King Charles' coronation is nearly upon us. Taking place at Westminster Abbey on May 6 with celebrations set to continue over the weekend. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s attendance is not 100% confirmed yet, at the Hello! Fashion offices, we are all thinking the same thing… what on earth will Meghan Markle wear if she does come?
"The coronation is truly a moment in time, 100 years on from it people will be in awe and so Megan would not want to be on the wrong side of that. So when it comes to what to wear it must be carefully considered," explains freelance stylist and creative director Lady Alice Manners.
"Throughout the years of observing royal fashion I have gathered that less is more, Meghan in particular has such a chic and effortless style. The Duchess of Sussex always wears complimentary colours, and is very subtle and poised," adds celebrity stylist Georgie Gray. Many of the traditions and rituals surrounding the event have remained the same in the UK for over a millennia, but this coronation is rumoured to be a far more relaxed occasion than it was in previous years.
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Parliamentary members invited to the coronation have reportedly been told that formal dress is ‘not encouraged’. Regardless, the historic moment still calls for high-octane dresses and we might even see a couple of tiaras like we did at Queen Elizabeth II’s… at least that’s what we’re hoping. "Everyone is attending, the theme is eternal elegance, chic is the code, and royal is the language," says London based art director and costume fashion stylist Barbara Ayozie Fu Safira.
We turned to five stylists to find out what they think the duchess should wear and they broke down the coronation dress code for us:
Nana Acheampong
“Meghan is no stranger to wearing red for big occasions, and it doesn't get much bigger than your father-in-law becoming King of England. Choosing a British designer for the coronation would be the cherry on top. This stunning dress by Emilia Wickstead not only commands attention with its colour, but the intricate leaf detail adds an extra touch of Hollywood style glamour.”
Laura Weatherburn
"The Duchess of Sussex’s style is understated, but never fails to have the wow factor. I’d love to see her champion a British designer at the Coronation, like Emilia Wickstead or Stella McCartney - and how great would a Harris Reed moment be? The rules and regulations with regards to the dress code require some clever styling, so I predict some kind of bespoke cape situation to cover the shoulders, plus some pretty fancy headgear."
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Alice Manners
"I think couture all the way - brands I would love to see her in are Vivienne Westwood, Emilia Wickstead or something like Oscar De La Renta or Elie Saab. A bespoke Vivienne Westwood number could be stunning, as long as it had a heavy dose of grace and taste. The dress should be respectful, covered and not shouting for attention. Elegance and timelessness is key."
Lady Barbara Ayozie Fu Safira
“Meghan steps out of her car the first thing we notice are these amazing precious crystal Valentino Tan-Go pumps, the shoe of a duchess. We begin to look up, she brought passion, Schiaparelli, a long red silhouette-draping dress and for a moment we are transported back to the roman and greek empires. Her long Jil Sanders cream leather gloves are pushed down to create dynamic movement. She hasn't forgotten where she is; to show her tribute to the British Island she holds a little antique Alexander McQueen clutch. Because we all know the importance of reusing something old for the planet. Who's her new stylist? She must be a visionary her name is Lady Barbara Ayozie Fu Safira."
Georgie Gray
"The weekend will be filled with exciting events and I am sure Meghan will not disappoint with her practice of beautiful looks. What I have chosen for her: Oscar de la Renta's elegant gown that has a fitted straight stretch-skirt with a dramatic, oversized taffeta bow at the back, this particular dress is Part of the Resort '23 collection, it has a ruched strapless neckline and falls to a midi length Which we know the Duchess wears well. Finishing off the look with the classic navy Manolo court heels Megan has been known to love and wear throughout her royal appearances."
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