Sunday 17 June 2018

Meghan in Oscar de la Renta for the Wedding of Diana's Niece!

Exactly one month after their own wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the nuptials of Harry's cousin Celia McCorquodale and George Woodhouse at St Andrew and St Mary's Church in Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire yesterday. The couple were all smiles as they arrived holding hands and mingled with relatives. There's a selection of photos available on the Mail Online.


Celia McCorquodale is the younger daughter of the Princess of Wales’ sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale. The Express reports: "The bride attended Meghan and Harry’s glittering wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor exactly four weeks ago and returned the favour by inviting her cousin and his new wife to her own celebrations."

The Mail Online reports:

'Bride Celia, daughter of Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Diana's eldest sister, looked radiant in a white princess-style dress with lace detailing. She wore the Spencer tiara, which was worn by Princess Diana when she married Prince Charles in 1981.
The Spencer clan turned out in force for the traditional church service, with D&G model Lady Kitty Spencer and Diana's siblings Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes among the congregation. 
The pair were warmly greeted by the Spencer family, with Prince Harry's cousin, Louis Spencer, 24, who was recently dubbed Britain's most eligible bachelor, giving him a bear hug and kissing Meghan on the cheek.'

An arrival video.


St Andrew and St Mary’s Church is a Grade I listed Church of England parish church dedicated to Saint Andrew and Saint Mary, in the parish of Easton and the village of Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, England. The church is significant for its association with, and memorials to, the Easton Hall Cholmeley and the Stoke Rochford Hall Turnor families.


A look inside.


The east arcade between the chancel and south chapel.


As noted above, the radiant bride wore the Spencer tiara - a family heirloom that was worn by Diana and her sisters on their wedding days.

Made by Garrard, it features an elaborate design of stylized flowers and scrolling foliage.



'Though this piece was once said to date from the 18th century, it actually seems to be a combination of pieces of varying ages and from different jewellers that has gone through several changes over time. The center element was a wedding gift from Lady Sarah Spencer to Cynthia, Viscountess Althorp (Diana’s grandmother), in 1919. This piece was remounted by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company at some point, and Garrard was asked to create four matching pieces in 1937 to add on. The oldest bits are at the ends; these are said to have come from a tiara once belonging to Frances, Viscountess Montagu and left to Lady Sarah Spencer in 1875. The full current appearance apparently dates from around 1935.'

Although the Queen had loaned Diana the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, she found it headache inducing and heavy to wear. She continued to borrow the Spencer tiara from her father and later her brother. It was nice to see it again at the wedding - it's the first time it's been publicly worn since Diana died.


A video of the bride arriving.


The Duchess selected the Oscar de la Renta Long Sleeve Cocktail Dress for the wedding (with thanks to Innominate93). 


Made in Italy, the dress features a wrap silhouette, a ruffled high/low hemline, and a cinched waistline. It's currently available at Moda Operandi. The blue and white toile print piece has proved a divisive choice thus far. I think the issue is, it appears to be at least a size too big and swamps Meghan's figure. If the waistline were cinched in, it would create a completely different look with the flowing skirt. It is a beautiful print though and I'm very excited to see Meghan in Oscar de la Renta!


The dress is from the Resort 2019 Collection.


The Telegraph writes:

'Meghan is a woman who knows her fashion audiences. Wearing spotless, figure-hugging white Givenchy couture on her first solo engagement with the Queen this week provided a wow-factor that the crowds of Runcorn will likely have never seen.
But today, she’s trying to embed herself in Harry’s crowd, maybe cement relations with her new British girl friends. This was a dress for them. If she’d pulled one of her razor-sharp, bodycon power dresses from her cupboard (the type that we might associate with her Suits character Rachel Zane) she wouldn’t have looked so approachable.
She’s also trying not to outdo another bride. Celia McCorquodale, a niece of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was marrying George Woodhouse, less than a month after her cousin Harry married Meghan in one of the most high profile weddings ever. This was McCorquodale’s moment - indeed she looked incredible, and wore the Spencer tiara, the same as Diana did for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.
Meghan’s choice yesterday was easy on the eye, and not overpowering in any way. Judging by the numerous pictures of her air-kissing with the Spencers, its softness was also entirely successful.'

You might recall, Meghan's mother Doria Ragland wore Oscar de la Renta for the Royal wedding. It turns out Meghan contacted the brand directly. I expect we'll see the Duchess in more pieces from the fashion powerhouse throughout the year.


More from Vogue:

'Back in January, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia received a call from Meghan Markle about a wedding day look for her mother Doria Ragland. “She knew she wanted a pistachio or melon look for her mom,” Garcia remembered. The house of Oscar de la Renta has surely dressed many mothers-of-the-bride over the decades, Hillary Clinton included, but royal weddings are another thing entirely. It was a huge coup for the duo, and if it hasn’t immediately resulted in a boost in sales, as Meghan’s own choices do, it has at least raised the designers’ profiles. “I got a lot of new followers,” Kim said.'

Speaking of the Royal wedding, it very much appears Meghan wore her gorgeous Aquazurra shoes from the reception.


The shoes are made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue.


With many thanks to Perth Fashion and What Meghan Wore, it turns out Meghan's fascinator is the £29.50 Pillbox Bow Fascinator by Marks & Spencer. The straw piece is described as a "classic pillbox style fascinator is a timeless design that will never date. This gorgeous headpiece features a swirling bow design sure to lift any special occasion outfit. Whether pairing with a floral dress or accenting a sleek tailored suit, this fascinator will be the perfect finishing touch to your look."


Meghan wore the £45 Marks & Spencer Autograph Wool Blend Round Neck Bell Sleeve Jumper during a visit to Birxton in January. She's obviously a fan of the affordable British retailer.


Meghan completed the look with a Carolina Herrera clutch (with thanks to Meghan's Mirror reader Jessica) She wore her hair in an elegant updo. It was a lovely surprise to see Harry and Meghan at the wedding, it's always nice to see the young royals spending time with their Spencer cousins. It was also a great opportunity for Meghan to meet extended members of Diana's family. 

Royal Ascot starts on Tuesday, we do expect to see the Duke and Duchess at some point during the week :)

239 comments:

  1. I'll do her a solid and forget I ever saw this. Congrats to the happy couple though!

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    1. Absolutely perfect reaction.

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    2. i quite agree. this whole thing is wrong.

      Annie
      NY, USA

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    3. Hahaha I am with you. It had to happen one day. I like the print but this is a miss this time.

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    4. Jessica in Los Angeles17 June 2018 at 17:37

      Anon, that made me laugh out loud!

      Maybe it looked better in person? Maybe she spilled coffee on her original dress, and this was the only thing that matched the hat?

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    5. Absolutely the best response to this outfit! Congratulations to the bride and groom.

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    6. Anon 11:38, That Is The Best Response Ever!! lol :) I'll have to remember that for any such occasions for anyone in the future! No need to say anything more!

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  2. It's exciting to see new pictures, and to see Meghan becoming a part of Harry's regular life as it were. I have to admit I don't like the outfit though.

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  3. I love the baggy over-sized look on a slender frame (Kate's James Bond dress was gorgeous) but I think this takes it a step too far - even the sleeves are far too long! Pretty material though and Meghan is looking very happy.
    Sarah UK

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  4. What a nice surprise to see a new post! Thank you Mad About Meghan :)

    That's a lovely dress on Meghan. Looking forward to new pics and details.

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  5. I love the pattern but I hate the baggy fit of the dress round Meghan’s torso. I know it’s the ~bohemian style but this would be one of my top looks if it was better tailored

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  7. Wow what an exciting thing to wake up to on this sunny Sunday morning!! (And happy Father’s Day to all the dads reading the blog today!)

    The Sussexes look gorgeous, as usual :) I love the dress and love that she wore something loose and flowy. She looks very to the manor born, IMO. Somewhat casual but super stylish at the same time, if that makes sense. I also love that she’s wearing a fascinator...getting into the British millinery mindset :)

    Her hat actually gives me some hope that we’ll see something more bold and daring for Ascot (than her normal sleek and simple hats). Can’t wait to see!!

