Rhiannon Hendricks
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's wedding dresses have been compared by many, with some arguing that Kate's dress was fancier and more elegant than Meghan's. Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, wore a lace Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton for her wedding to Prince William in 2011. The dress featured long lace sleeves, a v-neckline, and an epic train, and has since inspired countless wedding dresses. Meghan Markle, on the other hand, wore a white Givenchy gown designed by Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. Meghan's dress featured a boat neckline bodice, long sleeves, and a sheer cascading veil adorned with lace trim. While both dresses were stunning and reflected the brides' individual styles, some have noted that Meghan's dress was more minimal and refined, with a looser fit and a slightly less traditional design.
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What You'll Learn
- Meghan's dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
- Kate's dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
- Meghan's dress had a boat neckline, while Kate's had a V-neckline
- Kate's dress was made of French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace
- Meghan's dress was more popular according to Google searches
Meghan's dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was pure white with a bateau neckline, revealing part of the bride's shoulders. The gown was floor-length, with long sleeves and a boat neckline bodice. It was made of double-bonded silk cady and featured a five-metre-long veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 Commonwealth countries, as well as flowers from Kensington Palace and Meghan's home state of California.
The dress was designed to be a "timeless piece" that emphasised the "iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history" while also conveying "modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts". Waight Keller described Meghan's vision for the dress as wanting to create a look that would "present herself to the world", reflecting her former life as an actor and her future as a member of the royal family. The dress was widely praised for its elegant simplicity and is officially the most searched-for wedding dress of any royal bride in the world.
Waight Keller, a British designer, was the first woman to be the artistic director of Givenchy, a French fashion house. She joined in 2017 and left in 2021, moving on to become the creative director of Uniqlo. She has dressed Meghan on several occasions beyond the royal wedding, including Ascot, the trooping of the colour ceremony, and Remembrance Sunday.
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Kate's dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Burton described creating the dress as the "experience of a lifetime", and said she was "incredibly honoured" to have been asked. The designer joined Alexander McQueen's studio in 1996 as an intern, working alongside him for 12 years before his death in 2010.
The dress was an ivory lace-covered gown with a corseted bodice and a v-neckline. The design was inspired by classic Victorian styles, and the lace motifs were hand-stitched and pinned. The dress also featured a 2.7-metre train. The lace included a rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock, and was made by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. All the fabrics used in the dress were sourced from British companies.
The Duchess of Cambridge's choice of designer paid tribute to the United Kingdom through its lace embroidery and celebrated British craftsmanship. Burton also designed the bride's evening dress for the black-tie event at Buckingham Palace.
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Meghan's dress had a boat neckline, while Kate's had a V-neckline
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton's wedding dresses have been compared extensively since Meghan joined the royal family. One of the most notable differences between the two dresses is the neckline: Meghan's dress had a boat neckline, while Kate's had a V-neckline.
Meghan's dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, featured an open bateau neckline, also known as a boat neckline, with a sculpted waist and three-quarter-length sleeves. The boat neckline is considered more risqué for a royal wedding, as royal tradition typically dictates that the bride's shoulders should be covered during the ceremony. Meghan's dress also had a looser fit, revealing part of her shoulders.
On the other hand, Kate's dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, featured a V-neckline with long lace sleeves. The V-neckline kicked off a trend among brides at the time, and her overall look was described as cleaner and more traditional. Kate's dress adhered to all the royal rules, as she married the heir to the throne.
Both dresses have been widely searched and admired, with Meghan's dress being the most searched for royal wedding dress globally and Kate's coming in second. Despite the differences in necklines, both gowns were stunning and reflected the brides' individual styles and positions within the royal family.
While some commentators have criticised Meghan's dress as ill-fitting and too plain, others have praised its simple style. Ultimately, the choice of neckline and overall design of each dress reflects the unique preferences and personalities of Meghan and Kate, showcasing their distinct bridal styles.
