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When Megan Markle steps out in front of the world to marry Prince Harry,
one thing is guaranteed to bring the biggest gasp from the millions of
viewers tuning in for the nuptials—her wedding dress, of course.
It will be the biggest fashion moment of the year and the most closely guarded secret of the day. Like Kate Middleton and her intricately designed Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress and Princess Diana's dramatic 25-foot train crafted by David and Elizabeth Emanuel,
Meghan's choice promises to be just as iconic and will earn whoever the
lucky designer is a place in the royal history books.
And with just four months to go until May 19, the clock is ticking fast.
"It's a lengthy interview process," explains Christine Ross, editor of Meghan's Mirror,
a site dedicated to everything you could possibly want to know about
Meghan's fashion. "I imagine Meghan has reached out to designers she
loves and admires and has spoken with them about design options and
their design process. From there, she would choose a designer who she
clicks with to create the perfect bespoke gown."
At
the moment it's anyone's guess whom Meghan might collaborate
with—although luckily for her, she won't be making the decision purely
on her own because her best friend is Canadian fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney.
George Pimentel/WireImage
Jessica
has proved she can keep a secret (she has known about Meghan and
Harry's clandestine romance since their very first date) and is the
perfect person to bounce fashion ideas off of."[She] loves everything
from high-end iconic name brands like Burberry and Prada, to smaller
designers like Mackage and Sarah Flint," Ross explains. "I think Emilia
Wickstead, the go-to bespoke bridal designer for posh London
brides-to-be, would be a very safe choice. She may also surprise us with
a bespoke gown from Erdem, a Canadian designer she has worn for many
years."
Picking
a Canadian designer would certainly be a way for the California native
to honor her home away from home during her time shooting Suits in Toronto (during which she actually got to pick out a wedding dress in character).
An
American choice, meanwhile, would be a lovely way to pay tribute to her
country of birth. Or she could opt for someone in the British fashion
world, such as her friend Misha Nonoo, as a symbol of allegiance to her
new home (she is currently in the process of becoming a British
citizen).
"I think she should wear Stella McCartney," stylist Karla Welch
told us with a twinkle in her eye at the Stella McCartney Fall Fashion
Preview event in L.A. But she had plenty of reasons to back up the
endorsement: "British and modern, and a feminist," Welch said. "And
strong and unconventional."
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Meghan Markle's Former Stylist Talks Wedding Gown Styles
"I'll take that as a compliment," added Stella McCartney
herself. Asked if she would take on the job if asked, she says she
would "definitely think about it." Prodded a little further, McCartney
admitted she'd of course be honored.
"I've done a few wedding
dresses for very close friends and it's an incredible honor," she
explained, "so of course, you know, I think it's one of the most special
days in anyone's life. And it's such a personal affair, so I'm a big
fan of doing wedding dresses in general."
In
2011 Meghan's soon to be sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, did just that
and went with a British designer. But that decision wasn't without its
issues. While Sarah Burton was able to nab the gig because of her ability to be discrete,
the biggest surprise of the year was spoiled when she was spotted
sneaking into Kate's hotel for a last-minute fitting the night before
the big day. Despite hiding her face under a huge hat, an eagle-eyed
reporter noticed the mystery woman was wearing Burton's trademark
uniform, which was well known within fashion circles: a studded belt and
ballet flats.
And just like that, the biggest secret of the year was out.
It's a faux pas Meghan's designer will be making every effort not to repeat.
It's
also why, despite rumors that Israeli designer Inbal Dror is up for the
job, the likelihood of the couture dressmaker being chosen is slim to
none. Late last year, the fashion house admitted they had been in
communication with the palace and even sent dress sketches to Meghan for
review. That willingness to spill the beans has likely taken them out
of the running—although the fashion house certainly garnered its share
of headlines thanks to the mishap.
"Respecting Meghan's privacy
and being attuned to the extremely sensitive nature of this design
process will be the biggest factor in Meghan's choice of designer," says
Ross. "Whoever designs the dress will need to be very discreet and
available for many private meetings and fittings at Kensington Palace."
So what will Meghan's dress look like?
David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com/REX/Shutterstock
Stylist Jessica Paster,
who used to work with the bride-to-be before she moved to Toronto and
describes her as "the sweetest girl," predicted to E! News at the Stella
McCartney party that Meghan's wedding day look will be "girly, feminine
and beautiful. I think we're going to see lace, but a tiny bit of
sparkle here and there."
Hollywood stylist Charlene Roxborough, who has worked with Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian West,
says she expects Meghan to bring a fresh look to the traditional style
usually favored by the British royal family. "Everything she wears is
always so well put together and so, in that sense, I feel like she would
be just very modern and fresh," she says.
"When it comes to
picking a designer, it [should be] something that comes from the heart, a
designer that you've always loved and dreamt of wearing as a little
girl. It [should be] something that makes you feel comfortable, makes
you feel good."
As
for those rumors that Meghan should refrain from wearing white because
it will be her second marriage (she was married to Hollywood producer Trevor Engelson
from 2011 to 2013), Charlene advises, "Everyone has their own idea when
it comes to what they should and shouldn't do on their second wedding.
But I think that for her this is a wedding with someone she fell in love
with it, with someone she feels secure with and someone she is spending
the rest of her life with. I don't think that anything that happened in
the past is going to come to life for her…She is focusing on the bride
that she always wanted to be. White is something that is very pure and
very innocent and I feel like Meghan is that person. She is very pure,
very innocent and it adds to who she is."
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It's
certain that, whomever Meghan chooses as her design partner, her dress
will become an instant style classic. It will be an image we will see
time and time again and will be reproduced in bridal shops around the
world, printed on mugs and other memorabilia and, as Christie perfectly
sums up, "[will] send a message of what kind of royal Meghan is going to
be."
The biggest hint of all about Meghan's choice for the big
day may have actually come from Meghan herself. During an interview with
Glamour magazine a few years ago she admitted, "Classic and
simple is the name of the game, perhaps with a modern twist. I
personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly
romantic."
As for her favorite celebrity wedding gown of all time? "Carolyn Bessette Kennedy," she replied. "Everything goals!"
We're just going to have to stay tuned.
For more details on the battle to dress Meghan Markle for her wedding day, tune into E! News tonight at 7 & 11 p.m.
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