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  8. What a surprise! And what a happy dress. So unstructured and unusual for her. I went to the Daily Mail to see more photos---she looks particularly wonderful from the side. Her hair and froufrou hat look terrific and that is not as obvious from the photos above.

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  9. Courtney Providence Village17 June 2018 at 13:05

    It appears to me as if she’s worn bed sheets....she stole from my grandmother...in 1995. DoS is gorgeous of course but I’m not sure her thoughts on this one. WAY too big for her IMO. I know you never want to upstage the bride but..... ;)

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  10. The Duchess of Sussex looks so elegant in this dress, especially when you see her walk in it. It is fresh, summery and perfect for an English wedding. I think she looks smashing from head to toe.

    It's so lovely to see unscheduled sightings of this beautiful couple. Made my morning!

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    1. At this point Meghan cannot win at all. There will always be haters who wants to simply just nitpick on everything. I thought the dress is awesome and likes that it feels relaxed and different. I am happy that she does not stick to a certain style and would want to experiment on her looks. At the end of the day I am sure she feels that these Royal stuff are just trappings and a good platform to help others but the most important thing is she married a man who obviously love her to bits.

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    2. While I agree that nitpicking seems to be the favorite hobby of royal watchers I also think that sometimes people just don't like the outfits and it's inevitable as style is subjective and highly personal. The criticism on this look seems to be the latter and I think it's a bit much if we're categorizing the negative opinions on this blog as those made by "haters" (Charlotte puts in work moderating to keep the comment section clean and pleasant). I imagine that most who visit here support Meghan and want to see her do well or at least have interest in how she develops. That doesn't mean we're going to like everything she says, does, or wears though and we're allowed to say it and hopefully have thoughtful and lighthearted discussion on it even if we disagree.

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    3. Hi El, I am sorry did not really mean to refer to commenters here as the haters. I have just read really really mean comments in Twitter that saddens me so much. On the other ahead as much I understand that we are entitled to say our criticisms and that we can't like everything she will wear or do I truly hope that some would be mindful of the words they used and treat it as giving a constructive criticism to someone they really care about. As it is I read some observations that if said to me would make me burst to tears and depress for days. Lol.

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    4. Thanks El. I get very annoyed that light hearted nitpicking, constructive criticism or the voicing of personal opinions on superficial topics like fashion gets categorized as "hate". When did people get so sensitive and can they deal with criticism in real life or do they just surround themselves with yes-men?
      No one is above criticism and no one is loved or adored by everyone- because we are all different and prefer/ believe/ value/ like different things. And the clashing points are when things get interesting and when real conversation starts and we are able to grow and look over our own horizon.
      C.

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    5. I am not, and never have been, a hater. But I didn't like the dress as I felt it was too big and swamped Meghan. That does not make me a hater. I am rooting for her, and think she is very good news.

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  11. The dress does nothing for Meghan. It is not fitted to her slim figure; instead, it looks three sizes too big! Kind of reminds me of drapes.

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    1. I thought the same thing! I loved the colour/pattern at first...but it does resemble curtains to me.

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  12. First impression? "Oh Sweetie, what the HECK are you wearing????!!!! Did she suddenly lose all of her own clothes in a fire and have to borrow the neighbors plus-size clothing for her size 2 frame??? She is literally swimming (or drowning might be a better word!) in this dress! I'm just Sooo baffled by this whole outfit...if the dress (which is pretty enough on its own) was literally 20 sizes smaller it MIGHT have worked but the hat is not something that compliments this look at all plus the placement of it is just all wrong. This just seems so out of character for her! Bring back streamlined Meghan!!!! -Maggie

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    1. I'm baffled by it too Maggie. I've come to associate Meghan with simple, streamlined shapes, plain colours rather than prints and simple hats. This look throws all of that out of the window in one go and has resulted in the most unflattering outfit I've seen her wear - it makes her look like she has no shape to her figure at all, which is absolutely not the case. I love that she's experimenting with different colours - the blue shade is very pretty - and Harry's matching tie is very sweet, but print and ruffles bring back shuddering memories of Kate's Erdem misses for me. As you say, bring back streamlined Meghan!

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    2. I was just thinking---would we prefer all those Erdem gems??

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    3. Yes I agree! I love the hat alone but it did not work with her hair or this dress. I love the picture of the dress but the shape of the dress and Meghan's figure was completely lost in the fit and flow of it. Still love her, just not my favorite look. I liked it better in the video than pictures. i wonder how often that is true for these kinds of styles?

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    4. Actually, I do prefer the Erdem gems, as you call them, at least they fitted. I cannot think of anything I like here, except perhaps the colors; Toile de jouy is definitively a home decoration material. Lovely on curtains for a sunny house in the country. The style of the dress is awful and the hat is totally mismatched. No redeeming quality here, even compared to the erdems IMO.

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    5. Oh Maggie, your humor just got me laughing! Very quick witted. I'm giving this look a thumbs up for : 1) love the print & that she is wearing a blue & white toile print vs a neutral. 2) The fascinator is cute & I love that she has stepped into the world of The Facinator! 3) really love the clutch 4) really like the shoes, nice to see a repeat & they look comfortable 4) love seeing her wrapped up in The Spencer Clan...... but regarding the whole look as it is...... all I can say is.... "Bless her heart". :)

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  13. Lovely to see them both again so soon. This dress gets a no from me, if I’m allowed to vote. This dress looks like my grandmother’s favourite dressing gown with my grandfather’s family china pattern printed on it. I cannot fathom how the elegant and classy look that Meghan has displayed recently went to this, shock horror. Why does she wear her clothes so big, she is a tiny, beautiful, fineboned young woman. If she really loved the pattern of the dress fine, she could easily have it altered to be body hugging and flowy. I’m confused.
    Royal 👑 Watcher

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  14. Lovely happy photos! The pattern of the dress is very pretty but I feel it would have been better with shorter sleeves & waisted rather than blousy as Meghsn seemed to disappear beneath the volume of fabric. I’m sorry to say the hat wore her this time around as well. But such a warm & sweet wedding & that is the main thing!

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  15. Even from the model’s look (the sleeves completely cover her hands!) it appears to be very flowing - almost like a counter programming to all the super tight dresses that are so popular these dresses (like the countess Spencer). I know which one I’d prefer to wear!

    Meghan as always looks beautiful and happy. When I first saw the dress I didn’t like it a bit due to the fit. But seeing it in motion I’m starting to like it. And I wouldn’t mind if fashion started to move in this direction!!
    -Duch

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    1. I agree with you Anon 100%!! This dress really is at it's best in motion, the way it flows is lovely! And I second your desire to see fashion starting to move in this direction!! Personally I don't have many items of clothing that are "fitted", they mostly are a bit drapey and flowy, better to hide the menopause weight fluctuations :) Plus and this might be something that Meghan experiences, I really don't like the feel of tight or even semi-tight clothes I prefer clothes that skim or barely touch the body.

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    2. My first thought was it's too big, but you're right. It's supposed to fit that way. Looking at Meghan's shoulders, they aren't falling down. I'd prefer it a size or two smaller on her, but it's toile!!! I love toile!

      The countess should have checked herself out before she left. That dress could stand being a size bigger or she needs to wear it with industrial strength spanx. Belly button indent is not a good look.

      Celia looks so much more like Diana than her cousin who gets all the attention for it, though! If not for her smile being different she'd be a dead ringer for her.

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    3. I think you’re absolutely correct - love the ‘counter-programming’ term. Fashion is moving to over-large, unfitted silhouettes after years of body-con. If you look on the ODLR website - you’ll see the model swims in it too. Meghan continues to be on the cutting-edge of current styles. Now, we just need to adjust our eyes!

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  16. I’m still waiting for something I dislike. Love the flowy, unstructured feel of the dress, love the fascinator, love the messy bun and hope that she retains it and doesn’t surrender all of who she is to match some demand for royal conformity by the public. She and Harry seem to love each other just as they are and I hope they don’t change.

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    1. Here, Here Crissie!! As I said below, I think we've all come to expect a certain "look" from our royal ladies without taking into consideration that the looks we've come to know and love are really just those ladies personal preference and style, so shouldn't Meghan be allowed to retain her personal preferences and style too?

