Harry and Meghan's Wedding: A Fashion Review

I'll admit it: I was one of those crazy people who got up at the crack of dawn yesterday to watch the royal wedding. I could have slept in for a few hours and tuned in at a more reasonable hour, right as the actual ceremony began, but as much as I love the pomp of a royal wedding, what I enjoy most is the parade of fashions worn by the guests. If you weren't quite as hardcore, never fear: I have a review of the best fashions (especially the hats!) from the latest royal wedding.

Naturally, we need to start with the bride herself.

Meghan's gown was designed by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, a simple white dress with a wide, barely off the shoulder neckline, long sleeves, and a slightly flared silhouette. Many watchers felt her gown was too simple, but I loved that it allowed her gorgeous tiara and veil and train to take the focus. The veil, which included a blusher, was also designed by Keller and was embroidered with floral designs representing each of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth. Her tiara, the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau, was on loan from the Queen herself (her "something borrowed," perhaps?).

Speaking of the Queen, Her Royal Highness was resplendent in an apple green coat and matching hat.

The Queen's kettlebrim hat was adorned with a tuft of vivid purple feathers and small purple and white flowers. The purple was carried through in the floral print dress that barely peeped out of her A-line coat, which was in turn adorned with a large diamond brooch on the lapel. And of course, a large handbag, because who would recognize the Queen without her handbag?

Next we have the immediate families of the bride and groom.

Mother of the bride, Doria Ragland, wore a mint green ensemble. Her simple, round-necked sheath dress was paired with a knee-length A-line coat with slightly flared sleeves. The dress and coat both had lovely white embroidery at the hem, and were topped with a pert cap with a simple bow at the back.

Stepmother of the groom, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wore a pale pink flared coatdress accented with a stunning 5-strand pearl choker with a large pink topaz surrounded by smaller diamonds. She topped the ensemble with a large picture hat covered with fluffy feathers. Feathery hats are something of her trademark, and although the hat received some criticism, I loved it and thought it suited her nicely.

Sister-in-law of the groom, the Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a. Kate Middleton), wore a pale yellow dress and tipped hat accented with cabbage roses. Her look was elegant and understated, not taking any attention away from the bride.

Then we have a few more distant relatives.

Aunt of the groom, Countess Karen Spencer (shown here with her husband, Princess Diana's younger brother Charles, the Earl of Spencer), wore a bright purple dress with matching capelet and an amazing hat trimmed with curls of wide ribbon. Extra points for Charles' perfectly-coordinated necktie.

Charles and Karen's daughter, Lady Kitty Spencer, was stunning in a peacock green flared dress with wide square neckline decorated with vivid orange, gold, and red flowers, and topped with a pert little pillbox hat with a flower and feather accent. Her orange shoes and gloves were the crowning glory of the whole look.

The groom's aunt, Sarah, Duchess of York, wore a lovely navy blue coat dress with pink satin cuffs and lapels. She topped her look with a marvelous small cap adorned with fantastical loops and feathers, and a birdcage veil.

Princesses Eugenie (left) and Beatrice (right) toned down their hat game after receiving much flack from the press for the elaborately fantastical fascinators they wore to William and Kate's wedding. (I found this fact rather disappointing.) Eugenie sported a very Jackie O look in a short-sleeved vintage-style dress paired with a white pillbox hat, while Beatrice wore a dressier full bright blue dress with long sleeves and a full skirt, and a lovely hairpiece that was basically multiple satin headbands. (Thanks to those who corrected my original switching of the names!)

Princess Michael of Kent, who is married to the Queen's cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, wore a pale pink suit with a huge picture hat trimmed with cabbage roses above and below (one of my favorite hats of the day).

A not-really-noticeably pregnant Pippa Matthews (nee Middleton), sister of the groom's sister-in-law (got that?), wore a pretty pale green dress with pink and white floral details and mauve inserts in the skirt. The print of the fabric bore an unfortunate resemblance to the pattern on Arizona Iced Tea cans, but I thought her dress was lovely, and her small hat was perfectly proportioned.

Next we have celebrities, both British and American.

Victoria Beckham (shown here with husband David) wore a long navy dress with slit sleeves, a long narrow keyhole slit in front topped with a buckle at the throat and long trailing ribbon, and bright red shoes. Posh topped her look with a barely-there hat with birdcage veil.

Amal Clooney stole the show in this electric yellow dress with gathered cap sleeves, topped with a moderately-sized picture hat adorned only with a spangled birdcage veil. Simply, but stunning.

Oprah joined the many attendees wearing pale pink in this two-tiered dress with scalloped details and a large, deep-crowned picture hat with elaborate floral and feather trim and cooler-than-cool pink sunglasses.

Yet another celebrity in a dusty pink dress, Serena Williams' asymmetrical wrap-style dress was accented with a lovely chunky necklace and a small-but-tall feathered fascinator. Her handsome husband on her arm was a pretty nice accent, too. I would absolutely wear this dress myself!

Carey Mulligan sported a lighter, more summery look in a short-sleeved floaty, feminine, floral print dress with a long skirt that flared softly at the hem. Her white headpiece was so tiny that it all but disappeared in her blond updo.

Joss Stone also chose a more summery floral print in this sleeveless, above-the-knee dress. But what really made her look was the fluffy white fascinator with its antennae-like puff-tipped feathers, which caught a lot of viewers' attention as she sat in the congregation.

Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra both looked gorgeous in two very disparate styles. Spencer wore a long belted shirtdress in navy blue with white polka dots and a white collar and cuffs, fitted to the hip then flaring into a full skirt, while Chopra opted for a pale lavender suit with knee-length pencil skirt and jacket with dramatically angled and structured lapels. Their hats were vastly different also, with Spencer completing her vintage look with a 50s-style small hat covered with roses and a birdcage veil, and Chopra in a picture hat with roguishly tilted brim and large tulle pouf at the back.

Gina Torres wore a beautiful red-and-white chiffon dress with solid red trim on the neck and placket and elbow-length sleeves, paired with an understated pale pink small-brimmed hat. Just lovely - and another dress I would gladly wear myself.

The bride and groom changed out of their wedding clothes into slightly less formal outfits for their reception.

The bride's reception dress, designed by Stella McCartney, was a white halter column with a small train, just as simple and lovely as her wedding gown.

Here's to the newlyweds! May their life together be as simple and lovely as their clothes.