Meghan Markle the brand-new Duchess of Sussex stunned everyone in not one but two stunning
wedding dresses this weekend at her nuptials to Prince Harry. Clare Waight Keller, Artistic
Director at Givenchy, designed the first look worn at the ceremony in St. George's Chapel
and subsequent reception in St. George's Hall. The simple yet stunning ensemble of course
wowed the groom — "She just looked absolutely exquisite," he said — but admittedly underwhelmed
some viewers looking for more sparkle and a tighter fit.
A second glamorous look by Stella McCartney fit right in with the vibes of the second
reception at Frogmore House. While it's nearly impossible to pick a favorite, here's what
even the most devoted royal fans may have missed about these gorgeous gowns during all
of the hubbub of the big day.
Markle surprised everyone by picking the historic
French fashion house for her wedding gown instead of a British label, but the choice
clearly reflected her own simple yet chic style.
"The dress epitomizes a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House
of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier,"
the palace revealed in a statement.
Not only was the late actress a muse for Givenchy,
but she often wore similar cuts. The shoulder-framing bateau neckline and sculpted waist seen on
Markle's dress could have easily appeared on the movie stardecades ago.
The wedding dresses of Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Duchess
of Cambridge all featured elaborate beading, lace, and other details. Given its simplicity,
Markle's likely cost less than the £250,000 price tag for Kate Middleton's, but still
likely fell in the six-figure range. Waight Keller and Markle picked a pure white
double bonded silk cady to bring a "fresh modernity" to her look instead. "Perfect for
the round sculptural look required, the silk cady has a soft matt lustre," the palace revealed.
While the dress remained plain, the 16-foot-long veil did not. Markle requested that her wedding
look represent all 53 Commonwealth countries, and the elaborate embroidery on her headpiece
did the trick. Following significant research, the design team picked a distinctive flower
for each nation. Then the textile artists spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing
them in three dimensions onto the tulle. The frequent handwashing kept the threads pristine
and perfectly white.
Besides the honoring the Commonwealth, Markle
included several other important symbols as well. A California poppy pays homage to her
birthplace. Wintersweet, a type of shrub, grows in front of the couple's cottage at
Kensington Palace. Finally, the design incorporated crops of wheat interspersed among the flowers
to symbolize love and charity.
With all that veil it's easy to miss how long the dress actually stretched. The hem itself
doesn't look too far off Kate Middleton's 9-foot-long train, but of course both measure
far short of Princess Diana's 25-foot behemoth.
The couture helm used silk duchess satin instead
of the dress's silk cady. This fabric holds its shape well because of its high thread
count; it's actually the most common materialused for bridal gowns, royal or not.
Queen Mary's diamond bandeaufeatures a detachable
brooch of 10 brilliant diamonds in the center, which King George V's wife sometimes swapped
out for other gems. The circa-1893 pin Markle wore actually only became an element of the
tiara with the creation of the frame in 1932. The 11 sections of the pavé set band feature
interlaced ovals, an Art Deco motif more in tune with Markle's personal style than some
of the other floral options floated about. The piece hadn't appeared in public for decades,
but Markle had worn her Cartier earrings at least three times before the wedding, meaning
she'll probably bring them out again in the future.
Markle turned to one of her favorite brands
for the nude mesh stilettos she wore with her Stella McCartney dress to the second reception.
They had a sweet detail hidden inside; the soles were painted a baby blue.
The bride wore another pair of Cartier earrings (they appear to match the bracelet she had
on in the morning!) but she also added a little extra sparkle on her right hand. The emerald-cut
aquamarine gem once belonged to her late mother-in-law. What a sweet way to honor her on the couple's
wedding day!