The Meghan effect heralds a new era of change and modernity

As far as fashion influencers go, there is nothing more dazzling or mesmerizing than royalty. An adoring public has in fact been following the royals’ sartorial choices since time immemorial: when it was de rigueur for brides to wear brightly colored dresses Queen Victoria wore white to her wedding in 1840, effectively changing the bridal color of choice to what it is today. Queen Alexandra set the trend for Swan-bill corsets, high necklines, bustled trains, tartan skirts and chokers from the 1870s to ’80s. Queen Elizabeth’s passion for horses made knee-high boots, jodhpurs and tweed blazers a perennially stylish look, not to mention that her small, top-handle Launer bags are also a fashion staple. After her separation from Prince Charles in 1996, Princess Diana wore a Christina Stambolian LBD which the British press labeled “The Revenge Dress” and started a craze for little black dresses. Kate Middleton, the commoner who became the Duchess of Cambridge by marrying Prince William, made royalty more accessible with fans following her fashion choices: a Red Preen dress she wore at a reception in Canada in 2016 prompted a 240 percent increase in internet searches in the next 24 hours and sold out in all sizes within 10 hours.

The rose diamond earrings by Paris-based Vanessa Tugendhaft, worn by Meghan for Prince Charles’ 70th birthday garden party, sold out in 10 minutes. The matching necklace and bracelets sold out soon after with a long waiting list.

At a Royal Aeronautical Society reception for Women’s Empowerment (one of her advocacies), Meghan wore an LBD by Black Halo together with a Gucci clutch.

The royal couple’s official engagement portrait where Meghan wears a sheer embroidered ensemble from London-based Ralph & Russo.

But if the “Kate Effect” generates so much influence, one can only imagine how much can be generated by Meghan Markle who became the new Duchess of Sussex after marrying Prince Harry last May 19. She is not only a commoner, but an American and a divorcée, not to mention bi-racial. What can be more accessible than that? 

On their first official engagement as a married couple at Prince Charles’ 70th birthday garden party, Meghan wears a dress by GOAT, bespoke hat by Philip Treacy and pumps by Tamara Mellon.

For the Christmas morning celebration with the royal family in Sandringham, Meghan wore a bespoke hat from the British designer Philip Treacy and a camel coat by Sentaler, a brand from Canada; Pixie bag by Chloe; Stuart Weitzman boots; and earrings by Birks, also from Canada where she was shooting the TV series Suits

Going all-American with a J.Crew coat and Altuzarra bag

She was also highly visible as an actress in the popular TV series Suits where she played Rachel Zane, a paralegal turned lawyer who had “intellect, beauty, humor and approachability,” qualities which the producers found in Markle. It was a difficult role to cast, according to Aaron Korsh, the show’s creator, because it required “toughness and attitude while still being likeable.”

At Reprezent Radio in Brixton, South London Meghan wears one of her favorite wide-leg trousers. Searches for wide-leg trousers have increased because of her fondness for them.

Instead of the traditional expectation of a dress, Meghan opted for a stunning black pantsuit with a Tuxe Boss bodysuit underneath for a polished silhouette at the Endeavour Fund Awards.

But what really makes her a fashion influencer is her easy, effortless style that resonates with today’s modern woman. This was evident in her lifestyle blog, The Tig, which inspired many women not just because of what she wore but also because of what she stood for, like racial and gender equality and humanitarian advocacies. She was a role model that the Canadian clothing company Reitmans chose to utilize, asking her to collaborate on a clothing line in 2016. The “aspirational girl next door” capsule collection quickly sold out.

For the engagement photo call, Meghan wore a coat by Line The Label that sold out fast after it was seen online, prompting the Canadian brand to name it “The Meghan.”

Watching Prince Harry play at the Audi Polo Challenge wearing an Aritzia blazer over an Antonio Berardi double-breasted sleeveless dress

It was no wonder that when she first started dating Prince Harry, all her fashion choices by other designers would sell out as well. Among Internet searches alone, six out of the 10 most searched items of clothing were worn by Meghan, according to Lyst, a global fashion search engine. There were unprecedented spikes in search for lesser known labels like Misha Nonoo and Mackage, the brands of her white “husband shirt” and burgundy leather jacket, respectively, which she wore for her first official appearance with the prince at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Her ripped jeans saw a 200-percent increase in traffic for the website of Mother jeans, aside from selling out with a waiting list for 400 reorders. The waiting list at Everlane was even longer at 20,000 to reorder the tote that she was carrying on her shoulder.

At The Invictus Games in Canada, Meghan opted for a “husband shirt” by Misha Nonoo paired with ripped jeans by Mother and retro Percy sunglasses by Finlay London. All these fashion items sold out immediately after she was seen in them.

Meghan with her mother, Doria Ragland at Cliveden House

Her coats, which the press and bloggers have been referring to as “power coats,” have also been cited as the biggest factors for her style influences. A white coat from Line The Label which she wore for the photo call announcing their engagement sold out within 12 hours and the company’s website crashed. The coat has since been renamed “Meghan” in her honor. A Burberry coat worn for an appearance in Edinburgh caused a similar disruption. 

At Edinburgh, Meghan gave a nod to Scottish tradition with a tartan “power coat” by Burberry. Her frequent appearances in wide-leg trousers have spiked searches for this favored fashion staple.

One of Meghan’s “power coat” looks matched with a beret.

She has been a big help to small, niche brands, many of which are ethically produced, sustainable industries. She mixes them with the more established brands in chic, unexpected combinations that blogs like Meghan’s Mirror have been chronicling, with links to buy the exact pieces or with options for similar, lesser-priced items. 

The Tamara Mellon Siren pump in blush worn by Meghan for Prince Charles’ 70th birthday garden party

The Reflection de Cartier diamond bracelet worn by Meghan for her wedding

The most unexpected of all turned out to be her choice of designer for her wedding gown. No one ever guessed that she would choose British designer Clare Waight Keller of the house of Givenchy but it made perfect sense because Keller is the first female artistic director at the historic French fashion house — highlighting the success of a talent from Meghan’s new adopted homeland with a nod to the empowerment of women. Using six meticulously placed seams, the gown was made of a double bonded silk cady exclusively developed for the dress, perfect for the round sculptural look required. A graphic Bateau neckline brought to mind the famous dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina but made more contemporary and relaxed in a lower version that framed the shoulders and emphasized the slender waist from which the line of the dress extends to the back in soft, round folds. It was all in keeping with Meghan’s style, epitomizing a timeless, minimal elegance. It may have had a deceptively simple, clean line but on Meghan it was breathtaking. More than the dress it was the bride herself that was the statement — making history as the whole world watched her: a proud biracial American who challenged British royal traditions by showcasing diversity and her black heritage, ushering in a new era of change and modernity. 

Wearing a bespoke silk crepe gown by Stella McCartney, the new Duchess of Sussex leaves with the Duke for their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House.

A post from Meghan’s lifestyle blog The Tig shows Meghan’s relaxed style wearing a classic Panama hat with a striped wrap dress.

* * *

Follow the authors on Instagram @ rickytchitov ; Twitter @RickyToledo23 Facebook - Ricky Toledo Chito Vijandre.