Rhiannon Hendricks
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is said to have cost approximately \$265,000. The Duchess of Sussex's gown, which featured a bateau neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, was a departure from traditional royal wedding dresses with its minimalist and contemporary design. The dress, which took 3,900 hours to design, included a 16-foot-long train and a triple-silk organza underskirt. Markle's veil, embroidered with flowers representing the Commonwealth, also included a piece of the blue dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Fashion House | Givenchy |
| Cost | $265,000, paid for by Markle herself |
| Time Taken | 3,900 hours for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team |
| Inspiration | Audrey Hepburn's dress in the 1957 movie Funny Face, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress |
| Fabric | Double-bonded silk cady, triple-silk organza underskirt |
| Style | Simple, no lace, embroidery, or decorations; off-the-shoulder neckline; three-quarter-length sleeves; 16-foot-long train |
| Number of Dresses | Two, including a Stella McCartney number for the evening celebrations |
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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 first female artistic director of Givenchy. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent and admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers and required 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of clandestine collaboration between the bride and the designer.
The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a pure white sheen and a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect. It featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a 16-foot-long train made of triple silk organza. The design was noted for its simplicity, with no lace, embellishments, or embroidered details, and was said to convey "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts".
The veil, which was 25 feet long, was embroidered with flowers representing the distinctive flora of each of 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. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress that Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
The dress is estimated to have cost around $265,000 (or £110,000-£120,000), which was paid for by Markle herself.
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The cost of the dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is estimated to have cost $265,000. The Duchess of Sussex paid for the dress herself.
The design process for the dress and veil took 3,900 hours, with eight fittings and five months of clandestine communication between Markle and the design team. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. The fabric was double-bonded silk cady, chosen for a soft matte, but gracefully luminous effect. Six seams construct the gown's contoured silhouette, which culminates in a 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt. The off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves were contemporary and progressive, while still respecting tradition.
The dress was simple and minimalist, a departure from the usual royal wedding style, with no lace, embroidery, or other decorations. Markle's choice of designer was also a break from tradition, as she selected a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn, particularly Hubert de Givenchy's bateau-neck wedding dress for the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle also took inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's 1996 wedding dress, which was known for its simplicity.
The dress has been described as "timeless minimal elegance" by Kensington Palace and as making a "solid fashion statement" by Elizabeth Emanuel, co-designer of Princess Diana's wedding gown.
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The dress's design and style
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was made of pure white double-bonded silk cady with a soft matte finish and a graceful luminosity. It featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline. The gown's contoured silhouette culminated in a majestic 16-foot-long train, enhanced by a triple-silk organza underskirt. The dress was designed to convey a sense of modernity, with sleek lines and sharp cuts, while paying homage to the history of the Givenchy fashion house.
The design process for the dress involved 3,900 hours of work, including eight fittings and five months of clandestine collaboration between Markle and the design team. The dress was inspired by Markle's personal style, with references to Old Hollywood, such as Audrey Hepburn's bateau-neck wedding dress in the 1957 film Funny Face. Markle also drew inspiration from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who wore a simple and surprising wedding gown in 1996.
The dress stood out from traditional royal wedding styles, notably departing from the use of lace, embroidery, and other decorations. Its minimalist design reflected American fashion sensibilities, which are often characterised by practicality and a lack of adornment. The gown's simplicity and modernity made it a unique statement on the royal wedding stage.
The veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, along with the California poppy and wintersweet, added a meaningful touch to the ensemble. The veil also included a piece of the blue dress Markle wore on her first date with Prince Harry.
For the evening celebrations, Markle changed into a more modern halter-neck dress by Stella McCartney, which was also complemented by custom Aquazurra shoes.
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The dress's influence on trends
Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, is said to have cost approximately $265,000. The Duchess of Sussex's pure white gown featured a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a 16-foot-long train. The dress was a departure from traditional royal wedding styles, with its minimalist design and lack of lace, embroidery, or other decorations.
The dress sparked several trends and inspired many brides-to-be. Its sleek silhouette and unusual neckline were a refreshing change from the lace wedding dresses that were popular at the time. Markle's dress stood out for its simplicity and elegance, reflecting American fashion's more practical and less adorned aesthetic. The bateau neckline, in particular, gained popularity, with many brides opting for this style to replicate Markle's look. The designer, Waight Keller, scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a unique double-bonded silk cady fabric for the dress, which resulted in a soft matte yet luminous effect that many brides sought to emulate.
The choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer also influenced trends, with brides opting for more modern and progressive designs while still respecting tradition. Markle's decision to wear a British designer also promoted sustainability and eco-friendly fashion, as Stella McCartney, the designer of her second dress, is known for. The off-the-shoulder neckline of Markle's dress also became a popular trend, with many brides opting for this style to showcase their shoulders and create a sophisticated silhouette. Additionally, the demand for satin wedding dresses increased, with many brides inspired by the sleek and elegant look of Markle's custom silk satin pumps.
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Meghan Markle's second wedding dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a show-stopping, pure white Givenchy gown, designed by Clare Waight Keller, which reportedly cost $265,000. The Duchess of Sussex opted for not one but two dresses on her wedding day. Markle's second wedding dress was a halter-neck design by Stella McCartney, which she wore for the evening celebrations.
The Duchess of Sussex's first dress was a sleek, modern, and minimalist creation. It featured an open neckline, a small, rounded, neat shoulder, and a sculptural silhouette. The dress had a majestic 16-foot-long train, intensified with a triple-silk organza underskirt. The near-off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves felt contemporary and progressive, while still respecting tradition. The dress was designed to represent Markle's spirit, modernity, freshness, and cleanness. The fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, which gave it a soft matte but gracefully luminous effect.
The second dress, worn by Markle for her wedding reception, was a halter-neck design by Stella McCartney. This dress was more modern than the first, with a deeper neckline, backless silhouette, and no sleeves. It was sexy, glamorous, and elegant—a modern bombshell look. The dress was so popular that it became one of the most-liked photos on Instagram. McCartney released two versions of the halter-neck design worn by Meghan, which were available to buy for £3,500.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is estimated to have cost \$265,000.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was made of double-bonded silk with a triple silk organza underskirt.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was a simple, white gown with a bateau neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a 16-foot-long train. The dress was described as having a "timeless minimal elegance".
The cost of Meghan Markle's wedding dress is significantly lower than other royal wedding dresses. Queen Letizia's wedding dress, for example, cost a whopping $8 million.
