Royal-inspired wedding dresses from 2022 Bridal Fashion Week

Three years ago, criticism flooded the bridal & fashion world about the fit & fabric of Meghan Markle's silk Givenchy wedding dress. “Too stiff, too thick,” many sartorial critics said. Fashion insiders expected a trendier gown for that season. Perhaps more flow and a sexier silhouette.

Our take? Looking at decades and centuries past of royal weddings – particularly of the British royal family – we found the gown to be a classic yet minimalist endeavor to help Meghan feel just as regal as previous royal brides walking down Windsor Castle's aisle.

“I imagine she wants to feel like she belongs in the space,” I remember telling my friends. “And that dress says ‘modern Windsor royal'.”

Dress by Danielle Frankel Studio via Bridal Musings

Thicker weaves of fabrics like taffeta, brocade & jacquard have been missing from runways for the last decade or two. But as we declared just a few months ago, thanks to the revival of devotion to Princess Diana's fashion sense, taffeta wedding gowns are taking center stage in so many of the most fashionable wedding collections throughout the bridal world. Volume & structure in 2021 doesn't mean loss of shape or style. In fact, some of the coolest gowns on the market these days are statement ballgowns.

But, perhaps, Princess Diana shouldn't get all the credit? We believe Givenchy & Meghan Markle knew what they were doing with her royal wedding gown. With the 2022 wedding dress collections in mid-release, top designers are crafting gowns of thicker fabrics & more modest, royal-inspired silhouettes. Jacquard, brocade, dupioni silk & yes, plenty of taffetas are walking down the virtual runways, and we feel vindicated for our approval of Mrs. Markle's own royal moment.

Here are a few of our favorite royal-inspired wedding dresses featuring lavish, opulent fabrics from 2022 bridal fashion week.