. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
Markle's choice of a white dress was reportedly met with surprise from Queen Elizabeth II, who, according to insiders close to the Royal Family, raised an eyebrow at the choice considering Markle is a divorcee. Markle had been married to TV producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. Despite this, the Queen and the Church of England revised its policy on divorce and remarriage in 2002, allowing Markle to wed Prince Harry in a white dress.
Some commentators had speculated that Markle would not wear a white wedding dress due to her previous marriage. However, she chose to work with Waight Keller to create a dress that showcased a "timeless minimal elegance". The designer stated that the dress sought to "convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The dress received mixed reviews from the public and fashion critics. Some described it as "beautiful" and "stunning", while others found it "boring", "ill-fitting", and "too big". Critics noted that the silk cady fabric would have been difficult to move in if the dress had been more form-fitting. Comparisons were also made to other royal wedding dresses, including those of Princess Catherine and Princess Diana.
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Meghan's dress was compared to those worn by Angela Brown and Mary Donaldson at their weddings
Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been compared to those worn by Angela Brown and Mary Donaldson at their weddings. Markle's dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. It was a simple, white, silk dress with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The bride's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
Angela Brown, also known as Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, wore a heavy satin floor-length gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves when she married Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000. She also wore a diamond tiara with a long trailing veil and pointed-toe white heels. Mary Donaldson, who married Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004, wore a dress that the media noted had similarities to Markle's.
There were some differences between the dresses of Markle and Brown. For instance, Markle's neckline was wider than Brown's, and Markle's dress had a built-in triple silk organza underskirt, while Brown's did not. However, both women kept their jewelry simple and accessorized with tiaras, veils, and their hair in low buns. They also both wore subtle warm brown smokey eye makeup and natural lip colours.
There was much speculation about the bride's dress before the wedding, with some commentators suggesting that Markle would not wear a white dress as she had been married previously. However, Markle's dress was white, and it has been described as "breathtaking" and "stunning."
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was white.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was special because it broke a long-established royal tradition. It was an exercise in simplicity, devoid of embellishment, and crafted in white silk with precise seam work.
