George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. 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 estimated to cost around $265,000, and the designer revealed that it was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The dress has been compared to those worn by other royals and it is speculated that the dress was given to charity after the wedding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding Date | 19 May 2018 |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Fashion House | Givenchy |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk |
| Colour | White |
| Neckline | Boat/Bateau |
| Sleeves | Three-quarter length |
| Veil | 16-foot silk tulle with flowers embroidered |
| Tiara | Art deco diamond |
| Train | 16-foot triple silk organza |
| Cost | $265,000 |
| Time Taken | 3,900 hours for veil, 8 fittings, 5 months of collaboration |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy |
| Second Dress | Stella McCartney |
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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 and the first woman to hold the role. Markle chose Keller because she admired her elegant aesthetic and wanted to highlight the success of a leading British designer.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The veil was made of silk tulle, and the train was five meters long. The dress was widely praised for its simplicity and elegance, with many fashion experts calling it a modern classic. It was also seen as a nod to Markle's modern sensibilities and her desire to make a statement with her fashion choices.
Keller worked closely with Markle to create a dress that was simple yet regal, with a focus on the fabric and the cut. The design sought to convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, and there were eight fittings.
The choice of designer was kept a closely guarded secret, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been selected. The design of the dress and the name of its maker were only revealed when the bride arrived at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding ceremony.
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The dress's design and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of double-bonded silk with three-quarter-length sleeves, an open bateau neckline, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress had a pure white sheen and was designed with sleek lines and sharp cuts to convey a sense of modernity while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The design was also influenced by Markle's admiration for Audrey Hepburn, particularly the iconic off-the-shoulder neckline of the Hubert de Givenchy dress Hepburn wore in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle also cited Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy as an inspiration for the dress's simplicity.
The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers in just five months, with Markle and Waight Keller meeting for eight fittings. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop the perfect fabric for the dress, a double-bonded silk cady that would give the gown a soft matte, yet gracefully luminous effect. Six meticulously placed seams construct the gown's contoured silhouette, which culminates in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves were chosen to strike a balance between contemporary and traditional aesthetics.
The veil, which was 16 feet long, featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. The flowers represented the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, with the California poppy representing Markle's home state and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace, where she and Prince Harry lived before their marriage. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil. The veil took 3,900 hours to create and was designed with a delicate floral beauty that Waight Keller described as a "vision Meghan and I shared, a special gesture embracing the commonwealth flora."
Markle's wedding dress was notable for its simplicity and elegance, departing from the usual royal wedding style of opulent lace and crystal embellishments. The dress's minimalist design reflected American fashion, which is often more practical and less adorned than European fashions. The Duchess of Sussex's choice to wear a simple, elegant gown set trends for years to come and became one of the most celebrated royal fashion moments in history.
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The dress's cost and creation
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. It featured a pure white sheen, a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was made of silk with an open boat neckline and a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. It is estimated to have cost around $265,000, paid for by the bride herself.
The design process for the dress and veil took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of collaboration between Markle and the design team. Waight Keller and Markle worked closely together to create a dress that embodied "timeless minimal elegance". They communicated through discreet texts and phone calls, with Waight Keller unable to tell anyone that she had been chosen as the designer. The dress was inspired by Markle's admiration for Audrey Hepburn, as well as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's simple and elegant wedding gown.
The veil featured a delicate floral design, with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy 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. The veil was five metres long and made of silk tulle, with hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza.
Markle's wedding dress broke with royal wedding fashion trends, as it did not include lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. Instead, the dress emphasised sleek lines and sharp cuts, paying homage to the history of the Givenchy house. The simple design also allowed Markle to choose a more intricate veil, adding a unique touch to her bridal ensemble.
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The veil's design and significance
The veil of Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy and the first woman to hold this position. The veil was five metres long and made of silk tulle. It featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, which took 3,900 hours to create. The veil's floral design included the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California, and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The flowers represented the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, reflecting the couple's interest in the Commonwealth's work.
The veil also included a piece of the blue dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry. The veil's delicate floral beauty and intricate embroidery contrasted with the simplicity of the dress itself, which was notable for its lack of lace, embellishments, or other decorations.
The veil and dress were designed in collaboration with Markle, who paid for the ensemble herself. The veil took five months to manufacture, and Markle and Waight Keller met for eight fittings. The dress's pure white sheen and sleek lines were intended to evoke modernity, while the veil's floral design celebrated the Commonwealth.
The veil was first revealed when Markle stepped out of the car at St George's Chapel, before joining King Charles to walk down the aisle. The veil was 25 feet long and lined with lace, complementing the simple design of the dress. The veil's length and intricate embroidery made a fashion statement and became one of the most iconic celebrity wedding ensembles of all time.
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The dress's reception and comparisons
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. 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 dress was estimated to cost around $265,000, and the bride paid for it herself. It took 3,900 hours to design the veil, with eight fittings and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.
The dress was simple and minimalist, without any lace, embellishments, or embroidered details. This was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses, which tend to be more ornate and embellished. Markle's dress was compared to those worn by other royal brides, such as Angela Brown, Mary Donaldson, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. It was also said to be similar to a Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film *Funny Face* and a dress worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
For her reception, Markle wore a second dress, a Stella McCartney high-neck, halter-neck sheath gown. This dress brought a modern touch to traditional royal aesthetics and was designed by a British designer known for eco-friendly and sustainable fashion. This aligned with Markle's aesthetic and philanthropic endeavours as the Duchess of Sussex.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
The dress was pure white with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The dress was made of silk with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost $265,000.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's dress in the 1957 film Funny Face. It was also inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress, which was known for its simplicity.
It is unknown what happened to Meghan Markle's wedding dress. One source speculates that it was hopefully given to charity.
