Franklin Dean
Meghan Markle's wedding dress has gone down in history as one of the most talked-about looks in royal fashion. Markle wore a white gown designed by Givenchy and its artistic director, Clare Waight Keller, to marry Prince Harry at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in 2018. 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 design received mixed reviews, with some praising its timeless minimal elegance and others criticising its cut and shape.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Designer Affiliation | Givenchy |
| Dress Color | White |
| Dress Material | Silk |
| Sleeve Length | 3/4 |
| Neckline | Boat |
| Veil Length | 16 feet |
| Veil Material | Silk Tulle |
| Veil Embroidered Flowers | California Poppy, Wintersweet, Commonwealth Flora |
| Veil Embroidered Spray | Wheat |
| Date of Wedding | May 19, 2018 |
| Wedding Venue | St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
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What You'll Learn
- The dress was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller
- The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the Commonwealth
- The dress received mixed reviews from the public
- The dress was compared to other dresses including Princess Margaret's Norman Hartnell silk organza dress
- The dress was an act of royal rebellion
The dress was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. The design of the simple white dress was revealed only when the bride got out of the car and entered St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding service. 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 dress featured only six seams and was without lace or any other embellishments.
Waight Keller helped develop a double-bonded silk cady for the construction of the dress. The dress is augmented by a long 5-metre (16-foot) veil, hand-embroidered with a variety of flowers on its hem and symbolic sprays of wheat. The veil was designed to represent the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular composition. The veil took longer to create than the dress itself, and the embroiderers spent 500 hours on it, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure that it would remain immaculate until the wedding day.
Markle chose Keller to create her wedding dress due to the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". Waight Keller has been Givenchy's creative director since 2017 and is one of the most talented British designers, according to British Vogue's editor-in-chief at the time, Edward Enninful.
Markle and Waight Keller worked closely together to design the dress, which shows a "timeless minimal elegance", according to a Kensington Palace announcement. The dress sought to "convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts", while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
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The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the Commonwealth
The veil was an important part of Meghan Markle's wedding ensemble, and it played a significant role in her tribute to the Commonwealth. The veil was an impressive 5 metres (16 feet) long and 3 metres wide, made from silk tulle and embroidered with a variety of flowers. The flowers represented the distinctive flora of each of the 53 Commonwealth countries, symbolically uniting them in one spectacular composition.
The embroiderers spent 500 hours completing the veil, meticulously hand-stitching the flowers and ensuring the tulle remained pristine by washing their hands every 30 minutes. The veil also included sprays of wheat to symbolise love and charity. The delicate embroidery and intricate design made the veil a true work of art, showcasing the talent and dedication of those who crafted it.
In addition to the Commonwealth flowers, Meghan included two flowers with personal significance. The first was the California poppy, the state flower of her birthplace. The second was wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, where she and Prince Harry shared their home. These personal touches added a layer of sentimentality and meaning to the veil's design.
The veil was secured in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to Meghan by the Queen. The tiara, made of diamonds and platinum, was complemented by Cartier earrings and a bracelet by a French jeweller. The entire ensemble, from the dress to the veil and accessories, was widely praised by the fashion press and the public.
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The dress received mixed reviews from the public
Meghan Markle's wedding dress received mixed reviews from the public. Some people thought the dress was beautiful and stunning, while others described it as boring, baggy, and ill-fitting. The dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy's creative director at the time. 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 silk cady fabric was chosen after "extensive research" by Waight Keller in fabric mills throughout Europe.
The dress was revealed only when Markle arrived at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. The design of the simple white dress and the designer's name were kept confidential until then. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and Waight Keller and Markle worked closely together on the design.
The dress received criticism from celebrity commentators, fashion editors, internet influencers, and Twitter commenters, who called it "boring", "ill-fitting", and "too big". They criticised the cut, shape, and matte satin fabric, calling the finish "dull" and noting a perceived lack of tailoring on the sleeves and waist. Some declared the overall effect as "heavy". Fashion experts also noted that the silk cady fabric would have been difficult to move in if the dress had been more form-fitting.
However, the dress also received positive reviews. Elizabeth Emanuel, co-designer of Princess Diana's wedding gown, thought the gown made a "really solid fashion statement". Waight Keller stated that Prince Harry told her, "Oh my God. Thank you. She is absolutely magnificent." The dress was also praised by British Vogue's editor-in-chief, who called it "beautiful" and a "brilliant moment" in Waight Keller's tenure at Givenchy.
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The dress was compared to other dresses including Princess Margaret's Norman Hartnell silk organza dress
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 train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was compared to several other dresses, including Princess Margaret's Norman Hartnell silk organza dress.
Princess Margaret's wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, was crafted from silk organza and featured long sleeves and a voluminous skirt. The dress was elegantly simple and thoroughly modern, with a fitted, tailored bodice and waist, showcasing the bride's figure. The minimal embellishments and absence of embroidery allowed the silhouette of the gown to stand out. Similarly, Meghan Markle's dress was also noted for its simplicity and timeless elegance, achieved through sleek lines and sharp cuts.
The Duchess of Sussex's boat-necked Givenchy design drew comparisons to Princess Margaret's dress, particularly in its tailored, unfussy aesthetic. Markle's dress featured an open bateau neckline that gracefully framed her shoulders, emphasizing her waist. The lack of embellishments and the use of double-bonded silk cady fabric in Markle's dress further highlighted the clean lines and modern silhouette.
Both dresses were known for their simplicity and timeless elegance, making them iconic in their own right. Princess Margaret's dress, with its minimal embellishments, inspired future royal brides, including the Duchess of Sussex. Markle's dress, while compared to other dresses, including Princess Margaret's, also stood out for its modern take on a classic silhouette, paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The comparisons between the two dresses showcase the influence of Princess Margaret's wedding gown, which has continued to inspire royal brides even decades later. The timeless and elegant design of both dresses, each reflecting the style of their respective eras, have left a lasting impact on fashion history.
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The dress was an act of royal rebellion
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an elegant, simple white gown, designed by Givenchy's artistic director, Clare Waight Keller. 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 design was a surprise to many, an unexpected choice for a royal wedding, and has been hailed as an act of royal rebellion.
The choice of designer was an important aspect of the dress's rebellious nature. Waight Keller, as the first female artistic director at Givenchy, represented a break from the traditional choices of royal brides. The design of the dress itself also challenged royal norms. The gown's sleek lines, sharp cuts, and lack of embellishments contrasted with the more ornate and embellished styles often seen in royal weddings.
The colour of the dress is also significant in understanding its rebellious nature. White wedding dresses were popularised by Queen Victoria, and while they became a tradition for royal brides, Meghan Markle's choice of a white gown was unexpected given that she was a divorcee remarrying. This broke a long-established royal tradition and challenged the norms of royal bridal fashion.
The veil, a five-metre-long silk tulle with hand-embroidered flowers, was also a statement piece. It represented the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country and included the California poppy, honouring Markle's home state, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil took longer to create than the dress and involved a meticulous process, with embroiderers spending 500 hours on its completion.
Overall, Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an act of royal rebellion in its departure from traditional royal bridal choices. From the designer to the style and colour, the dress challenged norms and created a timeless, modern look that has become one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
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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, the artistic director of Givenchy.
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 dress was described as having a "relaxed" and timeless minimal elegance."
