To say there had been some hype about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress is a huge understatement. Ever since I first heard about the engagement all I could think about was the dress…would she dare to go sleeveless, would there be lace, how long would the train be?? And it wasn’t just me, newspapers, magazines and reporters had been speculating about this dress for months, with designers such as Burberry, Ralph & Russo, Erdem, Stella McCartney and even our own Stewart Parvin all in the mix to create this high-profile gown.
In the end, Meghan went to British designer, Clare Waight Keller for French fashion house, Givenchy, to design her wedding dress, and what a dress it was. Unexpectedly simple and unadorned, it is an elegant, minimalist dress that will stand the test of time.
Team LOVE had their own private showing of the Royal Wedding in between a hectic Saturday of appointments fuelled with brunch from our amazing neighbours at Oxford Road Cafe and mocktails!
The build-up was amazing, and we loved seeing first glimpses of her gown’s neckline in the car, and that she had opted for a veil too! When Meghan stepped out of the car she completely took our breath away – I LOVE that she had opted for elegant clean lines without too much formality – a thoroughly modern silk gown with a strong fashion statement. I thoroughly admired the fact that she was brave enough to keep it simple, and not opt for embellishments, whilst retaining a touch of Hollywood.
Meghan represents a change in the Royal family, she knows what it is like to live in the real world, she has been divorced, she forged an incredibly successful career for herself without privileged connections and she is an outspoken feminist and supporter of charities. This wedding gown reflects her personality; it’s modern, it’s dignified, it’s feminine and it’s chic. Yet it was also respectful of tradition. The 6-foot train added drama, her statement crown had belonged to Queen Mary and *that* veil was a touching piece of art carrying floral references to all 53 countries in the Commonwealth alongside personal flowers of Wintersweet and, in a nod to her birthplace, the California poppy. The icing on the top of this unbelievably sophisticated cake.
The fabric used in the gown was silk cady, eponymous with the House of Givenchy and used for another timeless bride’s wedding dress, Audrey Hepburn. The streamlined, floor-length gown featured a restrained and elegant bateau neckline, showing a glimpse of her collarbone and long, full sleeves. The skirt of the dress moved beautifully as she glided down the aisle thanks to a triple layer of silk organza under each skirt.
Before the wedding had taken place, we had already hedged our bets on what we thought her dress might be like and long sleeves and satin/crepes had come up a number of times… so much so that our ‘Sunsets Forever’ gown by Sarah Seven was already sitting pretty in the centre of our window display! A stunning silk gabardine gown with a very similar neckline and full sleeves. Similarly, Harriet by Sassi Holford would be the ideal selection for any bride looking to replicate Meghan’s exquisite style.
Here at LOVE we adore our simple fabrics and have a host of options in silk crepes, gabardines, satins and more besides – Sarah Seven, Savannah Miller and Sassi Holford in particular use these fabrics beautifully in their collections and have styles that echo that sleek look.
We also adored Meghan’s second dress – a stunning bespoke piece from Stella McCartney. Such a simple silk crepe gown with clean lines and all the WOW. We particularly loved the wonderful statement high neck detail, exposing her shoulders and fabulous figure, topped only by being whisked away in her very own Bond car.
What I LOVE about Meghan’s dress is that it completely reflected her personality. Every bride that walks through our doors is special and unique, and while most aren’t looking for a custom-made haute couture Givenchy dress – I’m afraid that will set you back around £150,000 – what unites our bride’s is the desire to find modern, beautiful, luxurious, handmade gowns and accessories to make them feel like a princess on their big day.
Lots of LOVE
Emma xoxo