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    2. I think she also wore a flowy dress to a wedding in Jamaica that she attended with Harry last year if I recall. Also I think this dress is a tad more casual b/c of the more bohemian feel to it which is probably one of her comfort styles and her messy bun. I love the print. I also love that she bought an M&S fascinator and doesn't feel the need to spend tons of money on designer-everything all the time. =)

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  17. Silvia from Tuscany17 June 2018 at 13:34

    I like the dress in colour and pattern. Unfortunately it's too big for her, and that's a pity because it could have been a nice outfit and a little different as usual. Anyway it's always a surprise to find new photos of the Sussexes. They look so happy!

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  18. I absolutely love this. In my view the dress is sized exactly as it was intended to be worn - flowing, a bit over sized and perfect for a country church wedding. She is tall enough to pull this off. Her hair is perfect. I am not wild about the hat but I am not a fan of fascinators in general. So beautifully summery and relaxed. She looks marvelous in tailored simplicity no question. But this has its own magic too :-) Yay. On a side note - loving those so serious and doing their job royal protection officers. :-)

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  19. I was just thinking how many many weddings Harry has gone to alone! Meghan does look very fresh and youthful while walking in this dress---the photo of the dress alone is really unattractive, but having her in it helps a lot. And how different she looks from some of the jaded guests---I'm sure Harry wishes they were relaxing at home but Meghan looks a little excited to be there. :)

    I'd like to see a good image of the hat. And her minimal jewelry adds to her freshness, like she was running across the meadow. Better than poor Kitty Spencer. And the images of "locals" watching behind Kitty is very Jane Austen--like.

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    1. Zora from Prague17 June 2018 at 18:18

      Allison, I agree about the dress being much better in the videos than in the photos.
      And your Austenian remark made me think of Marianne and Colonel Brandon in the post-wedding scene from the adaptation with Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman :)

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    2. Oh, Alan Rickman!! I love him in everything he did, including that wonderful "Robin Hood."

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    3. I loved that Harry was attending his first Wedding with HIs Wife!!! :) xo

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  20. The pattern is lovely. Unfortunately, this is the first miss for me. The problem in my eyes is that there is just to much fabric for Meghan's frame to carry. The sleeves are overwhelming and her waste is lost. The hat also just doesn't seem to strike me as right. I hate to say it, a truly bad hair day. I will be surprised if we see this dress again. I do love that she is looking at Oscar as she builds her closet. I think we will see many of the great designers through her choices. It was a wonderful surprise to find this post unfortunately, it will create much negative opinion I think.

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  21. When I made that Jane Austen comment I didn't realize the husband is named George Woodhouse. Perfect for Austen, as is the beautiful setting. And Meghan would make a great heroine.

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    1. Good catch, Allison! I just watched Emma again for the umpteenth time. I think Meghan would make a great Jane.

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    2. Zora from Prague17 June 2018 at 19:49

      Wow, that's an idea, meghan fan! I'll have to give it some thought :). Which version of Emma did you watch? Don't you think meghan would be a bit too much for Jane as her Jane would tend to be a centre of attention ? Jane is so accomplished but also has the quality of not being easily noticeable... 😉

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    3. …the one with Chris Martin's ex-wife as Emma. Interesting thoughts about Jane, Zora.
      I think Jane's character had the ability to be the center of attention without seeming to seek the attention. Think CBK versus KK.

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    4. Did you read "Sanditon"? Austen's unfinished novel that a "lady" finished, around the late 70s. I think MM would suit that heroine---MM's too worldly and clever for "Northanger Abbey" and too confident for "Mansfield Park." Too glamorous to be Eleanor in "S and S."

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  22. I like it! I typically don’t like super flowery dresses but someone for me, the floral print works with the flowy dress. I am actually not sure it it too big on her. I think it fits exactly the way it was designed (which is probably a design flaw). The dress is lovely with movement. I do like the fascinator with the loose updo. I think it’s very appropriate and classic. A good transition for someone who hasn’t grown up wearing them.

    Btw, it’s 9am on the East coast USA, and Hallmark just started a Meghan Markle movie.

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  23. Wow, I was just wondering if we'd ever see Meghan in a colorful print and voila here it is!!! I think Meghan looks lovely and I like the unstructured fit of this dress, along with the messy bun gives her a certain devil may care attitude that I find very refreshing. Also, she looks about 1000 times more comfortable than Countess Spencer and who doesn't love to be comfortable? I believe that it's time for us, her fans, to accept that we just won't often see Meghan in fitted, tailored clothes very often as I don't think it really reflects her personal style. We might see it from time to time on royal engagements such as the one she attended with the Queen on Thursday but today's outing was purely a non-work, family related outing so Meghan should be able to wear exactly what she likes and what she feels comfortable in.

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    1. Totally agree with you Lauri, she looks beautiful, I love the dress and a little bigger hat would have been even more a perfect match to the flawy look imo. They look gorgeous together btw

      Silvia

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  24. I don't know if this dress will do anything to boost Oscar de la Renta's sales, even though Meghan herself is wearing them this time. Even if it fit her better, with it's long sleeves and big curtain fabric print, it's just dreadful. The print is pretty, but not on a dress of this volume.

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  25. She looks beautifull !

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  26. The dress seems very bohemian, and although I like a lot of those looks, this one I would tweak if I could. Meghan looks beautiful as always and Harry looks great too. The bride is lovely in that Spencer tiara with a beautiful veil.

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  27. Love to see her smiling and happy, but I can only imagine some comments about her dress and her hair on DM and such. I do like the look overall, but she is a bit lost in that dress, even though I love the dress itself. This design is better for a taller person, imho.

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  28. Meghan looks very pretty but the dress is at least a size too big. That makes me wonder if that is the look she was going for. I love seeing her in a busier hat. I have been wondering if she was going to stick with more streamlined less fussy hats like the ones she has worn so far, but it looks like she is going to be experimenting. I can't wait to see what she wears for Ascot.

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  29. Dolphin Tuscany Italy17 June 2018 at 14:42

    Hi everybody! I don't think the dress is too big for the Duchess. I think is the style of the dress. She always looks stylish and modern.

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  30. I think she didn't want to outshine the bride, which is the kindest gesture a gorgeous bombshell can make on your wedding day.

    But I personally love the dress, pattern, and even the oddly relaxed fit.

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  31. This dress photographs poorly, but looks quite floaty and pretty in video. The pattern is elegant, IMO, and while the sleeves are laughably long, that’s clearly by design as one can see in the designer photograph. DoS wears her clothes looser and larger than I would if I had her figure—I like things a bit tailored, but she usually opts for oversized. To each her own, however!

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  32. That dress drowns her. It’s a dressing gown. I love blue and white patterns, but goodness, the fit. She looks very British aristo though.

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    1. Very British aristo to me, too. She fits in quite well.

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  33. Unfortunately a huge miss for me. I'm confused.

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  34. I have liked pretty much all of Meghan’s outfits thus far.... it this is a hard pass for me. Too baggy. I also don’t really care for the combination of loose/messy updo with that particular fascinator. We all have misses sometimes.

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    1. I agree the "messy" updo clashes with her headpiece. I would've liked the outfit better if her hair was out/down with the fascinator.

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  35. I don't like this dress at all. Too large, too casual (especially when compared to other guests), too voluminous (even if it fitter her well). And that thing on her head is not flattering. The Daily Mail had an article earlier this week that said that Harry was helping her pick her clothes. This must be one of his choices . . . otherwise it's hard to understand why she's wearing something so ugly and different from her usual style.

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  36. Melanie from California17 June 2018 at 15:23

    Overall not a good look, just looks sloppy

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  37. It is a bit big, but I do love it and how Harry's tie matches her dress. Lovely.

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  38. This might be the worst thing I’ve ever seen her wear. It looks so messy and disheveled.

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  39. I think we all know where she was going with the flowing floral frock, a lovely look for a summer English wedding, but the dress is clearly too big and swamping her. Women with petite slender frames need to be careful as that can easily happen. This was a huge miss and I do not think that we will see this beautiful tablecloth again...🙂. No worries - we all have fashion faux pas and sometimes seeing ourselves in a photo is the best way to learn.

