Meghan Markle proudly wore a custom-made white Oscar de la Renta gown, which looked almost identical to her wedding dress, during the ESPYs in California yesterday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, watched proudly as her husband accepted the prestigious Pat Tillman Service Award, an honour that has sparked a furious backlash and controversy.
And she looked radiant as she sported a bespoke ensemble that looked strikingly similar to the second Stella McCartney wedding dress she wore in 2018.
Both designs look almost identical: both feature a high-necked top and a long, flowing skirt.
But the only difference between the two is the neckline. Her wedding dress was more fitted, however, the Oscar de la Renta dress she wore yesterday had a draped fabric around the neck.
All eyes were on Meghan Markle yesterday when she appeared in a custom-made Oscar de la Renta dress.
The white dress bears a striking resemblance to the wedding dress Stella McCartney wore in 2018.
She paired her crisp white dress with a pair of black heels, specifically the sleek Celine sandals, which retail for around £550.
It seems Meghan loves being a “bridal beauty” as she has rocked multiple sparkling white gowns over the years.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: ‘I think (Meghan) might have done this to show a united front and support (due to the controversial award win).
“It could have been her way of showing her love and support for the award, without expecting the negative reaction she received.”
Rochelle believes the couple are still in their “honeymoon phase” and added that Meghan wanted to support her husband.
‘I think they are celebrating their love and the support is there because of the award controversy.
‘She wants to show a united front, even if that’s through statements and fashion items.
‘She tends to wear tight dresses and suits that highlight her style and leave an impression, as I think she knows all eyes will be on her.’
The former actress has worn white suits, flowing ivory dresses and minidresses since she married the Duke of Sussex.
On her recent quasi-royal trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan looked elegant and ethereal in a strapless white gown by St Agni Studio.
In Tonga in 2018, Meghan wore a Theia dress with structured sleeves and a touch of sparkle on the shoulders.
That same year she travelled to Australia and wore this simple shirt dress by local designer Karen Zee. She then went to New Zealand and wore a glamorous Maggie Marilyn-style wedding dress.
In 2022, Harry and Meghan visited New York and she, again, chose to wear a striking white Louis Vuitton dress.
The Duchess showed off her new Rodi Cassandra ring, which retails for a whopping £984
She held her husband’s hand at the event as he was nominated for the prestigious Pat Tillman Award, wearing her gold Cartier Love bracelet worth £5,000.
On her recent quasi-royal trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan looked elegant and ethereal in a strapless white gown by St Agni Studio.
All of these looks look like they came straight from a bridal boutique and would definitely look right at home walking down the aisle in a church.
As Meghan greeted people on the red carpet yesterday, including her close friend Serena Williams, she showed off her new Rodi Cassandra ring.
The piece of jewellery is made of 14-carat white, yellow and rose gold and diamonds and sells for a whopping £984.
The mother-of-two also wore her £5,000 gold Cartier Love bracelet, believed to be a romantic gift from Prince Harry.
Meghan also paired her ivory ensemble with diamond earrings made by celebrity jeweller Lorraine Schwartz, which have been the subject of speculation.
The duchess previously wore a Schwartz ring, estimated to be worth £45,000 ($62,000), and the couple denied claims it was made from diamonds gifted to the couple by a mystery donor in the Middle East.
In Tonga in 2018, Meghan looked as radiant as any bride for a state dinner. She wore a Theia gown with structured cap sleeves and a hint of sparkle on the shoulders that could easily have been picked up from a bridal boutique.
That same year, she traveled to Australia and wore this simple shirt dress by local designer Karen Zee.
This glamorous Maggie Marilyn-style wedding outfit wouldn’t have looked out of place at a “fancy” registry office wedding.
They said the ring was obtained by a stylist during the photo shoot directly from the designer and there was no link to a mysterious donor in the Middle East.
But in a spectacular U-turn, they later reversed the denial and clarified that they were referring only to a ring on Meghan’s left hand: a £380 ($525) Shiffon pinky ring, which is supposed to represent women’s empowerment.
In 2021, it was claimed that Schwartz used the same set of diamonds to create earrings that the Duchess wore to Trooping the Colour in 2019.
It is unclear whether Meghan received them while she was still a working royal or after finishing her official duties in early March 2021.
She did not visit the region officially, but there is always the possibility that she made a private trip. Buckingham Palace only publishes a list of gifts received by the royals while on duty in the UK or abroad, and there are no public records of Meghan receiving diamonds.
Meghan pulled her brown hair back into a low, sophisticated and elegant bun, and opted to wear natural, glowing makeup.
A striking white Louis Vuitton gown Meghan wore during a visit to New York in 2022 wouldn’t have looked out of place on this year’s brides.
When Harry’s award was announced yesterday, Meghan stood up from her seat to give her husband a standing ovation, clapping proudly in his honour as he walked onto the stage.
The gong, named after Pat Tillman, an iconic NFL player who left his lucrative career to join the military after the 9/11 attacks before dying in Afghanistan in 2004, has sparked bitter controversy, with critics arguing the honor is intended to be awarded to anonymous veterans.
Tillman’s own mother, Mary, told DailyMail.com last month that she was “shocked” that the ESPYs “selected such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” adding that she was not consulted about the decision.
“There are recipients who are much more suitable. There are people working in the veteran community who are doing tremendous things to help them,” he said.
“These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these kinds of people should be recognised.”
(tags to translate)dailymail
