Meghan Markle wore two wedding looks, and between them they changed what a lot of brides ask for. The ceremony gown, by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, had a wide bateau neckline, three-quarter sleeves, six carefully placed seams and a very long silk tulle veil. The evening dress by Stella McCartney was a sleek high-necked halter in silk crepe. Neither had lace, beading or a big skirt, and that is exactly why they are hard to copy well: with nothing to hide behind, the fit and the fabric do everything. Below are twenty ways to borrow from those two dresses, for a cathedral, a courthouse and everything between, with the tailoring points I would check on each.
Why a Plain Crepe Gown Takes More Fittings Than a Lace One
Lace and beading forgive a lot. A slightly loose waist disappears under a pattern, and a seam that wanders is lost in the texture. Plain crepe and silk cady forgive nothing, which is why I plan an extra fitting for every minimalist gown and why the price of these dresses sits in the fabric and the cutting rather than the decoration.
What I look at in the mirror
- Fabric weight. Pinch the skirt between two fingers; good bridal crepe feels dense and springs back, while thin crepe clings and shows every line underneath.
- Seam lines. The vertical seams should run straight from bust to hem and sit symmetrically on both sides.
- Sleeve length. A three-quarter sleeve looks deliberate when it ends at the narrowest part of the forearm, not halfway along it.
- The back. Have someone photograph you from behind while you stand naturally; small pulls across the shoulder blades are easy to miss in a front mirror.
Underwear matters more here than with any other style. Bring the exact bra, shapewear and shoes to every fitting, and do not change them after the last one.
1. Meghan Markle Boat Neck Wedding Dress
The boat neck gown is the nearest you will get to the original. Choose smooth crepe or silk cady with a structured bodice, fitted waist and softly flared skirt, and three-quarter or full sleeves. The width of a bateau neckline is the whole design, so I have it fitted to end just inside the shoulder point; too wide and it slips, too narrow and it looks like a T-shirt. Pointed ivory pumps, small diamond studs and a low centre-parted bun finish it, with a cathedral veil for a big church or a plain fingertip veil for a smaller room. No necklace.
2. Meghan Markle Halter Neck Wedding Dress
The evening halter is the second half of the story. A fitted halter in silk crepe should curve cleanly around the shoulders, with an open or low back for contrast. The halter strap carries more of the dress than people think, so I adjust its length while the bride is seated; a strap fitted standing can pull the neckline forward when she sits to eat. Satin slingbacks, fine drop earrings and a slim diamond bracelet are enough, and a smooth low bun keeps the neck clear. Swap the veil for a single pearl comb for dinner and dancing.
3. Meghan Markle Long Sleeve Crepe Wedding Dress
Crepe with long sleeves looks simple but is built like a jacket. Choose a fitted bodice, natural waist and gentle fit-and-flare skirt rather than layers, and let covered buttons down the back be the only detail. Long fitted sleeves need the most attention in a fitting: I check that you can lift a glass to your mouth and hug someone without the sleeve pulling at the shoulder seam. Pointed pumps, a cathedral veil, pearl studs and a small white bouquet complete it, with a relaxed low chignon so the outfit does not look severe. On a petite frame, shorten the train; on a tall one, let the skirt and veil run longer.
4. Meghan Markle Off Shoulder Wedding Dress
Off the shoulder is the softer cousin of the bateau. A folded neckline sits across the upper arms over a fitted crepe bodice and clean A-line skirt, with long sleeves for formality or short ones for summer. This is the neckline most likely to creep down during a long day of hugging guests, so ask for silicone grip tape or a discreet inner band along the fold. Closed ivory heels, crystal studs and a sheer chapel veil complete it. A neat bun or swept-back waves keep the shoulders clear, and any necklace is one too many.
5. Meghan Markle A Line Wedding Dress
A-line keeps the royal restraint and adds a little room to move. Matte crepe, mikado or silk with a boat neck and long sleeves works on most body shapes, because the structured bodice defines the waist while the skirt falls away from the hips. Mikado is stiffer and holds the A-line shape on its own; crepe falls closer to the body, so choose by how much volume you want. Add a narrow belt only if you need more waist. Pointed heels, pearl-and-diamond earrings, a light cathedral veil and a small white and green bouquet keep the palette clean.
6. Meghan Markle Fit And Flare Wedding Dress
A fitted silhouette can stay understated if everything else is plain. This fit-and-flare crepe gown follows the waist and hips before widening near the knee, with a bateau neckline and slim long sleeves tying it back to the ceremony dress. Crepe this close to the body shows every line, so I fit it over the exact underwear the bride will wear and look for any pull across the hips while she walks. Pointed satin pumps, a plain chapel veil, tiny studs and a polished low bun finish it. It gives shape without the extreme flare of a mermaid, and it suits a grand hallway or a modern room.