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  40. I’m surprised at everyone being so sure the dress is too big. It doesn’t look any different on her than the model. It’s the style of the dress. It’s sort of boho chic which is a style she’s favored in the past. I felt the same way about the comments on her wedding dress. I do not believe for a second that such a list and well respected fashion houses like Givenchy or de la Renta are clueless when it comes to fit. Her clothes fit the way they are supposed to. She’s making style choices that apparently some disagree with but I am confident it is not an error in the fit of her clothes. I think she looks lovely and romantic and whimsical. Perfect for a wedding guest.

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    1. Anon, I completely agree with you.

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    2. Anon 15:40, I am not a fan of her dress but I agree I do not think it is too big. That is the look.

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    3. I agree, the design is what is drawing the negative opinions, not the fit. I think Meghan has worn a few loose-fit gowns to film events before, if I am remembering rightly. So it seems to be part of her signature style, which is much more complex than we first thought.

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    4. Agree fashion houses DO know how to do their work!

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  41. I love the dress. I love the entire outfit. It's a nice surprise. Thanks Charlotte.

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  42. The dress is much better at the video.

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  43. Oh, my poor, dear Meghan – what a shame. I have to ask for forgiveness here as I never normally stoop to such low comparison , but this is when I miss good ol’ safe Kate. Certainly no danger of outdoing the bride here.



    Can I find a positive? Well, I’m sure the fabric is lovely, and I respect that Meghan has branched out into print, the last bold one I can think of was also for a wedding when she and Harry were in Jamaica for Tom Inskip’s nuptials.. Maybe it’s something to do with her thinking she’s ‘off duty’ in a way, and this is some sort of casual and unofficial event.



    I have no doubt that this choice seemed a good idea at the time, but, tragically, I have to give up and say what we have here is a right royal scarecrow. Overwhelmed and understyled. And at almost £4K too!



    A flimsy headpiece on a fragile updo which is no match for stiff breezes is not helping. Such a shock after all the svelte tailoring we’ve been treated to of late and another step along the rocky road to creating a royal wardrobe

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  44. Well I think we've all been there before ... wanted to try something different ... This looks like Meghan deciding she wanted a break from the neutral solids and then way overshooting in the other direction. Unfortunately it looks like wrapped bedsheets. I love Meghan but this is a miss for me.

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  45. Oh, how I really want to love this!!! Beautiful print! Beautiful in theory! Beautiful on the model! Did Meghan have it customized for more coverage or a longer length? Is her frame just too small to carry it off? I would love to see her rework this so it has a more fitted look.

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  46. The breezy summer day and floaty feel about the dress is nice. The way the model wears it looks preferable, with sandals and more defined waist (except that string hanging down out of the flare of the skirt). As to how DOS wore it, she never looked like a dress wore her instead of her wearing it like this dress does (the size, also the hat looks minimalist for the fullness and style of the dress). Still even in this dress, her walk is constant and hers. I realized long time ago she might have acquired a lively kind of walk long time ago which had become a part of her without effort, or had walked this way naturally as a grown up.

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  47. Well, the poor fit of a pretty-ish dress aside, many were dying for Meghan to look more "British" and ditch the "Hollywood" and "American" vibe. Like others English ladies in attendance at this wedding she seems to have opted for a boho interpretation of drapery and upholstery patterns. That's not atypical for English summer weddings.

    Now what do the critics say? I smirk and say: Be careful what you wish for.

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    Replies
    1. Philly, please don't think that the 'boho' look is in any way regulation British wedding guest attire - it's not. Yes, some members of the aristocracy seem to have taken to wearing floral maxi-length dresses to society weddings lately, but there are still many who don't (if you can find an image, look at Countess Spencer's dress for this wedding, for example). Most ordinary members of the British public don't wear this kind of thing to weddings either - I'm going to one in a couple of months' time and I won't be wearing a loose-fitting, floral maxi dress. The only unwritten 'rules' for wedding outfits in the UK are pretty much the same as I suspect they are anywhere: don't wear all white to avoid drawing comparisons with the bride and some people frown on black because it's too funereal. Many people also think it's respectful to cover your shoulders (i.e. have a dress with sleeves) for a church wedding, but that's about it. Meghan could easily have chosen to wear a more streamlined outfit without being thought of as un-British.

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  48. I actually like everything about this outfit. I like that it’s loose and flowy, and supposed to be oversized. I like her hair and her hat too. It looks loose and breezy and casual enough for a country wedding with family.

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  49. I agree with you, Casey. I would love to see her again in this dress but after she has had it tailored one size smaller.

    I am wondering if some of these clothes were bought several months ago and she lost weight before the wedding.

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  50. Not my favorite, but I love that she is not wearing the awkward “4 inches above the knee” length that so many of the British upper classes do. She is definitely pushing the style envelope with this, and thank goodness for that! This dress would look great at a beach wedding..sans hat of course (I have a great antipathy towards hats) IMO it’s impossible to be stylish in a hat.

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  51. Here’s a link to a great article debunking all the accusations that Meghan has broken royal protocol. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a21347613/meghan-markle-is-not-breaking-royal-protocol/

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    Replies
    1. Oh, if only I could make this required reading. The article touches on all of the issues I've had with the discussion, from fans and critics alike, on Meghan since the engagement. The continual flashy, throwaway, and ultimately meaningless use of protocol in order to praise or criticise has been driving me nuts. As has the need to paint her as some revolutionary, positively or negatively, through her clothes. Not only do I find it unhelpful, but I think it can also be a disservice to her in the long-run. I saw Arbiter's initial tweet, but she and the writer go deeper in the article. Thanks for sharing it!

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    2. I hope Charlotte will post that article so we can all comment on it, I think at this stage we need to discuss this issue.

      Delete
    3. It is a nice article in support of MM/DOS. The hateful critics who make some of her styles good ammunition to point out faults aside; this is an independent woman who experimented with her style in public as MM. Otherwise different commenters are from various backgrounds, conservative monarchy to the most liberal Hollywood. If viewers of her style weigh in, including reference to the rules (yes the rules did say no bare shoulders), or don’t find it to their taste, they have the right to share their opinion. British Victoria Arbiter with access to BRF, now a US TV channel contributor seems protective, which is nice. I hope she also considers honest views of the public and acknowledge it reasonably in the future.

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    4. LOVE this article. It says everything necessary, and of course I love the utter logic of the analysis.

      Delete
    5. Thanks! That was worth reading.

      Delete
    6. By the way she looked stylish at the Trooping of the colors event. It also takes the public adapting to unfamiliar styles for the occasion. Some adapt to it fast and like it, others find it “pushing the boundary”, some see nothing wrong with it, and others react to what looks unfamiliar in a certain setting. It seems the purpose of forums is to get different viewpoints without one’s views imposing on others. If anything, to convince others to adapt to the change is better than criticize commenters’ reaction. Sleeveless is at the discretion of the person who wears it, and not much wrong there. If legs are exposed what is wrong with arms being seen except unless the occasion specifies otherwise.

      Delete
    7. Amen! This article is spot on!

      Delete
    8. The article is excellent in my eyes. And I wholeheartedly agree with the rest of your posts.
      The over the top negative or positive comments on Meghan are quite irritating in my eyes. The over the top negative ones are often mean and insulting or worse (definitely not talking about the criticism voiced here) and the over the top positive ones seem to be deluded into thinking that she would shake up the BRF and the society and even the world- which she certainly won't. Their family and their way of representing Britain will change but those changes are normal as time goes by, societies develop and change. I am sure we will see the biggest changes should Charles ever ascend the throne (my bet is he actually wont- she might not be able to do the job anymore but I can see her dying after her son).
      Those people do her a big disservice in my eyes.
      C.

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    9. Thank you mari vale, it’s a good read and a good down to earth approach to what royal protocol really means.
      What I really enjoyed further down on that page was a link to a video clip where Princess Anne talks about a kidnapping attempt in the 1970’s. She was calm as a cucumber and added so much dry humour into it, it really made my day.
      Royal 👑 Watcher

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  52. Love this, Meghan definitely being Meghan, just look at her choices in coats at the events she attended in the winter. I am so glad she is choosing dresses that are her style. Do I like it? Would I buy something similar for myself? no. But it's absolutely in her wheelhouse (whatever that means). Time for everyone who wants her to wear tailored and close fitting choices to let it go.

