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Meghan Markle's wedding dress has been a topic of discussion since her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. The dress, designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was a simple and classic silhouette that divided opinions. Some admired its elegance and the statement it made, while others found it boring, ugly, and inappropriate for a royal wedding. There were also comparisons drawn to other royal wedding dresses and speculation about Queen Elizabeth II's alleged disapproval. Markle herself described having a clear vision for her dream dress, and her choice of designer highlighted successful British talent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Designer's affiliation | Artistic director of Givenchy |
| Veil | Embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth |
| Second dress | Stella McCartney high-neck, halter -neck sheath gown |
| Opinions | "Boring", "ugly", "unflattering", "simple and classic", "chic and modern", "minimalism gone too far", "like a handmaiden", "beautiful", "solid fashion statement", "absolutely stunning and beautiful" |
| Comparisons | Angela Brown's wedding dress in 2000, Mary Donaldson's wedding dress in 2004, Audrey Hepburn's style, Kate Middleton's dress |
| Royal rebellion | Meghan Markle's choice of a dress designed by the artistic director of a French fashion house was seen as an act of rebellion against the tradition of British royalty wearing British-made clothing |
| Betting odds | Bookmakers' favourite was British designer Stewart Parvin; betting was suspended after Alexander McQueen attracted a lot of wagers |
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What You'll Learn
The designer of the dress, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy
The designer of Meghan Markle's wedding dress, Clare Waight Keller, is a British stylist and fashion designer born in Birmingham, England, on 19 August 1970. She studied at Ravensbourne College of Art, now Ravensbourne University London, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fashion, followed by a master's degree at the Royal College of Art. She has served as the artistic director for several luxury fashion houses, including Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy.
Keller first worked at Calvin Klein in New York as a stylist for the women's ready-to-wear line, then at Ralph Lauren for the Purple Label menswear line. In 2000, she joined Gucci, working on women's ready-to-wear and accessories until 2004. She then became the artistic director of Pringle of Scotland in 2005 before moving to Paris to work as the creative director of Chloé for six years. In 2017, she joined Givenchy as its artistic director.
Keller's first couture collection for Givenchy in 2018 was critically acclaimed. She presented her first standalone menswear collection for the brand in Paris in January 2019, showcasing her vision of Givenchy menswear. She modernised Givenchy's classic designs with innovative cuts and materials, introducing structured, asymmetrical silhouettes and luxurious yet minimalist elements.
Markle chose Waight Keller to design her wedding dress because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent. She admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour." The two women have remained close friends, with Markle owning several of Waight Keller's Uniqlo pieces. In 2018, Markle presented Keller with the British Designer of the Year Womenswear Award.
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The veil, embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth
The veil worn by Meghan Markle at her wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018 was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The veil was made from silk tulle and featured a trim of hand-embroidered flowers from each of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth in threads and organza. The creators of the veil spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing the flowers, washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure the piece was immaculate.
Waight Keller stated that the idea came to her after several conversations with Meghan about the "story" she wanted to tell through her wedding. Waight Keller said, "There was a conversation early on about the story that we were going to tell through this wedding. Part of what I wanted to do was talk to her about what type of stories they could be. The fact that her and Prince Harry will be working a lot in the Commonwealth was something that I thought was really intriguing and could be something built on to be part of the day."
Markle chose Waight Keller because she "wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses — Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy." Markle also commented that she "wanted to tell a story" through her wedding dress and that she loved the idea of representing each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth through their flora and fauna. She also stated that she wanted "a single one of those countries to journey up the aisle with her", which she described as a "really poetic moment".
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The dress's simplicity and classicism
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. Markle chose Keller due to her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
The dress was a simple, classic design, with a boat neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves. The gown was made of pure white silk and featured a long train. The dress was sleek and streamlined, with minimal embellishment. It has been described as "off-the-rack" and compared to a "nightgown" or a dress from "The Handmaid's Tale".
Some people considered the dress to be ""boring, ugly, and unflattering", lacking the "shape, structure, and detail" of Kate Middleton's dress. Others, however, appreciated its simplicity and classicism, with one person saying, "It was so simple and classic. It’s like something I would wear." The dress has been described as a "solid fashion statement" and Markle was said to look "absolutely stunning and beautiful".
The dress also had symbolic details, with the bride's veil embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth. The choice of designer was also significant, with Markle wanting to highlight the success of a leading British talent.
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Comparisons to Kate Middleton's dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress sparked a lot of conversations online and in the press, with many comparing it to Kate Middleton's dress. Markle's dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy, and featured an open bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a train with a built-in triple silk organza underskirt. The dress was made of silk and had a simple, elegant, and timeless design.
On the other hand, Kate Middleton's dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, featured long lace sleeves, a v-neckline, and an impressive train. The dress was made of lace and had a more intricate and detailed design.
Some people felt that Markle's dress was too simple and boring compared to Middleton's. One person commented that Markle's dress looked like something they would wear themselves, and that it lacked the sparkle and grandeur expected of a royal wedding dress. There were also concerns that Markle's dress did not flatter her figure. It was speculated that Markle intentionally chose a simpler dress to avoid outshining Middleton's, especially given the circumstances of an American marrying into the royal family.
Others, however, defended Markle's dress choice, describing it as "stunning" and "beautiful." They appreciated the timeless minimal elegance conveyed through sleek lines and sharp cuts. Markle herself had previously expressed a preference for simple styles, and she chose Waight Keller for her elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour.
Overall, while some criticised Markle's dress for its simplicity, others recognised the beauty in its understated elegance, reflecting a modern take on royal bridal fashion.
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Queen Elizabeth's alleged disapproval
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was a boatneck gown, and the bride's veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth. Markle chose Waight Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
However, Queen Elizabeth II allegedly disapproved of the dress. According to a royal biography, the Queen thought the dress was "too white" for a divorced woman. This sentiment was echoed by Ingrid Seward, a royal editor and biographer, who wrote that the Queen thought the dress was not "appropriate" for someone who was remarrying. It has also been reported that the Queen was uncomfortable with the Prince of Wales's decision to walk Markle down the aisle, as her father was unable to attend the wedding.
Some people on Reddit also criticised Markle's wedding dress, calling it "boring", "ugly", and "unflattering". One user said that the dress lacked the "shape, structure, and details" of Kate Middleton's dress, which held meaning for the royal family and England as a nation. Another user speculated that the simplicity of Markle's dress may have been intentional, as a way to prevent her from "outshining" Kate Middleton's dress or wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
Public opinion on Meghan Markle's wedding dress was divided. Some people thought the dress was "boring, ugly, and unflattering", while others described it as "simple and classic". There were also some who compared it to the dress worn by the character in "The Handmaid's Tale".
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour".
Queen Elizabeth II allegedly made a "disapproving" comment about Meghan Markle's wedding dress during the royal wedding. However, it is not clear what her specific thoughts were about the dress.
