George Boyle
Stella McCartney is a British fashion designer and the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles. She designed the second wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, for her wedding reception with Prince Harry in 2018. The dress was an optic white halter-neck gown with an open back. Markle's choice of McCartney was in line with her support for British designers—specifically female designers. Following the royal wedding, McCartney launched her first bridal collection, “Made with Love”, which included 17 pieces embodying her modern, relaxed, and sexy aesthetic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Stella McCartney |
| Dress | Silky, slinky, halter, open back, optic white, halter-neck gown |
| Bride | Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex |
| Groom | Prince Harry |
| Date | May 19, 2018 |
| Venue | Windsor Castle |
| Other dresses designed | Rihanna's two-piece gown for the 2014 Met Gala, Karlie Kloss' 2017 caped Oscars dress, Isla Fisher's 2016 Baftas dress, Kate Hudson's one-shoulder 2017 Met Gala gown |
| Collection | "Made with Love" |
| Number of pieces in the collection | 17 |
| Pieces in the collection | Elegant white gown with a cape, long-sleeved backless number, cream lace jumpsuit, crisp white tuxedo |
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What You'll Learn
Meghan Markle's second wedding dress
Meghan Markle wore two dresses on her wedding day. The first, a sleek boatneck gown, was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The second, a less formal gown, was designed by Stella McCartney.
Markle's choice of McCartney was not entirely unexpected. The Duchess of Sussex had worn McCartney's designs before and the two shared a close relationship. The designer, who is known for her sexy white gown silhouettes, is also a firm favourite with the royals in Britain. McCartney is the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles and the late photographer, Linda McCartney. Her parents' vegetarian and environmental beliefs influenced the brand ethos of her fashion house.
McCartney described creating Markle's dress as a "humbling" experience. She said:
> I am so proud and honoured to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design. It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career and I am so proud of all the team on this stunning sunny royal day.
McCartney's dress for Markle was an optic white, sexy, silky, slinky, halter-neck gown with an open back. It featured a high halter neckline, which Markle paired with one of her signature piece-y updos. The dress generated frenzied interest from the public. In response, McCartney created an exclusive limited-edition iteration of the gown, which launched in June 2018 to celebrate the opening of her new London store. The gown was also included in McCartney's first bridal collection, "Made with Love", which was released in November 2018.
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McCartney's first bridal collection
Stella McCartney's first bridal collection, "'Made with Love'", was launched in November 2018, six months after she designed Meghan Markle's second wedding dress. The collection includes 17 pieces, featuring seven wedding dresses, an embroidered lace jumpsuit (available in both white and red), a cream lace jumpsuit, a white tuxedo, an ivory tuxedo, and a long-sleeved, backless number. The collection embodies McCartney's modern, relaxed, and sexy aesthetic, with clean-lined and unfussy looks.
McCartney described the collection as "something I feel very passionately about and is very close to my heart". She added that "in this day and age, the wedding day is something very different to how it’s traditionally perceived, and I think that the house of Stella McCartney really represents something a little more effortless".
The designer is known for her sexy white gown silhouettes, and her bridal collection reflects this with minimalist gowns and sleek, modern styles. McCartney also emphasised the sustainability of the collection, noting that "it was important to me to embody the core values of our house, so the collection has elements of sustainability as well". The collection is made primarily with luxe viscose, a traceable fabric sourced from certified forests in Sweden.
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McCartney's design inspiration
McCartney's first bridal collection, "Made with Love", includes 17 pieces that embody her signature energy and charm while also incorporating elements of sustainability. The collection features a variety of silhouettes, including gowns, jumpsuits, and tuxedos, that cater to different types of brides. McCartney adds a personal touch to each design, placing a blue tag inside each garment with a special message for the bride.
The designer's entry into the world of bridal fashion began with Meghan Markle's choice of her sleek, casual, and less formal second wedding dress. Markle's support for British female designers, combined with McCartney's modern and sustainable designs, created a frenzy for the dress and established McCartney as a leader in the bridal market.
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Markle's relationship with McCartney
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, chose British designer Stella McCartney to create her second wedding dress. Markle and McCartney had a friendship before the wedding, with the Duchess wearing other pieces by McCartney.
McCartney said of the Duchess: "I think Meghan chose me for reasons other than just a beautiful dress – plenty of people can do that. She is not a difficult client to make look beautiful. Amal called me and asked me to do it, as did Oprah. I look at that Amal dress, and it is made of sustainable viscose that took us three years to develop. And I think, obviously I am a British designer, but I think being a woman and being a women's woman played a part. They are all women's women. It's a big deal."
The designer also said: "I was honoured and I still am." She added that she wanted the gown to reflect who Meghan is as a person: "The role that she's taken on is very austere, it's very serious and I think there's a great weight that she has acquired through that and she takes it very seriously. It was the last moment that she could reflect sort of the other side to her... the joy and the human within her."
Markle and McCartney's friendship has continued after the wedding, with the Duchess wearing a McCartney-designed black coat to Wales in January 2018, and a £1,512 dress to the Royal Albert Hall in April 2018.
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Markle's support for British designers
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been praised for her eclectic and down-to-earth wardrobe, which has included designs by British designers. Markle has been credited with the "'Meghan effect", driving consumer purchases and boosting sales for the brands she wears. Notably, Markle has supported British designers through her fashion choices, despite criticism that she has worn fewer British labels than other members of the Royal Family.
Markle has worn designs by British brands such as Barbour, a favourite of the Queen, and Canadian-British designer Erdem Moralioglu. Markle has also been known to wear British designer Amanda Wakeley and has supported up-and-coming British labels like Grace Wales Bonner, a rising star of British fashion. Markle's wedding dresses were also designed by British designers. She wore a custom Givenchy gown by the label's Creative Director, Clare Waight Keller, and a second, less formal halter-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney.
Markle has also contributed to and guest-edited the September 2019 issue of British Vogue, highlighting the works of 15 women from different areas, who were described as "Forces for Change". The issue became the fastest-selling in the history of British Vogue, showcasing Markle's ability to shine a spotlight on the brands and causes she supports.
While Markle has been criticised for not wearing enough British designers, her fashion choices have had a significant impact on the industry. The "Meghan effect" has benefited British designers and fashion houses, demonstrating her support for and influence on British fashion.
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Frequently asked questions
Stella McCartney designed Meghan Markle's second wedding dress for her evening reception at Frogmore House, Windsor.
The dress was an optic white halter-neck gown with an open back and a slim silhouette.
Yes, in 2011, Stella McCartney designed a wedding dress for her new stepmother Nancy Shevell for her wedding to Sir Paul McCartney. She also designed Madonna's wedding dress for her wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000.