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  53. I love this outfit. I wish I was slender enough to pull off the oversized look. I love the messy bun and Harry looks so much more relaxed these days.

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  54. She and Harry both look good. I think the dress looks fine on her I am just not a big fan of the print or the high/lo hem or the neckline. My real problem is with the hat. It is just perched on her head in a not very good way. I saw a photo of Lady Kitty Spencer, she looked great, I actually did not love the print of her dress either but the hat and dress etc just all worked better.

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  55. 🌸 A $3,922 miss. :(

    Only because of fit. Love free and floey, and love, love, love toile and blue and white for an English aristocratic wedding. I even love the messy hair and perched white floral hat.
    But the fit. The bodice is not attractive (see frontal photos).
    It would be attractive if it was a size or two smaller. Even then it would still be free and flowy, only in an attractive way. Someone said the dress fits because the shoulder seams fit. If you look closely they don’t.
    Yes the designers should “know” what they are doing.
    Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Or maybe they just let Meghan have what she wants, regardless.
    OR, as MD said, perhaps she ordered the dress before the Royal wedding and has lost weight. That would have to be a lot of weight though.
    Even free, flowy and romantic only count if the dress makes sense, as in proper fit. If it very much overwhelms, and this dress did, it spoils the effect.

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    Replies
    1. The dress on the pictured model fits the same way. I suspect the aesthetic is intentional and not a mistake design-wise. That's separate from whether or not it's a look well suited to Meghan.

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    2. Surfer Girl that number you quote is in British pounds…so the dress was more like $5,400 in USA$. So it was a bigger miss than you anticipated.

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    3. 🌸 Philly. 😊 I hear what you are saying. I looked again at the model’s dress and the fit and Meghan’s and I still think Meghan’s dress fits a lot differently. 🤷‍♀️
      To me, Meghan’s still looks like the wrong size on her.😉

      Delete
    4. 🌸 Laura. 😊 ruh roe. And if it was a bespoke version of that dress, double ruh roe. 😳😉

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  56. It's an Italian dress for a wedding or a summer party on the beach..all Europe media is saying that..., without the fascinator and in sandals..

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  57. Jessica in Los Angeles17 June 2018 at 17:57

    I’m changing my original opinion. For some reason the videos aren’t showing up on this blog post for me (I’m on an iPhone), so I went to DM and watched their arrival video. This dress looks much better in a live shot! It’s definitely a loose, flowy fit which is coming into style more. I thought it was actually quite lovely in the video, it just didn’t photograph well. She was wearing a lovely summery flower dress which seemed along the lines of everyone else.

    Can I ask, I saw comments that her hat was not placed well. Where is it supposed to go?

    I love the way Harry looks at her when they’re walking. He’s clearly so happy to be with her and make sure she’s comfortable. Nice to see newlyweds who are so in love.

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    Replies
    1. Fascinators are usually placed at a high angle. This one looked like it was placed flat on her head and the mid Part to her hair looked odd, like she didn’t want to wear a hat at all.

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    2. Fascinators go much father forward on the forehead. They serve the purpose of hats, but they are not worn back on the head like hats.

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    3. If you look at regular fascinator wearers, it looks like it is worn more forward at a jaunty angle. Since this one is anchored on a headband (like most are i think) she is wearing it like a standard headband and I personally think it’s too far back which makes it look haphazard and like a wad of tissue is stuck to her head. As an American I Am only assuming since I read these blogs and that’s how they seem to be worn! I’m sure she will figure it out!

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  58. 🌸 So happy that Harry has a Princess to keep him company at weddings and the wedding receptions from now on. 🙂

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  59. 🌸 Get ready for Ascot.🎉

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    1. Is it sure they will attend?

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    2. Ascot! Yay!

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  60. 🌸 P.S. If you look at the dress on the model there is a lot less fabric on the bodice and therefore a lot less looseness. The dress actually fits her. Seems to be
    a lot less fabric on the skirt also. If, Meghan’s is bespoke, then it just became a $5,000+ miss.

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    Replies
    1. SG 18:28, the dress on the model is not photographed from the front. If you look carefully at her sleeves and Meghan's they look about the same. I suspect it would look very similar from the front on the model as well. I suspect that is the intent of the design.

      It reminds me rather of playing in granny's cast off print dresses as little girls. How elegant and smashing we thought we looked swanning around.

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  61. This wedding was a perfect occasion for Meghan to see the famous Spencer tiara!

    I don't really cear if the dress is or is not beautiful,this is a private event,she can wear whatever she likes.
    Meghan and Harry look very happy,this is the most important!

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  62. This was such a change from Meghan's sleek and simple style that we've seen so far! I like the flowy look from the waist down including the high/low hemline, but it isn't doing Meghan any favors from the waist up. On another note it was a treat to see the Spencer tiara in public again. It is a beautiful tiara!

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  63. I like the pattern and summery style of the dress, it would be much nicer a size smaller so she isn’t swimming in it. I always love a messy bun - on myself and on anyone else.

    I wish she had worn sandals so it goes with the summery feel of the dress. I do love that we are seeing interaction with Diana’s side of the family and that they are still in contact with them. So often we only hear about the Queen’s family and Diana’s get overlooked even though the boys are 1/2 Spencer.

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  64. It’s lovely to see Harry arrive at a wedding with a beloved plus one. I like the dress on Meghan but for the first time, I have to say that it hides her beauty. I don’t really like the hat as it is worn on Meghan. Her hats so far have framed her face beautifully, drawing attention to how lovely she is. This hat just seems perched on her head serving no purpose. It almost like this is an attempt by Meghan to blend into the background. Meghan has great carriage and is naturally stunning so hard for her to fade away. Just an aside, I was looking at her vanity fair cover, freckles and all, and she has a great girl next door vibe as well.

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  65. I think this is a beautiful flowy dress for an English summer wedding. MM is naturally trying to fit in to local styles but still keeping it fresh. She’s ahead of us all with an oversized look although I do agree that a smaller size and better hat placement would be a good move. VB mostly wears slouchy styles these days and she’s considered very stylish.

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    1. Yes, VB does, and they mostly work for her even though she's shorter than Meghan. I think perhaps VB's slouchy outfits are better tailored to her measurements than this dress was for the DOS.

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  66. Imagine my surprise to be reading the Daily Mail regarding King Felipe's and Queen Letizia's US tour and then to stumble upon the heading about Meghan and Harry attending his cousin's wedding! Then imagine my dismay at Meghan's outfit!

    I applaud Meghan for dressing for an English country wedding, which is mere supposition on my part as I am American. But this is a miss for me. And I am stunned at the price tag for that dress! It looks like drapes that someone fashioned into a dress! Think Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind! No amount of tayloring could have salvaged this! The only saving grace is Meghan's happy countenance and believe it or not, it flatters her one visible leg!

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  67. Sadiepoo Arizona17 June 2018 at 20:13

    I think this dress could have been beautiful if more fitted like on the model. Way to big for her. Fitted version would have been flowing and gorgeous

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  68. I absolutely love the pattern and color, but the dress is not flattering. All that fabric overpowers her figure. With a shorter length (slightly shorter sleeves and a shorter hemline), it would absolutely hit the nail on the head.

    I don't know what she wore to Pippa's wedding, but we do know that she accompanied Harry and was privy to what women wear to British weddings. Therefore, I find the length of this dress somewhat awkward. H&M were going to stand out regardless of what she wore, but this slightly out of the box choice (lengthwise) was a bit over the top *IMO*.

    Meghan is a new member of the RF and I fully expect to see a lot of new clothing, but I don't think an occasional recycle would hurt. If H&M do go to Ascot, I would love to see the blue dress that she wore to watch Harry play polo. Add chic accessories and change it up a bit, and it could be a stunning, and sensible, option for one of their appearances. Call me crazy, but I think it's too early in the game to bring out the big guns for each appearance. Just my two cents.

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    Replies
    1. Zora from Prague18 June 2018 at 08:16

      I'm not going to call you crazy, royalfan 😀. There's nothing wrong with repeats; on the contrary, it's always nice to see a pretty piece again. Plus, it shows a kind of modesty in the person - there's no need to stun everyone with a new dress every time, even if one can afford it. I believe Meghan will do that.

