George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of white silk with an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a 16-foot silk train. The gown was noted for its simplicity and lack of embellishment, marking a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses. The design process involved 3,900 hours of work, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team. The dress is estimated to have cost around $265,000, paid for by Markle herself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Fashion House | Givenchy |
| Fabric | Silk |
| Style | Simple, elegant, minimal, timeless, bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, sculpted waistline, train |
| Colour | White |
| Veil | 16-foot silk tulle veil with floral embroidery, 25-foot lace-lined veil |
| Tiara | Queen Mary's Sapphire Bandeau, borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II's collection |
| Cost | $265,000 or £100,000 |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown |
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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 artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The dress was made of white silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The gown was incredibly simple, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details, and is said to have been inspired by Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face.
Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." She also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent, as Waight Keller has served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and Waight Keller and Markle collaborated closely on the design, meeting for eight fittings over five months.
The veil, which was also designed by Waight Keller, was made from five-metre-long silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with Markle's home state of California and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry. The entire ensemble, including the dress, veil, and accessories, is estimated to have cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
Markle's choice of designer was an unexpected one, as London-based brands Ralph & Russo and Erdem were considered the favourites at the time. The simple, elegant design of the dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding gowns and was met with mixed reactions from critics. However, it is clear that Markle's wedding dress made a lasting impression, with some commenting that it was an act of royal rebellion.
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The dress's colour and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made of white silk with three-quarter-length "bracelet" sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The gown featured a sculpted waistline and fell into a 16-foot silk train. The dress was designed to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts" while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. It was an exercise in simplicity, devoid of embellishment, and crafted with precise seam work. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, with the off-the-shoulder neckline reminiscent of Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress from the 1957 movie Funny Face. Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, requiring eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The colour and style of Meghan Markle's wedding dress were notable for several reasons. Firstly, the dress was a stark departure from previous royal looks, which tended to be more elaborate and embellished. Markle's gown was incredibly simple and devoid of lace, embroidery, or other decorative details. This simplicity was in line with Markle's personal style preferences, as she had previously expressed a preference for simple wedding dress styles. Additionally, the choice of a white dress was somewhat unexpected, as Markle had been married previously, and royal brides who were not virgins traditionally married in silver or gold. However, Markle's dress was described as "too white" by Queen Elizabeth II, who allegedly disapproved of the colour for a divorced woman remarrying in church.
The dress also incorporated subtle nods to Markle's heritage and her relationship with Prince Harry. The veil 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. Additionally, a piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was stitched into the bridal veil.
Overall, the colour and style of Meghan Markle's wedding dress reflected her desire for a timeless, minimalist, and elegant design that paid homage to fashion icons while also incorporating personal touches that made the dress unique and reflective of her own style.
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The veil's design and significance
The veil that Meghan Markle wore with her wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the designer of the dress itself. The veil was 16 feet long and made of silk tulle. It took 3,900 hours to design and manufacture.
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, where she and Harry lived. Markle also included a piece of the blue dress she wore on her first date with Harry in the veil's design.
The veil was held in place by a diamond art deco tiara, loaned from the collection of Queen Elizabeth II. Markle chose this tiara, known as Queen Mary's Sapphire Bandeau, to complement the veil.
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The dress's cost and construction
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made of white silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The gown featured a sculpted waistline and was devoid of embellishments, staying true to Markle's preference for a simple and delicate design. The dress was crafted in Paris by a small team of ateliers, requiring eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The cost of the wedding dress is estimated to be approximately $265,000, which Markle paid for herself. The veil, which was equally intricate and meaningful, featured 53 embroidered flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth, along with the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil alone took 3,900 hours to design and contributed to the overall cost of the ensemble.
Markle's choice of designer was influenced by her desire to work with a female designer and her intention to embrace her new British home. She admired Waight Keller's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour, drawing inspiration from Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress in the 1957 movie "Funny Face." The dress also paid homage to the history of the Givenchy house while conveying modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts.
The Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress and veil, with their subtle and meaningful details, have become iconic and remain one of the most highly anticipated and memorable elements of her wedding to Prince Harry. The gown's simplicity and timeless elegance stood out, marking a departure from traditional royal wedding dress styles.
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Reactions to the dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made of white silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open boat neckline, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The gown was incredibly simple, devoid of embellishments or embroidered details, and featured precise seam work that created a fluted shape. The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
Some people on Twitter criticised Markle's overall styling, including her hair and veil. They expected to see Markle with her signature polished look and were disappointed when her hair fell out of place during the ceremony.
Elizabeth Emanuel, co-designer of Princess Diana's wedding gown, thought that the gown made a "solid fashion statement" and that Waight Keller should be pleased because "Meghan looked absolutely stunning and beautiful."
Markle's dress was also compared to that of the Duchess of Cambridge, who wore a look by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen that she had worn twice before, perhaps to avoid upstaging the bride.
Overall, the reactions to Meghan Markle's wedding dress were varied, with some people praising its simplicity and elegance, while others found it underwhelming and expected something more extravagant for a royal wedding.
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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 a simple, elegant design made of white silk with an open boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a long train.
Meghan Markle's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, the California poppy, and wintersweet.
Meghan Markle chose Clare Waight Keller to design her wedding dress because she wanted a female designer and admired Keller's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
