For her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle chose an extremely essential, understated, and elegant style, wearing a minimalist gown with simple, clean lines and no frills. No plunging necklines or sheer details, no flashy embellishments, lace, crystals, or other dazzling details. Pure white was the chosen color. On Saturday, May 18, 2018, Meghan walked down the aisle in a dress with a long train, three-quarter sleeves, a bateau neckline, and a cinched waist that flared out at the skirt. On her head, a diamond-covered tiara and a long veil with floral embroidery on the edges.
Givenchy designs Meghan Markle's wedding dress
Against all odds, the bride chose to entrust her wedding look to British designer Clare Waight Keller, renowned in the fashion world for having been the Creative Director of renowned brands such as Chloé and Pringle of Scotland, and especially for having recently taken the helm of Maison Givenchy, replacing Riccardo Tisci, who had directed the French brand for over 10 years. Bookmakers reported that the bride would have chosen a dress by the Australian design duo Ralph & Russo, who had designed Meghan's look for the official announcement of her engagement to Harry. The name of the brand Erdem, famous for its floral-print dresses and much loved by Markle, was later rumored. An official announcement from the royal family revealed that the dress was designed by Keller and revealed all the details of the wedding look.
Meghan Markle Chooses White: All the Details of Her Wedding Dress
Meghan Markle met Clare Waight Keller in 2018, after she was appointed Creative Director of Givenchy. After falling in love with Keller's minimalist and elegant style, modern yet never extreme, Meghan wanted to entrust her style to the British designer. She worked with her to choose all the details of her wedding dress, a long, semi-off-the-shoulder design with a bateau neckline and three-quarter sleeves, a fitted bodice that accentuates the waist, and a full, padded skirt with a triple silk organza petticoat.
Before choosing the fabric for the wedding dress, the designer conducted extensive research at fabric mills throughout Europe, then had a double-layered silk cady in pure white created specifically for the occasion. This lustrous yet opaque fabric, stiff and structured, creates a sculptural silhouette that emphasizes the waist. It was Meghan who chose optical white, thus breaking the rule that usually requires a second-marriage bride to wear a dress that isn't pure white but a darker shade. The dress is an exclusive creation made specifically for the occasion, and the brand that created it cannot reproduce it, much less market it. Queen Elizabeth II paid for the bride's dress.