      Delete
    2. 🌸 rf and Zora. 😊 I also so hope Meghan recycles and often. It would just somehow seem to fit more with their stated desires for helping people. It would be a nice gesture. Don’t cha think?

      And, as I have said before, Kate, Autumn, Sophie, Beatrice, Eugenie, (not Anne), and Meghan doing charity auctions to help clear their closets would be SO COOL. 🤗

      Delete
  69. Imagine my surprise to be reading the Daily Mail regarding King Felipe's and Queen Letizia's US tour and then to stumble upon the heading about Meghan and Harry attending his cousin's wedding! Then imagine my dismay at Meghan's outfit!

    I applaud Meghan for dressing for an English country wedding, which is mere supposition on my part as I am American. But this is a miss for me. And I am stunned at the price tag for that dress! It looks like drapes that someone fashioned into a dress! Think Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind! No amount of tayloring could have salvaged this! The only saving grace is Meghan's happy countenance and believe it or not, it flatters her one visible leg!

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  70. I'm not sure my first comment went through (Charlotte, is Blogspot having issues with the comments section lately?) so I'll try to remember my thoughts from my original post.

    This overall look is a rare miss for me. I love flowy, bohemian dresses, the soft blue color, and the fact that Meghan is experimenting with a print (and toile, no less!), but the way-oversized fit and the messy hair just look sloppy in the end. Had this dress been more fitted somewhere, then I think it would've been a success. I agree with Charlotte that cinching it in at the waist would achieve the desired result. As it is on Meghan, it's just *too* flowy. Very summery, though, and doesn't upstage the bride!

    The hat is a complete no for me. Just no.

    What a delightful and unexpected surprise to see Harry and Meghan today, though! I always enjoy seeing them in off-duty settings. It's extra interesting today to see him interacting with the Spencer side, because I know hardly anything about them. How daunting it must be for Meghan to try and keep up with the millions of relatives Harry has lol!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Becca,

      I haven't noticed any issues at the moment, but I didn't receive your first comment. There are certain compatibility issues with some browsers/devices from time to time. Do let me know if it happens again and I'll do my best to resolve it.

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    2. It might be my browser, then! I'll try a different one. Thanks, Charlotte!

      Delete
  71. Wow, that dress is really wearing Meghan. I know the bodice is supposed to be blouson, but it's too long so blouses too much. I think the same is true for the sleeves. Pretty color, though. I think if the fit had been trimmer and if the skirt had been shorter, say just below the knee, the dress would have been a hit. Alas, we'll never know. Also, hat looks plonked, but kudos for wearing one. It takes time...

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  72. I'm all on board for more colors or print on Meghan (although I'm not complaining of her neutral palette because it's really flattering with her skin tone). But please, let it be the right size! I think it's the main problem here rather than the blousy and fussy style. 

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  73. The thing that interest me is that everybody has been talking about Meghan’s simple & minimalist style, all her official outfits has been no-fuss. But then she steps out in her private time in this dress that is the epitome of fuss. Blousy, fussy sleeves, high-low hem, wrap dress in a print.

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  74. Glad to see the Spencers and it was wonderful seeing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in attendance at the wedding. Nice pics of the church and very interesting info on the Spencer Tiara. Thanks, Charlotte.

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    Replies
    1. Marcia you are a kind person, judging from your posts and yes it was wonderful seeing the Duke and Duchess :)

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  75. Yay for Meghan not being in a neutral, but not yay for the fact it looks 2 sizes too big. It's a no from me.

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  76. We’re slowly stepping out of the neutral category, teeny steps but we’re getting there!

    Sadly, apart from that I’m not a fan, maybe if it was better fitted and short enough for her to walk in. Nice to see her in a hat, outside of royal engagements, it looks a bit plonked on there but it must take a while to get used to hat wearing so that’s less of an issue than the dress for me.

    The bride looks lovely, the dress just seems to suit her and fits her perfectly. Hair and tiara (yay for the Spencer getting to see the daylight) look really good too, off to find out if there are any better pictures of the bride wearing the tiara...

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  77. honestly, if she had worn this to polo, i would have said ok (even though i think the red color is better as to avoid looking like a china pattern). but it's dreadful for the occasion, especially when i looked at photos of other guests. better luck next time...

    Annie
    NY, USA

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  78. Yes it's a lovely dress but a miss for Meghan. It's just too big! (I wish i had her figure). Agree with others should have been downsized and what's up with the hat. Windy day didn't help. We're all entitled to a few "bad hair" days. Blueskygal AZ USA

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  79. Clever of MM to slip in a low V-neckline while everyone is complaining about too much material. :) It is really growing on me and in part because of the blue-and-white fabric. But why is it so expensive??

    I bet it looked a lot form-fitting when she could walk on a flat surface. I noticed the women walking down to the royal wedding looked like they were teetering, too.

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  80. Oh my. I don't hate it. But I dislike it immensely. If it fit I would wear it, without the valences in the hem. But boy is it bad match to occasion. I think this might be more about culture issue than anything else. I can imagine it might be hard to figure out country society wedding for someone from LA circles. Hat and hair I do hate. Up do and hat need to be up-do and hat.

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  81. I've been waiting to see if this dress would grow on me....sorry to say, no. I love the messy hair look, but IMO this messy look continued throughout this outfit. I think I miss that polished look one might wear to a wedding.

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  82. So disappointed in this look. The dress is far too big for her and wears her not the other way round. The hat looks disjointed to me for some reason (maybe looking a bit plonked on top of her head) and her hair looks a total mess. Sadly, an epic failure for me. Thought the bride and Kitty looked amazing.

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  83. Joy from Gloucester17 June 2018 at 22:54

    Hi Charlotte, do you know whether the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge also went to the wedding, after all William is also cousins with Celia.
    Perhaps they managed to avoid the photographers.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Joy,

      The photographer and the reporters said they were not present :)

      Delete
    2. I wonder why the Cambridge’s were not there?

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  84. I like baggy and loose fits - especially in the summer. But this one seems not to fit Meghan. The sleeves look too big from the shoulders on down to the wrists. I think this might have worked if it had been specially altered for Meghan, and had the back hem raised up to at least her mid calf. Then the dress might not have overwhelmed her quite so much. As for the headpiece - I really hate facinators. This one seems far too puffy atop her head. Maybe she just not a bow on the top of the head gal.

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  85. I think this was an intentional “miss”—she’s trying not to steal the show from the bride and groom. If she wore some amazing dress all eyes would be on her. I think it was a classy move.

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  86. What a lovely wedding and great to see the Spencer family being supported by DoS. Great to see the Spencer tiara out too. It’s surprising how different it looks, it seemed to dazzle on Diana ( maybe from all the flash lights ) but here it has a more modest look to it.

    Fashion wise - I like the idea of this, and the print but it’s a miss from me I’m afraid for the reasons Charlottes stated. And it’s seems a very expensive couture dress which pains me to make a miss also. For that price you’d think they’d ensure it was fitted correctly? I was getting used to the florals etc of Erdem for the last few years and maybe now this “oversized” look is going to become another trend and were just not used to it.

    I think there’s also a bit of an off balance with the M&S hat (which by contrast is surprisingly cheap!)

    Hoping that we will see something of them this week at Ascot.

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  87. Oh, I just love it! The flowy, floral dress for an English country wedding. If it was cheaper, I would copy this look. She looks beautiful & not stealing from the bride by showing off her svelte figure. The loose fit was most likely intentional. Perfect! Love how happy they are together & with extended family.

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  88. Aquazzura confirmed she wore a bespoke pair of their shoes on Instagram

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  89. I think she looks lovely. I would totally wear that dress! It’s so floaty and feminine. I also love that Harry wears a wedding band and how happy they are together. Best wishes to the Sussexes!

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  90. Initially I thought "oh dear, what a horrible miss/mess" when I saw this dress. It seemed so atypical for Meghan. The more I looked at it, the more I liked it. I think it's another hit for me, perhaps because it's such a different look for her. It's perfect for the occasion - a lovely British wedding. Overall I think she pulls the look together brilliantly. I expect there will be some criticism, but it's undeserved in my view. This look is a break from her usual, and she carries it off beautifully. Thanks for a wonderful post.

