George Boyle
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, a French fashion house. Markle's choice of designer was a surprise to many, as she had been expected to wear a dress by Ralph & Russo, Erdem, or another British designer. Markle chose Waight Keller because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Designer's brand | Givenchy |
| Designer's nationality | British |
| Dress style | Simple, structural, double-bonded silk cady haute couture gown |
| Veil | Embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth |
| Second dress designer | Stella McCartney |
| Second dress style | Halter-neck sheath gown |
| Second dress designer's nationality | British |
| Reason for not choosing an American designer | Markle chose a British designer to highlight the success of a leading British talent |
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What You'll Learn
- Markle chose a British designer, Clare Waight Keller, for her wedding dress
- Waight Keller is the first female artistic director of Givenchy, a French fashion house
- Waight Keller was chosen to highlight her success as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses
- The dress was made in Paris, with Waight Keller and Markle meeting for eight fittings
- Markle's wedding dress was compared to those of Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales
Markle chose a British designer, Clare Waight Keller, for her wedding dress
Waight Keller worked closely with Markle on the design, which epitomized a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop the perfect fabric for the dress, which took 3,900 hours to create. The veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth.
While there was much speculation about who would design Markle's wedding dress, with names like Ralph & Russo, Erdem, and Alexander McQueen thrown around as contenders, the choice of Waight Keller came as a surprise to many. It is worth noting that Markle chose a British designer for her wedding dress, while her second dress of the day, worn to the evening reception, was designed by Stella McCartney, an American-British designer.
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Waight Keller is the first female artistic director of Givenchy, a French fashion house
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of Givenchy, a French fashion house. Markle's decision to choose Waight Keller was influenced by the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". Waight Keller's design for Markle's wedding dress featured a simple, structural silhouette with a 16-foot-long train and a triple-silk organza underskirt. The fabric used was a double-bonded silk cady, sourced from fabric mills across Europe, which gave the gown a soft matte yet luminous effect.
Waight Keller's role as the first female artistic director of Givenchy is significant as it highlights her success as a leading British talent in the fashion industry. She has also served as the creative head of other globally influential fashion houses, including Pringle of Scotland and Chloé. By choosing Waight Keller, Markle wanted to showcase and celebrate the achievements of a talented female designer.
While there was speculation that Markle might choose an American designer for her wedding dress, she ultimately opted for Waight Keller and Givenchy. Markle's choice demonstrated her desire to innovate and depart from traditional royal wedding styles. She wanted her wedding dress to reflect her own personal style and make a unique fashion statement.
Although Markle did not select an American designer for her wedding dress, she did wear an American designer, Stella McCartney, for her evening reception gown. McCartney's design, a halter-neck sheath gown, aligned with Markle's aesthetic and modern style.
Markle's wedding dress and her choice of designer, Waight Keller, have left a lasting impact on bridal fashion. The dress's timeless elegance and unique details continue to inspire brides-to-be and fashion designers alike. Waight Keller's artistic direction at Givenchy further solidified her place as a prominent figure in the industry.
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Waight Keller was chosen to highlight her success as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy and the first woman to hold the role. Markle chose Waight Keller to highlight her success as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy. Markle's choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer was a departure from the usual royal wedding style.
Waight Keller's design for Markle's wedding dress epitomised a timeless minimal elegance, with a graceful, luminous effect. The dress featured six meticulously placed seams that constructed the gown's contoured silhouette, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The fabric was a double-bonded silk cady, sourced from mills across Europe, and the veil was embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth.
Waight Keller's design stood out for its simplicity and elegance, differing from the volume and ruffles of Princess Diana's dress by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and the lace of Kate Middleton's gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Markle's choice of Waight Keller as the designer for her wedding dress highlighted Waight Keller's success and influence in the fashion industry.
While there was speculation that Markle would choose an American designer for her second wedding dress, she ultimately selected a design by Stella McCartney, a British designer. McCartney's design, a halter-neck sheath gown, aligned with Markle's aesthetic and modern style.
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The dress was made in Paris, with Waight Keller and Markle meeting for eight fittings
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris, with Waight Keller and Markle meeting for eight fittings. The designer scoured fabric mills across Europe to develop a double-bonded silk cady for a soft matte, but gracefully luminous effect. The gown's contoured silhouette was constructed with six meticulously placed seams, culminating in a majestic 16-foot-long train. The veil, which took longer to create than the dress itself, was hand-embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Markle's home state of California and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.
Waight Keller was chosen by Markle because she wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who had served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses: Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and Givenchy. Markle admired Waight Keller's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The designer described Markle as a strong woman who knows exactly what she wants, and the two first met in January to plan the dress for the May 19 ceremony.
Markle's wedding dress received mixed reviews from the public, with some praising its beauty and elegance, while others criticised its fit and finish. However, the dress stood out by departing from the usual royal wedding style, reflecting Markle's desire for a modern, elegant, timeless, and appropriate gown.
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Markle's wedding dress was compared to those of Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy. The dress featured a 16-foot-long train and a veil embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth. Markle's choice of a contemporary fashion house and a British woman designer was compared to that of her sister-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who wore a lace wedding dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Markle's dress was also compared to Princess Diana's gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, which featured volume and ruffles. While Diana's dress was described as making a "solid fashion statement," Markle's dress stood out for departing from the usual royal wedding style. Some media outlets noted similarities between Markle's dress and those worn by Princess Angela of Liechtenstein in 2000 and Mary Donaldson at her wedding to the Crown Prince of Denmark in 2004.
Although there was speculation that Markle might choose an American designer, she ultimately opted for a British designer. This decision may have been influenced by her desire to highlight the success of a leading British talent, as Waight Keller had served as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses. Additionally, Waight Keller's elegant aesthetic and relaxed demeanour aligned with Markle's vision for her wedding dress.
In contrast to Markle's choice of a single designer, Princess Diana had a backup gown designed by a different designer on standby for her wedding. This may have contributed to the differences in style and the media's comparison between the two dresses.
While Markle's wedding dress was compared to those of Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales, each dress reflected the personal style and vision of the bride. Markle's dress, in particular, captured the new journey that she and Prince Harry were embarking on as a couple.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle chose British designer Clare Waight Keller to design her wedding dress. Markle wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has served as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses.
Clare Waight Keller is the first female artistic director of the French fashion house Givenchy. She previously worked at Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and Chloe.
Yes, the veil included the California poppy, in honour of Markle's home state of California.
Yes, Meghan Markle changed into a halter-neck sheath gown designed by Stella McCartney, a quintessential British-American designer, for the reception.
