CELEBRATION OF COMMONWEALTH – AND CALIFORNIA
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress has been praised for its simplicity and elegance, but there’s a lot more to it than that, as Sam Blewett explains
MEGHAN Markle’s fivemetre-long veil, held in place by Queen Mary’s diamond tiara, featured flowers from all Commonwealth countries as well as her native California.
The royal wedding dress worn yesterday was designed by Birmingham-born Clare Waight Keller, who made history as the first female artistic director at French fashion house Givenchy.
The bridal gown itself was simple in a classic white but the elaborate veil was embroidered with flowers from each of the 53 Commonwealth nations at Meghan’s request, according to Kensington Palace.
Meghan, the Los Angeles-born actress, also selected two personal favourites: a California poppy and wintersweet, which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace and outside her and Prince Harry’s home, Nottingham Cottage.
The Commonwealth nations, of which the Queen is the head, were incorporated into the five-metre silk veil, with hundreds of hours going into the delicate fabric, and workers washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep it pristine.
Lesotho was represented by a spiral aloe, Bangladesh was symbolised by a white water lily, and Grenada had a bougainvillea. Australia was represented by golden wattles and Nigeria had a yellow trumpet.
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland were respectively represented by a rose, a daffodil, a flax flower and a thistle.
The diamond and platinum bandeau tiara lent to Meghan by the Queen was made in 1932 while its centre brooch dates back to 1893.
Ms Waight Keller last year became the first woman artistic director of the French fashion house, founded in 1952.
Meghan chose the designer for her “timeless and elegant aesthetic” after meeting her and also wanted to highlight the “success of a leading British talent”, the palace said.
The pair collaborated closely to design the open-necklined dress, which had three-quarter-length sleeves to “add a note of refined modernity”.
Crops of wheat were placed at the front of the veil to symbolise “love and charity”, the palace added.
Meghan’s all-important wedding gown has been praised for its “classic” and “elegant” style.
David Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s dress for her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 1981, said her dress was “simple, stylish, elegant and understated”.
Mr Emanuel also paid tribute to the “clever” decision to include flora of each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth on her veil.
Mr Emanuel said: “The dress is as I predicted – simple, stylish, elegant and understated.
“I think the story is in the silk jewelled veil, it encompasses all the Commonwealth flowers, which I think is very clever.”
Asked what he thought Diana, Prin- cess of Wales, would think of the dress, Mr Emanuel said: “I think Diana would have approved.”
Richard Dennen, editor of Tatler, added: “I thought it was sleek, classic, elegant and demure.
“She has picked a very well respected British luxury designer, at the helm of an aristocratic Paris couture house, which has a fabulous history of working with Hollywood.”
Amanda Dishaw, the editor of the fashion blog Meghan’s Mirror, said: “What a dress. Classic, timeless simplicity.
“We love the empowerment message she subtly made by choosing Clare, the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy.
“It stays very true to Meghan’s love of French fashion which is well-documented but also paid homage to her new British roots.
“And as for the style? It was exactly as we had thought we would see – simple, clean lines in a very traditional cut.
“There was never going to be tons of detailing and lace on this dress.
“And we love that a flower from every Commonwealth country is embroidered on her veil.
“A simple, clean A-line dress was perfectly attuned to the simplicity of her up-do, which held a stunning tiara.”
Meanwhile Aruna Seth, shoe designer and socialite, said the boat neckline on the white dress was “modern” complemented by traditional long sleeves.
Ms Seth, who designed Pippa Middleton’s shoes for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, said: “Meghan is wearing a simple traditional flattering boat-neck wedding dress with long elegant sleeves.
“[It is] chic, sophisticated and expresses her contemporary modern style.”
Peta Hunt, editor at large for You and Your Wedding magazine, said the gown was “romantic”.
She continued: “I loved the high boat neck, so modern and with the clean lines. This is a silk tulle cathedral length dress and works perfectly in this huge chapel.
“She is definitely wearing the dress and not drowning under a huge gown, it allows her to move, I think really lovely, and hits all the right notes.
“We have always been fans of long sleeves. It’s nice to see a bride in a such a modern classic style.”
Designer Raishma added: “Meghan clearly went for the more sedate side of Hollywood glamour in her choice of dress – more Grace Kelly than anything ostentatious.
“The veil is the real talking point, the length alone is staggering, with an embroidered scalloped border around the edges. The colour is a brilliant white which really created an ethereal entrance.
“There is an air of modesty to the gown with its very simple shape and the long sleeves – ideal for a high-profile chapel wedding. I was personally hoping for a showstopper and lot of embroidery and embellishment but this is a beautiful, if very safe, gown.”