Meghan’s (RATHER INDELICATE ) wardrobe malfunction
She normally gets it just right. But this week’s oh-so tight dress revealed a little too much
MeghAN MARkLe looked chic and elegant in a grey Roland Mouret dress on the second day of her royal visit to Dublin. But there was a distinct lack of support for the outfit from some eagle-eyed royal fans. ‘A fashion fail,’ said one about her choice of strapless bra, visible through the fabric of her dress. ‘She needs some support in the innerwears department,’ commented another. Fashion experts agreed that while the £1,800 fitted wool- crepe frock flattered most of her curves, the new Duchess of Sussex could pay more attention to her decolletage.
‘She’s absolutely stunning and on her wedding day she got it so right, but on this occasion she’s wearing completely the wrong bra for this particular dress,’ says Sandra Dyke, senior fit expert for the Chantelle Lingerie brand.
‘It looks like a bandeau bra, which has no cups and can flatten the bust, particularly if you’re a slender size six or eight, like Meghan. It also looks as if the bra could be light in colour, too, which is showing through the fabric.
‘The dress looks just a tad too tight for her across the top. The darts in the design don’t help. The bra appears to be cutting into her skin around the armpits and the top of her bust.’
Sandra, who has been fitting lingerie with the brand for over 20 years, believes Meghan is around a bra size 30B. ‘She’s very slim across the back,’ she says. ‘ Not many women understand bra sizes and think you have to be big all over to have a full bust.
‘But while Meghan appears to have lost some of the volume from the top and bottom of her bust — which happens to most women as they get older or have children or undergo hormonal changes — judging by the way her bust sits, I’d say she’s still around a cup size B.’
A better choice of undergarment, says Sandra, would have been a strapless Tshirt-style plain bra.
‘She needs something with a wire that would give her a little bit more lift. Obviously no straps as her dress is a boatneck style and they would be visible, but a little wiring under the cup would give a much better shape.
‘Rather than white, she should choose a flesh colour so it doesn’t show through the dress. It really is the best colour for lingerie. Make sure it’s made in a smooth microfibre, not cotton, which doesn’t sit right on the bust.
‘Many strapless bras now have a little strip of silicone in the inner seam which helps “stick” the bra to the skin so that it doesn’t move.
‘The wings and band of the bra should measure about two inches in width and have three or four hooks. You should always start on the loosest possible fitting and see which one is most comfortable.
‘It shouldn’t be fastened too tight because then it will cut into the flesh but it shouldn’t be too loose as there will be a horrible ‘gape’ and you’re for ever pulling it up.’
Sandra says Meghan could also consider different knickers with such a tight dress. ‘She looks to be wearing quite small briefs so I can see a hint of a VPL [visible panty line]. I’d suggest a deep brief that comes up to the waist in a soft stretch material.
‘Don’t get me wrong, I think she looks absolutely wonderful. But whoever is styling her has taken their eyes off the whole picture when it comes to underwear.’