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Kate's dress was made of French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was crafted from French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace. The designer, Sarah Burton, used these laces for the handworked appliqué detailing that featured all over the bodice and box-pleated skirt. The lace was appliquéd using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Burton's team also sewed a blue ribbon into the interior of the dress to serve as Kate's "something blue" on her wedding day.
The gown's design was inspired by classic Victorian styles and featured long lace sleeves, a V-neckline, and an epic 9-foot train. The bodice narrowed at the waist and was minimally padded at the hips, creating a clean and flowy silhouette. The skirt was designed to resemble a flower in bloom and was made of ivory and white gazar fabric. All the fabrics used, aside from the French Chantilly lace, were sourced from British companies.
The choice of lace for Kate's dress was significant. The lace embroidery paid tribute to the four countries of the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Four plant motifs, including a rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock, were hand-cut from lace and appliquéd onto ivory silk tulle. These motifs symbolised the four nations and were a subtle yet elegant way of incorporating cultural references into the dress design.
In contrast, Meghan Markle's wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, took a more minimal and refined approach. Meghan's dress featured a boat neckline bodice, long sleeves, and a sheer cascading veil adorned with lace trim. The neckline was a bit more risqué for a royal wedding, but it suited Meghan perfectly. Meghan's dress was also pure white, with a looser fit, revealing part of her shoulders.
Both dresses were stunning and reflected the personal styles and positions of the brides within the royal family. Kate's dress, with its intricate lacework and cultural nods, represented the finest of British craftsmanship. Meghan's gown, on the other hand, took a more modern and understated path, showcasing her individual take on bridal style.
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Meghan's dress was more popular according to Google searches
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was officially the most searched for, with more Google searches than any other royal bride in the world. Research looking at global monthly searches for wedding dresses from 15 of the most popular royal weddings found that Meghan's dress was the most popular. This is despite the fact that Kate Middleton's dress was also incredibly popular, with H&M designing an affordable version of it.
Meghan's dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, featured an open bateau neckline and sculpted waist. The train flowed in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a note of refined modernity. The dress was pure white with a looser fit, revealing part of the bride's shoulders. This was a break from tradition for royal weddings, where shoulders are usually covered inside the church.
Kate's dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was made of French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt. The skirt, made of ivory and white satin gazar, was designed to emulate an opening flower, with padding at the hips flowing out to the floor. The back of the dress featured 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons. The iconic dress featured long lace sleeves, a V-neckline, and an epic train.
While both dresses were stunning and inspired countless brides, it is clear that Meghan's dress was more popular according to Google searches. This may be due to the fact that Meghan took more risks with her dress, while Kate's look overall was cleaner and adhered more closely to royal rules.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan's dress was considered less fancy due to its simplicity and modern design, which some perceived as ill-fitting and plain. Meghan's choice of a boatneck neckline was also seen as more risqué and less traditional than Kate's V-neckline. Additionally, Meghan's dress may have been perceived as less fancy due to the lack of intricate details, such as the lace and buttons featured on Kate's dress.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, featured French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt, and underskirt. The skirt, made of ivory and white satin gazar, was designed to resemble an opening flower, with padding at the hips and a flowing train. Meghan Markle's dress, on the other hand, was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy and featured a simpler silhouette with a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sheer cascading veil adorned with lace trim.
According to research on global monthly Google searches, Meghan's wedding dress is the most popular royal wedding dress, followed by Kate's dress as the second most popular. However, it's important to note that Google searches may not directly translate to popularity, as people may search for various reasons.
Both dresses followed certain royal traditions and rules. Kate's dress adhered to all royal rules, as she married the heir to the throne. Traditionally, royal wedding dresses are required to cover the arms, shoulders, and cleavage. Meghan's dress, while simpler, also respected royal traditions, including the choice of a non-white shade, which was in keeping with the tradition set by Queen Victoria in 1840 and followed by Queen Elizabeth II.