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  91. While I don't like Meghan's dress because I simply do NOT like high-low hems, and because it looks too big on her, I don't really care. She and Harry look so happy! And that's all I really care about. I do wonder if Meghan lost weight in the lead-up to her own wedding, which is not uncommon, so right now her clothes are a bit big on her. But it could just be the dress style. I have no idea, obviously, and I don't really care!

    I do like that she wore such an affordable fascinator, though, not to mention one with some frou-frou stuff on it! She was clearly doing what Kate does at weddings and dressing to not draw attention away from the bride. Which is very sweet of her! And Harry appears to not care *what* she wears -- she could be in a sack and he'd love it, it's pretty easy to tell! And that's all I care about, that they're happy together.

    Plus the bride was beautiful! So fortunate to have such a beautiful family tiara to wear on her special day, too -- the Spencer family tiara is one of my all-time favorites! So beautiful!

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  92. Love the idea of the dress but it's huge on her! I know it's supposed to be a relaxed fit but it just looked too big. Respect for choosing affordable millinery but don't think it really suited her or the style of the dress.

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  93. Something about this dress makes her look like Pippa again.

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  94. 🌸 True. The fact that the Spencer family wedding was again on Harry’s calendar is very good. Very noteworthy.
    No doubt he and Meghan and their children will stay close to the Spencers.

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  95. Oh i love the dress im im in love with the couple i think its not the duchesd of sussex fashion ... style it would good duchess cambridge wear that summery dress

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  96. Oh I hope all the negative comments do Not deter Meghan from doing flowy or floral in the future. I actually like her fresh style and the fact that she is staying true to herself. I also like the fact that her wardrobe is not predictable. I think we can agree that we all hope that she never goes in that direction. Predictable is boring. We have longed for someone just like Meghan in the royal family, Someone who is classy, edgy, fashionable, romantic, spirited and surprising-Meghan delivers on all points. I have said it before and I will say it over and over again that all of these top fashion designers designs are terrible, I have Never seen anything on a runway that is wear worthy. When the designers do bespoke it seems much better but when they are designing for the runway or four models, their designs look ridiculous, just think, when you wear a runway piece in a setting where everyone else is dressed normal then all you get is weird, Even Lady Kitty looked as if she was wearing something off the rack. Which brings me to my own rules for fashion- if you are doing flowy at the bottom, then the sleeves must and the top must be more fitted and vice versa, also if you are doing a pattern and flowy then it’s an absolute must to have your shoulders and neckline tidy and neat, also if you’re doing flowy and flowery then it’s an absolute must for your hair to be perfectly in place and a simple straightforward tidy hat!

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    Replies
    1. Caroline In Montana18 June 2018 at 18:08

      I wish meghan would have followed your rules for fashion! this dress really swallows her up and is so not flattering to her figure also it is too short in the front, no one needs to see that much of her leg, good thing she didn't go down when she slipped!



      Delete
  97. I liked Meghan’s entire look and I can’t believe there’s so much criticism for someone attending a private wedding. It seems to have been a lovely country wedding where many women were wearing floral dresses, to me, Meghan blended in with them. I like that Meghan’s dress had a splash of colour and also looked flowy and comfortable. It was the brides day to shine.

    I think back to Harry & Meghan’s engagement interview where they both described meeting with family and friends during their courtship, I’m so glad that they were able to accomplish this way from the general public.

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  98. What a lovely surprise for us to have a peek at this family occasion for H and M. The bride looked beautiful, the guests so elegantly attired. And the church, an impressive setting.
    FWIW I liked M's outfit a lot, a change from her on-duty choices.
    Bess out West

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  99. https://maddersonlondon.com/collections/womenswear/products/elizabeth-dress-wisteria

    If I were dressing Meghan, I would have suggested something like this lovely print, perhaps in a bespoke pattern, The neck and sleeve of this dress would have been excellent on Meghan, I would have lengthened it a bit however...

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  100. https://www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productid=0116-1847-040000&productvarid=0116-1847-040000-IVORY-1SIZE&EL_COUNTRY=GB&EL_CURR=GBP&EL_LANG=EN

    Love this fascinator by Hobbs, and the wisteria pattern in the above dress is feminine and happy without being fussy and in your face, just don’t care for the drop waist but love the top!!

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  101. I get the whimsical, romantic look she was perhaps going for, but everything together really seems to overpower her slender frame. Maybe it would have worked with a different hairstyle and different type of hat or better placement of this hat; however, as it is, the entire look with this dress, hat and messy bun appears too disheveled. Her pre-British style definitely did not include anything that looked so loose and overwhelming. While I applaud her for experimenting and taking this kind of risk, I hope she'll soon find her true British style, although it will be very challenging trying to achieve this while being so visible and dealing with so many other changes in her new life. The last two outfits were beautiful and fitted her extremely well, in my opinion, but this dress needed some alterations.

    Lovely though to see her and Harry so happy and keeping up with the Spencers. Hopefully, we'll see a few of them at the christening in July. Who knows; maybe another Spencer will even be selected to be Louis's God-parent as Laura was with Charlotte.

    Appreciate the pictures and historical information about the church of St. Andrew and St. Mary's. Is there any setting more perfect for a wedding than an old English church in a beautiful country churchyard? Perhaps this was Meghan's inspiration?

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  102. She put on the print her shoulders covered lol but for some it will never go. In short it is a dress I found it beautiful and romantic in it and especially I was pleasantly surprised to see my favorite couple this weekend

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  103. It's a lovely dress but for the wrong occasion. I think it would've been great for a polo event or even Ascot. But not for a wedding.

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  104. Does anyone happen to know why Harry usually wears a yellow vest to weddings and Will wears a blue vest at weddings? (It seems to be the same outfit at weddings that they attend). Is there a particular reason for that?

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    1. I was wondering the same thing! I honestly hate the color of Harry’s vest that he wears every wedding especially when the rest of his outfit is so nice.

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  105. I hate the dress and fascinator on her! However the bride looks lovely and fabulous in Diana's tiara! I wish meghan wore it for her wedding

    Thanks Charlotte

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    1. Caroline In Montana18 June 2018 at 18:02

      not exactly Diana's tiara, it's the spencer tiara that goes back about 100 years and is in the the possession of the spencer's, not the windsors.

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  106. My original comment didn’t come through, so I still think it’s too big, no matter what people say, this style of Dress needs to be fitted in the body to look flattering. I’m thinking 1930’s style tea dress, there are so many beautiful versions of long floral dresses out there at the moment that I can’t believe she paid so much for this. do you think someone is advising her with her clothes, Jessica Mulroney dresses completely different to Meghan and I just can’t see choosing her clothes. If I was a new duchess, I would definitely look for help and advice. I know Natasha Archer orders Kate’s clothes and I would imagine helps her choose them. I’m can’t wait to see what she will wear for Ascot. Hopefully we will love it! Sinead

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  107. Silvia from Tuscany18 June 2018 at 08:30

    The only problem with the dress is in the waist area. It's too abundant and Meghan's slim figure disappears in it. The model fits it much better because the dress has less blouse effect in the waist. For the rest the dress is very nice and appropriate for a countryside english marriage. As for the hat, it seems to me just not well placed, but I'm not at all an expert.

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  108. Nicole from France18 June 2018 at 09:00

    As’ a person who hardly button up a coat and love flowing clothes , although beeing slim , I can’t but like Meghan’s dress ! The print is’ reminiscent’ of Toile de Jouy , and such a nicely flowing material on a slim figure looks awfully dream-like, tight fitting (like earl Spencer’s wife .....) drives me crazy sometimes .... however I would have added a blue leather belt to make the dress look « finished » , if you see what I mean . On the contrary, I am not really enthousiastic with that white fascinator .... I’d say Meghan made a try to mix her style with the old traditional flowery English style .....with that twist of provocation of the high-low hemline ! I do doubt the clothe was oversized, anyway , it is meant to be worn that way , both Meghan and OdlR are too,professional to,make such a basic mistake .....

