In the latest royal wedding to rock international headlines, British Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle are set to wed on Saturday in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel. The ceremony has been touted as much more intimate than the nuptials of Harry’s older brother and king-to-be (following his father Prince Charles) Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011 which took place at Westminster Abbey. However, in much the same way as countless individuals across the global waited in anticipation to see what dress – and which designer – Middleton opted for, all eyes were on Markle and her wedding dress.
As noted by Reuters, “Speculation over what look the 36-year-old will choose and who will design the frock has mounted for months, with labels such as Ralph & Russo, Burberry and Stella McCartney among the names touted for the coveted role.”
Ultimately, Markle opted for a Givenchy Haute Couture gown by Claire Waight Keller, the house’s first female creative director in its 66-year history.
Givenchy, which was founded by the late creative Herbert de Givenchy in 1952, has a long history of catering to private bridal clients, whether it be Kim Kardashian or Audrey Hepburn, the latter of whom was outfitted in Givenchy for her fictional wedding in the 1957 film, Funny Face, as well as for her own wedding to Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti in a town hall ceremony in Switzerland.
The royal wedding, however, is the first bridal moment for the Paris-based brand under the watch of Ms. Keller, 48.
The former “Suits” actress, who is said to be footing the bill for the dress herself, as spawned a fascination amongst fashion fans, with her outfits and accessories – often Canadian brands in an ode to her most recent home of Toronto – selling out quickly soon after the bride-to-be is seen wearing them. Such attention has propelled many of the design labels into the global spotlight.
One of the hottest “influencers” of the moment, as the New York Times’ fashion director Vanessa Friedman proposed earlier this month, the fury surrounding the star has been dubbed the “Meghan Markle effect.”
Share