7. Meghan Markle Column Wedding Dress
Column gowns need heavier crepe than you might expect. A lightweight one clings and shows the underwear; a substantial one skims. A wide boat neck, elbow-length sleeves and a short sweep train give a clean, confident line. Walk briskly in it at the fitting, since a column limits your stride and the hem has to allow for steps. Pointed kitten heels, sculptural pearl earrings and a sleek bun or low ponytail suit it, with a long plain veil for a ceremony or a short one for a courthouse. A small structured bouquet keeps the proportions tidy in a city or gallery venue.
8. Meghan Markle Silk Wedding Dress
Silk brings the quiet expense that defined the original gown. Look for silk cady or heavy satin with a softly structured boat neck, defined waist and flowing skirt; it needs real weight, or it reads as a slip. I ask for steaming the day before and again on the morning, as silk creases across the lap after even a short car ride. Satin pumps, small diamond or crystal studs and a sheer veil with a narrow finished edge complete it, with an understated bun and fresh, natural-looking makeup. A tailored ivory cape covers a cold evening and comes off for the reception.
9. Meghan Markle Minimalist Wedding Dress
Minimalism is a fitting exercise more than a style. Start with a plain white crepe gown with a structured boat neck, fitted waist, slim sleeves and a simple train. Every seam shapes the body, so I book the final alteration close to the wedding, about two to three weeks out, because a few pounds either way show on plain crepe. White pointed pumps, small diamond studs and a plain tulle veil keep it pure, and a centre-parted low bun repeats the clean lines. Warm gold earrings and a matching bracelet are a good swap for diamonds, and the dress gives heirloom jewellery a quiet background.
10. Meghan Markle Square Neck Wedding Dress
The square neck is a more architectural take on royal restraint. Choose structured crepe with a defined square bodice, long fitted sleeves and either an A-line or column skirt. A straight neckline frames the collarbone clearly, so small pearl earrings are enough. I check the corners of the square when the bride leans forward to sign; if they lift, the neckline needs a stay sewn in. Pointed ivory heels, a chapel veil and a low twisted bun finish it, and simple white flowers with leaves soften the geometry for a courthouse, gallery or modern hotel.
11. Meghan Markle High Neck Wedding Dress
A clean high neck in smooth crepe gives full coverage with the same confidence. Choose a gently shaped mock neck, long sleeves and a fitted column skirt, and skip heavy lace. A keyhole or open back stops it looking severe. Mock necks are the one place I would not compromise on fit: too tight and you feel it every time you swallow, too loose and it ripples. Pearl drops, ivory pumps and a sleek low bun suit it, with a narrow bracelet instead of a necklace and a plain fingertip veil or minimal cape. Autumn, winter and modest ceremonies are where it belongs.
12. Meghan Markle Cap Sleeve Wedding Dress
Cap sleeves are the warm-weather answer. Matte crepe or silk with a boat neck, shaped waist and fluid A-line skirt keeps the refined shape, and the sleeve just covers the top of the shoulder. Check the sleeve hem with your arms raised; a cap sleeve cut too tight cuts across the arm and shows a line in photographs. Pointed slingbacks, pearl studs and a sheer chapel veil complete it, with a loose low bun or smooth chignon and a slim bracelet. For a cooler evening, add a plain ivory wrap or cropped jacket without any trim.
13. Meghan Markle Tea Length Wedding Dress
Tea length turns the ceremony gown into a civil-wedding outfit. A structured crepe dress with a bateau neckline, three-quarter sleeves, fitted waist and a hem between knee and ankle is easy to walk in and simple to travel with. The shoes are part of the outfit now, so I choose ivory satin pumps or slingbacks first and set the hem length with them on. A short veil, pearl studs and a small top-handle bag complete it, with a low bun for polish or soft waves for something relaxed. Keep the bouquet small, or it overwhelms the neat proportions.
14. Meghan Markle Wedding Dress With Cape
A cape gives ceremony drama with no embroidery at all. Start with a sleeveless or long-sleeve crepe column with a boat neckline and fitted waist, and layer a floor-length ivory cape that falls cleanly from the shoulders. Match the cape length to the train so the hem layers line up; a cape a few centimetres shorter than the train looks like a mistake from behind. Pointed pumps, crystal studs and a sleek low bun finish it, and the cape can replace the veil entirely. Lighter crepe suits spring; heavier crepe suits winter and a formal staircase.
