Brides seeking to emulate Meghan’s sleek minimalism spoilt for choice
EVERY decade has its own style identity, and the consensus eight years into the 2010s is that sleek minimalism will be the look of our time.
How appropriate, then, that the new Duchess of Sussex’s Givenchy Haute Couture and Stella Mccartney wedding gowns should encapsulate this look so elegantly. Like Lady Diana Spencer, whose taffeta meringue epitomised flamboyant Eighties romance – or Lady Elizabeth Bowes, who wore a glamorously gamine drop-waisted flapper-esque design – Meghan Markle’s wedding looks will not only become a go-to bridal trend reference for years to come, but will influence many other brides to shun glitz and look instead to sophisticated simplicity.
The pristinely plain, silk cady mate- rial and architectural silhouette of Clare Waight Keller’s design was painstakingly constructed in one of the world’s finest ateliers, so the exact look will be impossible to achieve. The £35 polyester column dress by the fastfashion brand Missguided, which has been touted as a good match, is certainly no substitute.
Yet there are many options that brides admiring Meghan’s look could turn to: a silk twill maxi-dress by American label The Row is available to buy on Net-a-porter for £2,550 while on discount site The Outnet there is a £1,460 fitted, lace-sleeved Stella Mccartney dress in the same silk cady materials as the Duchess’s day gown.
Les Heroines is a label selling bridal and bridesmaids’ dresses that are “subtle, beautiful and chic”. Its £402 Josephine halter-neck dress has the same laid-back glamour of the Duchess’s evening look. On the high street, there is still time for retailers to whip up collections of louche white dresses to capitalise on the Meghan effect before the summer is out – and expect plenty of collarbone-framing bateau necklines to hit the rails soon. It’s all part of the estimated £500 million that Meghan Markle will be worth to the fashion economy this year.
When Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, her Alexander Mcqueen gown spawned thousands of copycat designs. Faviana, a New Yorkbased company, was one of the first to replicate the dress.
“We are sure that Meghan will inspire many brides,” Devin Faviana told The Telegraph.
Just as Meghan has displayed an assured knowledge of her own style, so brides will now co-opt her look.
“This simple, timeless look will definitely give confidence to brides desiring a clean and more slender look,” said Phillipa Lepley, a couture bridalwear designer.