Meghan Markle turned heads, dropped jaws, stopped hearts and veritably broke the internet in May when she left Windsor Castle for her wedding reception in an ivory halter-necked silk-crepe fishtail gown by Stella McCartney. Jetting off in a silver-blue 1968 Jaguar convertible with her new husband, Prince Harry, the freshly minted Duchess of Sussex conjured a scene that Vanessa Friedman from the New York Times could only describe as “very James Bond.”
As it turns out, this was only the dress rehearsal—for McCartney in any case.
Following a limited run of 46 lily-white and onyx-black replicas of the so-called “Made with Love” number, which the British designer feted in honor of the opening of her new store at London’s Old Bond Street, McCartney announced this week her full foray into bridal wear. She’s even keeping the name.
The 17-piece “Made With Love” collection includes seven dresses, a lace-embroidered jumpsuit (in either pure white or rich scarlet) and an ivory jumpsuit, all of which offer a “new perspective on the traditional that is effortless, confident and naturally sexy, made with signature Stella attitude,” McCartney wrote on her website.
From “unembellished to statement-making,” each piece is designed to reflect, or even flaunt, the bride’s individuality, making her “look and feel her best on her special day,” she said.
“It’s something that I feel very passionately about and is very close to my heart,” McCartney added. “I think that in this day and age the wedding day is something very different to how it’s traditionally perceived, and I think that the house of Stella McCartney really represents something a little more effortless.”
The luxury label, which consciously uncoupled with former owner Kering in March, makes all its ensembles in factories with histories of craftsmanship across Puglia, Abruzzo and Marche in Italy. Dovetailing with McCartney’s environmentally friendly ethos, the garments are crafted using “luxurious sustainable viscose,” meaning the fibers don’t stem from ancient or endangered forests, as well as “updates on traditional couture fabrics” such as silk and chiffon.
Starting at 675 pounds ($860), the “Made with Love” bridal collection is available in select Stella McCartney stores worldwide as well as at exclusive retail partners, including Harrods, Net-a-Porter, Selfridges, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.