Everything You Need to Know About Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress
After months of predictions and utter excitement, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress has finally been revealed! Here’s exactly what the Duchess of Sussex wore to her royal wedding.
If you’re dying to know the details about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress, we’ve got you covered. This past weekend the world tuned in to watch Meghan Markle marry Prince Harry at the historic Windsor Castle, and it was absolutely swoon-worthy. Not only were we fighting back tears as we watched Prince Harry mouth “you look amazing” to Markle as they exchanged vows, but the whole ceremony took our breath away — especially when it comes to Meghan Markle’s wedding dress. From the form-fitting silhouette to the modern and clean lines, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress made a powerful statement and will be influencing future bridal designs for years to come.
Here is everything you need to know about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress.
In the days leading up to the royal wedding, the identity of who would design Meghan Markle’s wedding dress remained a mystery and heavily kept secret. Would she choose a British designer or would she pick an American? Everyone in the fashion world was surprised to hear that Markle opted for a French fashion house to design her dress. Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller was chosen to construct the gorgeous royal gown, which was actually a wise choice by Markle. Waight Keller, (while being the label’s artistic director), is in fact an acclaimed British designer. Her designs are known for evoking a timeless look with sharp and clean tailoring that totally fit Markle’s chic and minimalist style.
The simplicity of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress spoke volumes at the royal wedding. It was different than the glamorous red carpet looks she’s worn in the past and it didn’t scream “fairytale princess”. Instead, the gown was clean, modern and totally let Markle shine. Viewers (and guests) weren’t distracted by heavy embellishments and lace, instead Meghan Markle’s wedding dress wowed in an understated way. The design highlighted her figure with help of six strategically placed seams and also drew attention to her shoulders with a subtle bateau neckline. This let us give our full attention to the bride, rather than just focusing on the dress.
Again, rather than sticking to a princess-inspired silhouette like a ball gown or A-line Markle opted for a different approach with her royal gown. She chose a less dramatic fit-n-flare style which helped show off her figure. The wedding dress didn’t totally cling to her curves, but did put some emphasis on her waist. This form-fitting silhouette choice gave her whole look a feminine touch that didn’t feel overwhelming, but instead resembled Markle’s everyday style.
To balance out the modern figure-hugging silhouette, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress featured a more modest neckline. She chose a bateau neckline, inspired by Audrey Hepburn, which allowed for some attention to be drawn to her shoulders. The bateau neckline ran horizontally along Markle’s collarbone and evoked an Old Hollywood style that also suits her Los Angeles hometown.
When Kate Middleton married Prince William, every bride was dying to replicate her gorgeous illusion lace sleeves. So, it’ll be no surprise that 2019 brides-to-be will want to wear some kind of three-quarter sleeve on their wedding day. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was accessorized with slim sleeves, which added to her modern bridal look. This sleeve option even allowed for her to add some sparkle to her wrist, which she opted for a simple diamond bracelet.
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress definitely veered in a different direction than Kate and Pippa when it comes to fabric choice and embellishments. Instead of wearing a gown covered in delicate lace (like Kate Middleton’s ornate lace gown), Markle went with a subdued and unadorned approach. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress avoided over-the-top details by featuring clean silk fabric — letting her stay true to her relaxed Cali-girl style.
Markle’s veil, in fact, was the most royal aspect of her wedding-day look. She kept with tradition and donned a wow-worthy veil that was over 16 feet long. Made from silk tulle, the veil even payed homage to all of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, upon Markle’s request. Markle worked with her designer, Waight Keller, to incorporate the flower of each country into the veil as a way to express her gratitude to the community. She even included the state flower of California, the poppy, to symbolize her California roots. The flowers were all hand-embroidered along the veil creating a floral composition that was both beautiful and sentimental.
