You can’t deny that Meghan Markle’s LA friends were a force to be reckoned with at the royal wedding: From Priyanka Chopra in lilac Vivienne Westwood to former Suits star Abigail Spencer who was dressed in Alessandra Rich, but one of her pals struggled to get a bespoke outfit for her friend’s wedding because fashion designers gave her the cold shoulder. True Blood’s Janina Gavankar arrived at St George’s Chapel in Windsor looking striking in an ensemble in the most gorgeous burnt orange hue, but this was not designed for her by any of the big fashion houses because they rejected her stylist’s requests.
True Blood star Janina Gavanka struggled to get a designer outfit for the royal wedding
Her stylist, Niki Schwan took to Instagram to explain what happened: “To be clear, we requested several designer brands & showrooms (for her to wear to the wedding) who either denied us or just ignored us. & obviously, this is not something you ‘shop’ for, as we were committed to creating something special and unique.” She adds that the gorgeous ensemble was only discovered when they gained access to the Western Costume Company’s archives. It was here that they discovered an original 1930s gown that they tweaked and paired with loaned jewellery and a 1940s-style hat. It's worth noting, this is somewhere you can buy Halloween fancy dress outfits from.
If you think she’s bitter, think again, writing: “I kinda love being denied sometimes, it just forces me to work harder, smarter, more creatively & continuously think outside the box!” She added, “Which is what styling is really about. This trio of women KILLED this moment, with their Royal Wedding STRUT (Squad goals for real!) and @janina is one of the single most searched names of those who attended the wedding, due to this moment & we are overwhelmed & grateful by the response to her look. (Too bad to all the brands and showrooms that denied us). Keep on keepin on y’all. Rejection is Gods protection, I always say!”
MORE: See all of the stylish guests at the royal wedding
This is definitely channelling Julia Roberts’s character in Pretty Woman who famously said “Big mistake. Big. Huge” while laden down with bags. Earlier in the movie, two snotty sales assistants wouldn’t serve her because of how she was dressed, but she went back to show them that they royally missed out. Niki did just that.
The happy couple on their wedding day
And in other Pretty Woman-related news, Juliet Angus, a fashion stylist who is pals with Meghan Markle’s former stylist, has revealed that designers wouldn’t even loan Meghan dresses while in Suits. Sharing a lovely photo of the Duchess of Sussex on her wedding day, Juliet captioned the shot: “Hollywood glamour! I remember five years ago trying to help my friend, who at the time was her stylist and no big designers wanted to loan to a #meghanmarkle for her London press trip. Well done, you won’t have that problem anymore. Big mistake, HUGE! #royalwedding #harryandmeghan#stellamccartney.”
Watch video: The best dressed wedding guests at the royal wedding