15. Meghan Markle Wedding Dress With Cathedral Veil
The original veil was the real showpiece, and a very long one can make a plain gown ceremonial. Pair a streamlined boat-neck crepe dress with a cathedral veil in sheer tulle, either clean-edged or with restrained floral embroidery. A veil that long needs a firm base, so I ask the hairstylist to build the bun around the comb rather than pushing the comb into a finished style. Low pointed heels, tiny diamond earrings and a small bouquet keep the attention on the tulle. Practise walking and turning, and choose someone to straighten it at the top of the aisle.
16. Meghan Markle Wedding Dress With Tiara
Add a tiara and the minimal gown becomes properly regal. A long-sleeve boat-neck dress in smooth crepe with a fitted bodice and moderate train gives the headpiece a calm background. Choose a fine crystal, diamond-style or vintage tiara rather than a tall crown, and wear it with a sheer cathedral veil beneath. A tiara sits differently to a comb: it needs to be anchored with small pins through loops at each end, so take it to your hair trial. Small studs, pointed satin pumps and perhaps one bracelet or a sentimental ring are all the jewellery it needs.
17. Meghan Markle Wedding Dress With Low Bun
The famous low bun had a few loose pieces at the face, and that softness is what made the structured dress feel human. Wear a bateau-neck crepe gown with slim sleeves and a modest train, and ask for a low bun with a few controlled face-framing strands. Tell your hairstylist whether the veil goes above or below the bun before the trial, because it changes how the bun is built. Diamond studs, a thin bracelet, pointed pumps and a loose white bouquet complete it, in a hotel, a garden or a ballroom alike.
18. Meghan Markle Wedding Reception Jumpsuit
Not every second look needs a skirt. A white halter-neck jumpsuit in tailored crepe, with a defined waist, wide-leg trousers and an open or draped back, echoes the evening dress and lets you dance freely. Have the trouser hem set with the exact shoes on, so the fabric just reaches the floor without catching your heel. Pointed heels, diamond drops, a sleek clutch and a polished low bun complete it, and a detachable overskirt can cover it for the entrance. Rooftops, hotels and restaurants suit it best.
19. Meghan Markle Wedding Dress With Detachable Skirt
One gown, two looks. Start with a fitted halter or boat-neck column in smooth white crepe and add a detachable A-line overskirt with a chapel train for the ceremony; take it off for the reception. Wear a cathedral veil, studs and pointed pumps first, then switch to a pearl pin and statement earrings. I insist the overskirt fastenings are hidden under a waistband, so the column looks finished on its own, and that a bridesmaid practises unhooking it once. Keeping the same shoes and hair makes the change quick.
20. Meghan Markle Courthouse Wedding Dress
Courthouse weddings need polish without fuss. A knee-length or midi crepe sheath with a boat neckline and three-quarter sleeves, pointed ivory pumps, a small top-handle bag, pearl earrings and a short veil or structured headband make a complete outfit. In cold weather, a tailored white coat gives the best arrival look of all. Keep the hair to a low bun or smooth waves and the bouquet small enough to hold while you sign and shake hands. Every piece here can be worn again, which is part of the appeal.
Planning the Evening Change Into a Second Dress
The halter dress Meghan wore for the evening started a trend for two looks, and it is a good idea if you plan the change properly. Allow around half an hour, longer if your hair is also changing, and decide in advance where it happens. A hotel room close to the reception is ideal; a cramped toilet is not.
Bring one person who knows both dresses: the fastenings on the first, the bustle or overskirt, and anything that needs steaming. Hang the second dress at the venue the day before, not in a car boot on the day. I would also keep the shoes the same or very close in height, because a hem set for a three-inch heel drags with flats.
- Pack a small bag for the change with pins, fashion tape, a lint roller and blotting papers.
- Ask the photographer to catch the entrance in the second look, since it is often the most relaxed portrait of the day.
- Give the first dress to someone trusted to bag it properly the same evening, so it is not left over a chair.
Copy the Fit, Then Make the Details Yours
The two dresses work because they were so precisely fitted, and that is the part worth copying. A bateau-neck ceremony gown gets closest to the original; a halter, jumpsuit or convertible dress gives you the evening version. From there, adjust the shape to your body and venue with an A-line, a square neck, a shorter hem, a cape or a long veil. Keep jewellery quiet, book enough fittings for smooth fabric, and add one or two personal details so the outfit feels like yours rather than a replica.
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