Royal Wedding 2018: All About the Dress

We’re all still swooning over the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now known as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and seeing Meghan Markle’s wedding dress is what the fashion world has been waiting for since their engagement was announced back in November. Meghan Markle was absolutely breathtaking as she emerged from the vintage Rolls Royce Phantom IV car – the Queen’s first Rolls Royce – wearing an elegant white wedding dress.

Look #1 – Ceremony

Markle’s pure white, silk cady dress, which was created by British designer, Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, featured an open bateau neckline which gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasizes the slender sculpted waist. The three quarter sleeves gives the dress a refined modern chic look. The dress made new Duchess look nothing less than a fairy-tale princess, giving us a Audrey Hepburn + Grace Kelly vibe.  She wore Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by Queen Elizabeth, complete with a flower-outlined veil that measured at five meters long. The actual tiara, which features a diamond bandeau, was crafted in 1932. She completed the Duchess of Sussex’s simple yet elegant dress with matching pointed-toe pumps made from white silk duchess satin.

The Designer: Givenchy

Luxury French fashion brand Givenchy is the designer of choice for Meghan Markle’s wedding dress. After meeting Keller in early 2018, Meghan Markle chose to work with her for the “timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour.” Meghan also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloe and now Givenchy.

Synonymous with style and grace, the fashion label is adored by the most exclusive A list celebrities; from the late Audrey Hepburn to Kim Kardashian-West. The brand is known for designing the most incredible haute couture wedding gowns, which embody modern day romance with sleek styles. The chic designs always have a classic edge – which completely personifies the Meghan’s personal taste.



Look #2 – Reception

Unlike the first gown, the duchess’s reception dress was fusing both glamour and seduction; while still landing on the right side of appropriate.  The Duchess wowed us on Saturday evening in her second wedding dress, designed by Stella McCartney. The stunning bespoke lily white high-neck gown is made of silk crepe and it showed off her incredible figure, giving her a wonderful silhouette. The glamorous gown was the perfect choice for the wedding reception as it’s less restrictive, allowing her to move around easier and greet her guests. Meghan wore shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue. Meghan surprised everyone in the stunning design and she worked with the designer to create a beautiful dress that will be remembered in many years to come.

The Designer: Stella McCartney

The dress was the second look by a female British designer worn by the duchess on her wedding day. Like Clare Waight Keller, who made the first wedding gown, Ms. McCartney is pretty much a peer of the duchess, and both designers are working women who have carved their own paths in the fashion industry, and made their own choices.  According to Ms. McCartney, being chosen to “represent British design” was “one of the most humbling moments of my career.”

The Accessories

To complement her beautiful tiara, Meghan kept the rest of her jewelry simple, opting for a pair of diamond stud earrings and a stunning bracelet. No necklace—the Duchess kept the boatneck of her wedding gown clean and modern.

The royal bride accessorized her beautiful updo with the Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara—Meghan’s “something borrowed” lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II. Kensington Palace states the tiara once belonged to Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II’s grandmother, and was made in 1932. But the brooch dates back to 1893. Meghan opted for a diamond as the tiara’s center stone, but other royals have donned the headpiece with a sapphire in the past.

For the second look Meghan also wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that once belonged to Harry’s mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.