INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Meghan Markle's gown was sleek, with its six strategically placed seams
(AFP)London: The dress isn't everything but it is a lot
And the Givenchy haute couture gown chosen by Meghan Markle for her marriage to Prince Harry told a story about contemporary romance,
geopolitical history and the institution into which she has married
But mostly, most importantly, it offered a bit of insight into the bride herself.The sleek white gown, with its six strategically placed
seams, was stitched from a heavy silk with a subtle sheen
A simple bateau neckline gracefully framed her face
The body of the dress subtly outlined her waist and flowed into a full train
But what was most noticeable were all the things that the dress was not
It was not a Hollywood red carpet statement
It was not a Disney princess fantasy
It was not a mountain of camouflaging tulle and chiffon.The dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller, was free of extravagant embellishments
It was not covered in yards of delicate lace
It did not have a single ruffle - no pearls or crystals
Its beauty was in its architectural lines and its confident restraint
It was a romantic dress, but one that suggested a clear-eyed understanding that a real-life romance is not the stuff of fairy tales
The dress was a backdrop; it was in service to the woman.The woman
That's what the dress emphasized
Not royal pomp. Prince Harry wore frock-coat uniform of the Blues and Royals
(AFP)It was the veil, five meters of delicate silk tulle embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the British Commonwealth,
Kensington Palace and her home state of California, that carried the weight of history, duty and tradition
She wore it with Queen Mary's diamond and platinum bandeau tiara, which had been lent to her by her new mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II
The tiara, created in 1932, is dominated by a central brooch that dates to 1893.Prince Harry wore frock-coat uniform of the Blues and Royals
He thankfully did not shave his beard. The dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller
(AFP)Keller is a British designer who has previously worked for Pringle of Scotland and Chloe
She is the first woman to lead the French fashion house Givenchy, one of most venerable names in the industry and closely associated with
the sleek and sophisticated style of Audrey Hepburn
Keller is one of a small group of female designers who have led some of fashion's most influential houses - women who have approached their
job as one aimed at empowering their female customers rather than merely decorating them.(Except for the headline, this story has not been
edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