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  109. I guess this is exactly what Meghan likes to wear on private occasions. She had this tendency to more wide or bohemian silhouettes before (her coats for example). Now, I am no fan and lots of commentators have already written very elaborately about what I don't like about the look.
    What indeed makes it worse is the combination with white heels and the generic fascinator. This can be seen as a standard British wedding guest look for younger woman: flowery dress and fascinator/hair pieces. BUT it looks like one of the weddings where people are extremely drunk after a couple of minutes. The elements are there but carried out poorly. This kind of fascinator doesn't look classy with this dress and white heels are a topic for themselves. Bohemian dresses can look very woodland fairy like or more hippie/hobo like. The first one is the look you mostly see at British country weddings (or at least they try) the other one is more suitable for beach or VERY relaxed weddings. Sadly I would see the outfit as suitable for the second setting but the actual wedding was the first one (I mean there was a tiara- that in itself makes it NOT a simple affair).
    That said, Meghan should wear whatever she likes in her private time and find things she likes and are perfectly suitable when she is on duty. In the end there will always be someone who doesn't like what she wears. I really liked her work looks after her wedding (and the general look of her wedding dress) but I never liked what she prefers in her private fashion choices. In the end it is a simple, superficial matter of personal taste.
    C.

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    1. Nicely said. There has been an excessive amount of criticism of this outfit and I was going to mention that this is a PRIVATE event. Can anyone imagine if we were photographed and published internationally then have everything we were publicly critiqued and often excessively criticized? It's just absurd and so superficial. No doubt she is sticking to her pre-marriage choice of not reading any articles about her. So glad they had a lovely day with family! It looked like a full family affair!

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    2. I agree that it was a private affair and it’s not an official outing but I also think that when they look back at photos, she’ll be swallowed up by the dress. I’m sure they’re just like the rest of us and take pictures to have as memories or to put up in their home - I don’t think they’ll be flattering to her at all. She’s beautiful but this does her no justice.

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  110. Oh wow. I have been a big big Diana fan since I was 13/14 years old when she got married. Fastforward to 2014 I self-published a Christen book called Bride Adorned. I wanted a crown/tiara on the cover and the layout artist found and bought rights to use one I liked. Not till today when I, one of her biggest fans, read this post, did I ever expect or realize it was a pic of Diana's tiara!! I dont know how I missed it but when I saw the photo of the Spencer tiara on the purple velvet I immediately recognized my book cover!! This is so amazingly special! I cant put a pic here so I will just add the amazon link not to advertize my book but show the cover!! https://www.amazon.com/Bride-Adorned-Lize-Dumon-ebook/dp/B019RNCMXI?keywords=Bride+adorned&qid=1529317141&sr=8-2&ref=mp_s_a_1_2

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    1. What a thrill for you, Lize.

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  111. It is good (actually a relief for some who worried about him) to know Mr. Thomas Markel Sr. had recovered. It was good to hear him speak, and out of recovery. The content of his conversation to Pierre Morgan is a different matter. It is also good news for the couple he is better, as his health issues and her relationship with her father had raised some doubts, and an issue a week before the wedding. Life goes on with bumps here and there. Over all in life, perseverance is a reasonable constant as needed.

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    1. This comment is very generous of you Anon15, you are a much more gracious person than I. I'm appalled by this interview. All Mr. Markel seems worried about is HIS image and the fact that HE'S a "footnote in history", I don't sense any concern about his daughter or how his actions affected, what should be, the happiest day of her life, no it's all about him.

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    2. I agree completely---he is subtle but very selfish.

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    3. To me Thomas Markle is a well intentioned man, who seems to lack in judgement as to when to speak or not speak. He is a bit of a PR nightmare. While I understand his desire to improve his image, he doesn't have a clue how to go about it. This interview with Piers Morgan was painful to watch, as Thomas was so uncomfortable. Piers was his usual manipulative and enquiring self and was clearly out of line with the grilling about Harry's opinions of Trump and Brexit. But Meghan and Harry have to take some of the blame for things related to her Dad. If lines of communication were open and frequent, none of this would be happening. As much as it is said that Meghan is close to her Dad, she has not seen him since his health issues arose and she has not introduced Harry to her father in person. Something is clearly just not right here. In his defence for this interview, Piers Morgan has said, that Thomas Markle was left to fly in the wind, without support. Meghan and Harry should meet with Thomas Markle. They must impress upon him the need for discretion. They should to be in frequent touch and insist that Thomas consult them before allowing the media to have any access. They have let Thomas down and now in turn, he is letting them down…not to be mean spirited, but because he doesn't know how to handle any of this.

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    4. Eve from Germany18 June 2018 at 16:36

      Lauri, I agree with you. If it had been about his daughter´s wellbeing and happiness, he´d have his mouth kept firmly shut. I realized that there were issues when it was revealed in the engagement interview that Harry hadn´t met him yet, but admired him when he firmly refused to say anything more to reporters et al than "I´m happy for her" and that was basically it. This pre-wedding disaster, though, changed my mind, which made me very sad for Meghan. This interview, unfortunately, just fits right into what happened pre-wedding...

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    5. He was excoriated in the press. I think it is sort of natural for him to want to set the record straight.

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    6. I agree with you Laura er al, it was an embarrassing watch, seemingly no one knew at Kensington Palace before hand he was doing it either. How do you do that to your own daughter? I can’t quite figure it all out about their relationship. I would have thought by now he would have got some guidance too about how to handle the press. Lessons should have be learned.
      I can’t help thinking that he’s been coerced into this by Piers Morgan who manipulated at he interview and now is milking it for all it’s worth. In trying to restore his image he’s wandered into the same trap again he did with those photos.
      How it’s contrasted with her mother, who’s held a magnificent and dignified silence and won the hearts of the nation. It’s all just too sad as I believe he’s probably an endearing gentle man.

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  112. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  113. Susan in Florida18 June 2018 at 14:09

    While I appreciate the boho look, on tiny women , it HAS to be tailored. A bespoke reworking of the top, and shorter sleeves would have flattered the DoS more. I do love this print for a wedding. The unfitted wrap at the top , on her , looks like a bathrobe. The over all big appearance of the dress makes it look like an outer coat for a shorter dress. That’s what I was expecting when I saw the photo.

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    1. 🌸 Susan in Florida. 😊 Meghan herself has said that tailoring is key. She misplaced the key on this one, I agree. A $3,900 key.

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  114. Just read one account of Mr Markle's interview and it was rather offensive that he would tell things his daughter did/said/wants to the world. I am sure he loves her but he has a bit of self-centeredness---saying he was jealous that Prince Charles walked MM while he did not prepare very well to do it himself. Wish he would just shut up. Can we start a GoFundMe to pay him to shut up instead of selling these interviews?

    I remember when blousons were in and sleeves were full and flowy---perhaps we are so used to the body-fitting clothes of today (and whose horrible idea was that?) that we forget the 60s and the 70s?

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  115. I have only one word that comes to mind......... Whaaaaa???? I'm curious what the rest of you will have thought? I get the desire to wear something soft.... but I think there would be many other options that would have been more flattering. I liked the pic of the models, it made the dress look better, but it was still a lot of flowing dress. I love that red toile number, but I'm guessing it would be too low cut for such an event. Well, now I'm curious what the rest of you thought! I will say it was nice to see H&M out & about with The Spencer Clan! Maybe this would have been an occasion for a bespoke version of the dresses, made with one of the toile prints? Yeah..... all I can end with is Oh My!!!!

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    1. I think it depends on what lens we're looking through... I'm with this one from The Telegraph, "Meghan’s choice yesterday was easy on the eye, and not overpowering in any way." Harry's tie matched the blue of her dress :)
      Bess out West

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  116. The most unfortunate area for me is the waist, because MM is shortwaisted and has a natural waist that is not hourglass shape but more H shaped. Ad she's not 5 ft 10 in, so there's a lot of fabric in a small area. However, I bet it is tons nicer in person.

    And it is a familiar feeling blue/white print, like the china we have seen for 100s of years, but it is still fresh looking, I think, against that beautiful old church.

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  117. One happy thought---the hat is an inexpensive "what the DoS wore" item that many people can purchase.

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  118. 🌸 uh. I just thought of this, lol. Why weren’t William and Kate at the wedding? That would have made Diana very happy.

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