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Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. Markle chose Keller due to her elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour. Markle's dress received mixed reviews, with some describing it as beautiful and stunning, while others called it boring and ill-fitting. Markle surprised Prince Harry with her wedding dress, which included a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on their first date.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of Givenchy |
| Veil designer | Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of Givenchy |
| Veil embroidery | Flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, wintersweet, and a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry |
| Fabric | White silk |
| Style | Simple, elegant, and relaxed |
| Neckline | Open boat (on the risqué side of conservative for the buttoned-up Windsors) |
| Train | 16-foot silk tulle |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves |
| Tiara | A glittering diamond art deco tiara lent from the Queen's personal collection |
| Comparison to Princess Kate's dress | Unfavourable comparisons, with Princess Kate's dress proclaimed the "victor" |
| Public reaction | Mixed, with some describing it as "beautiful" and "stunning" and others as "boring", "baggy", and "ill-fitting" |
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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 for Givenchy. 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 designed in Paris by a small team of ateliers and was completed in just five months, with eight fittings.
Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". Additionally, Markle wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent, as Waight Keller had served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
The dress received mixed reviews from the public, with some describing it as "beautiful" and "stunning", while others called it "boring", "baggy", and "ill-fitting". Critics noted that the dress seemed to be inspired by the late fashion icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, as well as a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face.
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The dress's mixed reviews
Meghan Markle's wedding dress received mixed reviews from the public and fashion critics. Some people described the dress as "beautiful" and "stunning", while others labelled it "boring", "baggy", and "ill-fitting".
Fashion editors, internet influencers, and Twitter commenters criticised the cut, shape, and fabric of the dress, calling the finish “dull” and noting a perceived lack of tailoring. The veil was also mocked for its style and length, with an internet meme comparing it to a CVS receipt. However, Elizabeth Emanuel, co-designer of Princess Diana's wedding gown, thought that the gown made a "really solid fashion statement" and that Meghan looked "absolutely stunning and beautiful".
Robin Givhan of The Washington Post noted in her review that "It was not a Hollywood red carpet statement...it was not a Disney princess fantasy...the dress was a backdrop; it was in service to the woman." Similarly, Desiree Cooper of the Detroit Free Press compared the dress to a costume "straight from The Handmaid's Tale", but conceded that "She could have been wearing a paper bag (which she nearly was) and it wouldn't have mattered an iota. That girl was just plain stunning."
Some commentators had speculated that Markle would not wear a white wedding dress as she had been married previously. Markle chose designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture it.
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Meghan's 'something blue'
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. The dress received mixed reviews, with some describing it as “beautiful" and "stunning", while others called it "boring" and "ill-fitting".
Now, onto the something blue. Meghan's "something blue" was a small piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry. It was sewn into the hem of her wedding dress, so only she knew it was there. The designer, Waight Keller, described it as "a little blue gingham check" and "the perfect personal memento".
In an interview for the documentary "Queen of the World", Meghan shared that the blue fabric was stitched into her veil: "Somewhere in here is a piece of blue fabric that's stitched inside—my something blue—from the dress that I wore on our first date".
The veil also featured flowers from all 53 Commonwealth countries, reflecting Meghan and Harry's interest in the work of the Commonwealth. Additionally, Meghan included two of her favourite flowers: wintersweet, which grows outside the couple's home at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, in honour of her home state.
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The dress's cost
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. The design process took five months and involved eight fittings. The dress was made of double-bonded silk with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The veil, which was 16 feet long, was lined with lace.
The dress's simplicity was a departure from traditional royal wedding gowns, which often feature lace, embellishments, and embroidered details. Markle's dress received mixed reviews, with some praising its elegance and others criticising its fit and design. However, it is estimated that the dress cost around $265,000, and the bride paid for it herself. This high cost can be attributed to the 3,900 hours of design for the veil and the collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The designer, Waight Keller, was chosen by Markle because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. Waight Keller's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour also aligned with Markle's vision for her wedding dress. The dress was inspired by Markle's admiration for Audrey Hepburn and her iconic Givenchy dress in the 1957 movie "Funny Face". The off-the-shoulder neckline and simple design of Markle's dress mirrored Hepburn's look in that film.
Additionally, Markle wanted her dress to reflect her personal style and the spirit of inclusivity that she and Prince Harry wanted to embody in their wedding. This is evident in the veil's embroidery, which included flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as her favourite flowers, the wintersweet and the California poppy. The dress also included a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry as her "something blue".
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Meghan's treatment of staff during fittings
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Keller due to her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, who had only five months to manufacture the dress and veil. Markle and Keller met for eight fittings.
There are several allegations of Markle mistreating staff during the fittings. One source claims that Markle was a "complete diva" and treated seamstresses and Givenchy staff horribly. She is also alleged to have bullied Charlotte, who was helping with the fittings, to the point of making her cry. Markle was also reportedly rude to Catherine, Charlotte, and María, and was constantly changing her mind about the style and design of the dress and veil. Markle is said to have had staff working long hours, only to shout at them and force them to start their work all over again. She also reportedly slapped a member of staff who was helping with a fitting. Givenchy staff nicknamed her "The Dictator Duchess-To-Be", "Meddlesome Meghan", and "Ms. Snobby".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle was allowed to pick her wedding dress. She chose British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy, to design her dress.
Meghan Markle chose Clare Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". She also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British designer.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an exercise in simplicity, devoid of embellishment and crafted in white silk with precise seam work. The gown featured an open boat neckline, a 16-foot silk train, and three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves.
Meghan Markle's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as her two favourite flowers: wintersweet and the California poppy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress received mixed reviews from the public. Some described it as "beautiful" and "stunning", while others called it "boring", "baggy", and "ill-fitting".
