Junior Rasmussen
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The Duchess of Sussex's gown was simple and elegant, with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The dress defied royal wedding fashion trends, as it did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. Markle's veil was topped with Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth. The silk and organza veil took hundreds of hours to sew, and included a piece of blue fabric from the dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy |
| Tiara | Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth |
| Veil | 25-foot, silk and organza, with a "something blue" detail |
| Style | Simple, minimal, elegant, timeless, demure |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk, silk crepe, triple silk organza |
| Neckline | Bateau |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter-length |
| Waistline | Sculpted |
| Train | Made of triple silk organza |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's wedding dress designer
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The gown was designed with a relaxed and refined sensibility, with sleek lines and sharp cuts to convey a sense of modernity while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house.
The dress was an unexpected choice, departing from previous royal looks with its simplicity and lack of lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. It drew comparisons to Audrey Hepburn's iconic Givenchy dress in the 1957 film Funny Face, as well as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding gown.
The media and public had mixed reactions to the dress, with some praising its elegance and others finding it underwhelming or too simple for a royal wedding. There were also debates about the fit of the dress, with some critics suggesting it did not fit Markle properly. However, many also admired the powerful message they felt Markle conveyed with her choice of a simple and elegant gown.
The Perfect Fit: Wedding Dress Alterations
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$24.79
Simplicity of the dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at Givenchy, for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour".
The dress was made of double-bonded silk crepe, with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. Notably, the gown did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details, which was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses. The simplicity of the dress was inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which surprised many with its understated elegance.
Markle's veil was made of silk and organza and was 25 feet long. It took hundreds of hours to sew, with workers washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine. The veil also held a special significance for Markle, as it included a piece of blue fabric stitched inside from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
The simplicity of the dress, with its clean lines and understated elegance, created a timeless and sophisticated look. The bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves gave the gown a classic and elegant silhouette. The sculpted waistline added a touch of structure and definition, while the train made of triple silk organza provided a subtle touch of drama and romance.
Overall, the simplicity of Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a refreshing departure from traditional royal wedding attire. The clean lines and understated elegance of the gown, paired with the stunning 25-foot veil, created a timeless and iconic look that has become one of the most memorable celebrity wedding ensembles of all time.
Maxi Dresses: Wedding-Appropriate or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$43.04 $51.99
The veil and tiara
One of the most notable aspects of Meghan's veil was the hidden "something blue" detail. Sewn inside the veil was a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry. This added a personal and sentimental touch to her wedding outfit, incorporating a piece of their love story into her bridal look.
Now, let's move on to the tiara. Meghan wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth. This exquisite headpiece was created in 1932, and its centrepiece is a brooch of 10 diamonds dating back to 1893. The tiara features a band of 11 sections of diamonds and platinum, making it a truly dazzling and royal accessory.
The diamond bandeau was specifically designed to accommodate the centre brooch, which was originally given as a present to Princess Mary in 1893 by the County of Lincoln upon her marriage to Prince George, the Duke of York. The tiara and brooch were later bequeathed by Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
The combination of the veil and tiara created a stunning bridal look, adding a touch of royalty and elegance to Meghan's wedding ensemble. The veil's length and simplicity complemented the grandeur of the tiara, resulting in a harmonious blend of modern and traditional elements.
The Second Wedding Dress Code: What to Wear
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$27.19
$31.99 $39.99
$28.79 $30.59
The hidden something blue
The hidden "something blue"
The royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018 was a worldwide phenomenon, with over 2 billion viewers. One of the most anticipated elements was Meghan's wedding dress. The Duchess of Sussex wore a simple silk gown with a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was a departure from previous royal looks, which have tended towards more voluminous and embellished designs.
The silk and organza wedding veil took hundreds of hours to sew, and workers had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine. The veil also held a hidden significance for Markle: a subtle "something blue". The blue fabric stitched inside the veil came from the dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
In the documentary "Queen of the World", Markle explains: "Did you see it? The piece of blue fabric that’s stitched inside... It’s my something blue. It’s fabric from the dress that I wore on our first date." The "something blue" tradition is a part of the English rhyme "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", which represents a set of good luck tokens for the bride to have on her wedding day.
The designer of the dress, Clare Waight Keller, was chosen by Markle because of her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour". Keller, who became the first female Artistic Director at Givenchy, described the experience of working with the bride as "very collaborative".
Dressing for a Wedding: A Guide for Guys
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Comparisons to previous royal wedding dresses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. The Duchess of Sussex and Ms. Waight Keller worked closely together on the design, which epitomised a timeless minimal elegance. The dress featured a boat neckline, three-quarter sleeves, and a slim-cut, pure white coat.
Markle's dress was notably different from previous royal wedding dresses, which tended to be more voluminous and ornate. For example, Princess Diana's wedding dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was a voluminous and iconic design. Similarly, Kate Middleton's wedding dress, designed by Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton, was made of satin and lace.
Some media outlets noted similarities between Markle's dress and those worn by Angela Brown at her wedding to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004. Markle's dress was also compared to her first wedding dress from her previous marriage to producer Trevor Engelson, which was a strapless white dress with a sparkling waist embellishment.
In contrast to these more traditional gowns, Markle's dress was praised for its simplicity and elegance. Elizabeth Emanuel, who co-designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, commented that the gown made a "really solid fashion statement" and that Waight Keller "should be pleased because Meghan looked absolutely stunning and beautiful."
In addition to the dress, Markle's veil and tiara also garnered attention. The silk and organza veil took hundreds of hours to sew, and workers had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth and featured a hidden "something blue"—a piece of blue fabric stitched inside that came from the dress Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry. The tiara was the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth.
Transforming Wedding Dresses: From Distress to Divine
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
The dress was simple and elegant, a departure from previous royal wedding dresses. It was made of double-bonded silk with a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline.
Meghan's 25-foot veil was made of silk and organza and took hundreds of hours to sew. It included a piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
Meghan wore Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which was on loan from Queen Elizabeth. The tiara was made in 1932 and features a centre brooch of 10 diamonds dating back to 1893.
The dress was widely praised for its timeless and elegant aesthetic. It was a surprise to many as it did not follow traditional royal wedding dress codes.
