It's one of the best-kept secrets in the United Kingdom: will it be white? Lace or satin? Designed by a British or foreign designer? Two days before the wedding, the suspense is building regarding the wedding dress Meghan Markle will wear.
Unfortunately for fashionistas, it won't be until Saturday that we'll discover what the 36-year-old former actress will wear on the arm of Prince Harry, 33.
Seven years ago, the dress worn by Kate Middleton at her wedding to Prince William, Harry's brother, already generated enormous interest worldwide.
The Duchess of Cambridge chose a white and ivory satin gown, designed by stylist Sarah Burton and made in the Alexander McQueen ateliers, a 100% British creation.
Royal dress code constraints
Meghan, the American, may also have opted for a designer from Her Majesty's kingdom, perhaps to appease public opinion and boost the British fashion industry as she enters the royal family.
For several months, London has been buzzing with rumors about the designer's name: among the most frequently mentioned are Ralph & Russo (pictured: a dress presented in July 2017), designer of the dress in her official engagement photos. Burberry, Stella McCartney, Erdem, Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi, and Roland Mouret have also been mentioned.
The latter, when questioned about this during London Fashion Week in February, dodged the question. "I won't answer," said the French designer, based in London, renowned for his sculptural, chic, and sensual dresses. "She's a friend, and the greatest gift I can give my friends is to keep their lives private."
A great fashion enthusiast, Meghan Markle described her ideal wedding day outfit to Glamour magazine in 2016: "Personally, I prefer whimsical or subtly romantic wedding dresses."
However, the requirements of the "royal dress code" may have limited her options: by marrying Harry, Meghan is also marrying into an institution, the royal family, whose centuries-old traditions, with varying degrees of authority, govern the lives of its members.
"Over the years, royal wedding dresses have become rooted in tradition, while also embracing current trends," explains the official Windsor website.
Another potential complication: does Meghan's previous marriage to film producer Trevor Engelson now prohibit her from wearing white?
"The etiquette surrounding white dresses for second marriages is now much less rigid," suggests Raishma, a designer specializing in wedding dresses, on the Daily Express website. Meghan could "opt for ivory or an off-white shade that would be perfect for her complexion."
Influencers before their time
Whatever the designer, the chosen designer will benefit from unprecedented attention thanks to the wedding. Broadcast by television channels around the world, the ceremony is expected to be watched by tens of millions of people, or more. And the dress will be analyzed from every angle by specialized websites.
While Meghan wore it for just one day, her wedding dress will also be copied and adapted, and worn by other brides-to-be around the world.
The Meghan Markle effect? Not only that, analyzes Sam Coates, a communications professional based in London. "Members of the royal family were influencers long before the term existed [...]. They are capable of propelling a brand to stardom," he told AFP.
The clothes worn by Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, especially those from mainstream brands, already sell particularly well, he notes. So there's no doubt that Meghan's dress will be a unique opportunity for its designer to "benefit from international exposure."
And what about Harry's outfit? It's far, far from generating the same level of interest… In all likelihood, the prince will get married in uniform, a tradition within the royal family.
