A dress of the year
It was the dress of the year— of course we are talking about the wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle (now the Duchess of Sussex) to Prince Harry.
Royal protocol says that a British designer is normally chosen— and many of the prominent wedding guests stood by that rule.
Amal Clooney wore a striking mustard day dress yellow Stella McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey also turned to Stella for her blush pink dress and Priyanka Chopra decided to opt for a lilac Vivienne Westwood.
The bets were on with Ralph and Russo and Stella McCartney being the favourites to design the dress Meghan surprised everyone in with her choice of designer, French fashion house Givenchy — but of course there was a strong British connection.
As the first female artistic director of this iconic Parisian luxury label is Birmingham-born Clare Waight Keller created fashion history when she took over the creative helm just last year ago.
In an interview to Glamour Magazine 2016, Markle, had said that her favourite celebrity wedding gown was Carolyn BessetteKennedy’s slip dress by Narciso Rodriguez.
Meghan’s haute couture white wedding gown and bandeau neck, with three quarter sleeves and a veil was clean and minimal.
Like Bessette Kennedy’s dress it was without embroidery, but it was far more modest in silhouette and more luxurious in its look.
And was more comparable to Princess Margaret’s wedding dress which at the time was considered “avant garde” due to its lack of embellishments and was called “a study in simplicity”.
In the official press release Waight Keller says: “We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts.
In contrast, the delicate floral beauty of the veil was a vision Meghan and I shared, a special gesture embracing the commonwealth flora, ascending the circumference of the silk tulle. ”
Prince Harry is the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and including a flower from each country of Commonwealth hand embroidered on the five-metrelong silk tulle veil was symbolic and also a display of Givenchy’s fine craftsmanship.
Some media have said the cost of the custom made dress was around £100,000.
And of course there was a tiara, it was believed the Queen asked her to choose the tiara she wanted to wear from the royal collection and Markle “borrowed” the Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau art deco tiara that was made in 1932. The earrings were from Cartier, and she has worn them before, so were perhaps there were her “something old.”
Make up was kept simple, and and her hair was loosely worn up. There is no question that everyone at Saint Geroge’s Cathedral in Windsor had an aha moment as she walked down the aisle.
As predicted Prince Harry opted to wear a uniform, he is a military man and took over the title of captain of Royal Marines from his grandfather, The Duke of Edinburgh last year. In the frock coat of the Blues and Royal, he matched his best man Prince William. Both uniforms were tailored at Dege & Skinner on London’s Savile Row. And yes, Prince Harry kept his beard and the mix of tradition with modernity speak of the statement this couple are making, they are being respectful of tradition yet want to bring a new energy to the House of Windsor.
From the Markle walking much of the aisle herself and sans a chaperone to Gospel Group The Kingdom Choir’s performance of American Soul Singer’s Ben E King’s “Stand by Me”, a nod to Markle American’s roots, this was a thoroughly modern Royal wedding.