Can you REALLY replicate Meghan Markle’s £700k designer wardrobe on a budget? We put it to the test
Fabulous journalist Lauren Windle took up the challenge of dressing like the Duchess of Sussex using only clothes from the high street
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THE Meghan effect is very real as the Duchess of Sussex's outfits sell out within seconds of her being snapped in them.
It appears demure is the new sexy as Meghan, who is rumoured to be a dress size six to eight, continually wows us with her chic and elegant looks.
But can us mere mortals recreate the splendor of the Markle wardrobe?
The Duchess, 36, not only has an outrageous allowance to splash on clothes but also a VERY slimline figure, so for most of us the Markle Sparkle feels well out of reach.
But I decided to rise to the challenge and see if my high-street budget and size 10-12 figure would work with the royal style choices.
Let me tell you how I got on...
Here comes the bride
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £675,000, cost of Lauren's: £85.59
Meghan worked tirelessly with Givenchy's artistic director Clare Waight Keller to perfect her wedding dress over eight separate fittings. I ordered mine from Misguided for £35.
For that price I assumed I would be getting a horrific piece of market stall tat, not fit for anyone's big day - but actually the material was heavier and better quality than expected.
Seamless undies were a must, but that's a given with a tightly fitted white dress - not that I wear many.
While no one knows what Meghan spent, people have suggested anything between £100k and £387k.
I wouldn't be offended if you thought Meghan wore it better, in fact I probably agree, but I don't know if we can say it looks £99,965 better...
There is one glaringly obvious difference between Megs and I. Let's call a spade a spade.
While the Duchess has a VERY slim shape (maybe a size six at a guess?), I am a generally body-confident size 10-12. Meaning that my shape in this figure hugging version is very different.
Did I feel self-conscious? Nah, I sort of loved it.
- Wedding dress, £35, Misguided -
- White court shoes, £25, Boohoo -
- Veil, £20, Amazon -
- Tiara, £5.59, Amazon -
Rip it up
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £897, cost of Lauren's: £90.99
One of Meghan's most recognisable outfits is this ripped jeans and white shirt combo she wore to the Invictus Games in Toronto.
Boyfriend shirts are not usually my bag, I'm always concerned that I'll look frumpy in something so oversized, but when I tried on my M&S dupe, I realised I was wrong.
The shirt was thick and crisp and made me feel expensive, like I should be trotting down the King's Road with the cast of Made In Chelsea.
I had to get creative with the jeans, pulling out a pair of scissors to create the distressed torn knee and frayed edges.
I bumped into a friend when I was strutting about trying to find the perfect place to take my posed up picture.
The first things she said was: "I love the outfit, very Meghan Markle", and with that, I knew my work here was done.
- Jeans, £28, Dorothy Perkins -
- Autograph shirt, £35, Marks & Spencer -
- Brown shoes, £15.99, New Look -
- Sunglasses, £12, Accessorize -
Beret good
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £2,670, cost of Lauren's: £134
Next up I recreated the classic white coat and beret look Meghan sported to the 2018 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
My mum always tells me I have a head for hats (whatever that means), but I am yet to be convinced.
The whole outfit would have been relatively normal - although definitely not my usual style - if it weren't for the headgear.
My £10 ASOS version didn't hold its form as well as Meghan's bespoke Stephen Jones cream felt hat, but I did feel fancy wearing it.
I can't imagine I'll be jumping to buy one for myself anytime soon though.
- Coat, £35, Missguided -
- Navy dress, £49.50, Marks & Spencer -
- Court shoes, £19.50, Marks & Spencer -
- Chain bag, £20, Accessorize -
- Beret, £10, ASOS -
In the navy
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £1,819.99, cost of Lauren's: £142
Now we're talking! Finally Megs has ditched the formal wear and broken out something a little more my style.
My favourite of the looks so far, I loved wearing the £32 Dorothy Perkins dupe of Meghan's £455.99 Yigal Azrouel dress.
With the (much) lower cost I had to sacrifice a few of the details on Megs' frock, like the pleating and the frills on the sleeves.
But the shape was flattering and fun. I loved being so cinched in at the waist.
And the icing on the navy, dress-shaped cake was the playful leopard print heels. A look I would definitely recreate IRL.
- Dress, £32, Dorothy Perkins -
- Leopard print courts, £70, Dune -
- Black bag, £40, Accessorize -
Suits you
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £2,967, cost of Lauren's: £152.99
Back to form, Meghan is once again adhering to her self-imposed smart-casual dress code in this Alexander McQueen black suit.
Looking a little like a lawyer or - as my boss pointed out - Tulisa on her way to court, I embraced the office wear look.
At Fabulous towers we usually keep things a little more casual so I'm not used to wearing a two-piece suit but I have to say, I did make me feel powerful.
I think I'll box it up and save it for when I pass the bar, or get a job as an extra in Suits.
- Jacket, £49, and Trousers, £30, Topshop -
- Blouse, £15.99, Zara -
- Court shoes, £39, Topshop -
- Burgundy purse, £19, Accessorize -
Caped crusader
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £4,652, cost of Lauren's: £89.49
Easily my least favourite of the outfits I recreated is this Stella McCartney cape dress - although the odd, mid-walk Mr Burns-esque pose definitely isn't doing Stella any favours.
If you do want to recreate the look this bargain £40 dress from Roman is a great option with similar sleeve slits allowing for full arm exposure.
As a woman who is yet to hit 30, the demure knee length and the wafts of material felt a little frumpy for me.
It was a far cry from the sassy leopard print heels I fell in love with a few outfits back.
- Cape dress, £40, Roman -
- Court shoes, £19.50, Marks & Spencer -
- Beaded bag, £29.99, Zara -
Dressed to impress
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £2,835, cost of Lauren's: £192.99
For this look, I think that we can all agree, I need to put down the dress and back away slowly.
Being a 5' 2" gal whose sister always reminded her she was "stumpy", it is clear I just don't have the pins to pull off this over the knee length.
I felt drowned in material and quite frankly, pretty chunky.
Megs looks like a stunner in her Self-portrait frock but for me, this one's a no go.
- Jacket, £49, Topshop -
- Dress, £29.99, New Look -
- Court shoes, £39, Topshop -
- Leather chain bag, £75, Topshop -
Woman in black
Estimated cost of Meghan's: £935.91, cost of Lauren's: £168
I am and will always be a die hard fan of an all black outfit. So I was excited to try and pull off this chic and simple outfit.
But pull it off I didn't.
The £40 ASOS trousers came with a considerable Lycra content, meaning I got a bit more unattractive gathering than Meghan's designer pair.
My least favourite element of the look - aside from the tense facial expression - is possibly the slicked down centre parting. The harsh style isn't for everyone.
Still you can't go wrong with a black roll neck and come winter I will be digging mine back out for sure.
- Roll neck, £89, Marks and Spencer -
- Trousers, £40, ASOS -
- Court shoes, £39, Topshop -
Meghan's make-up look
- Elemis Radiance cream, £31, Elemis -
- NARS Matte Velvet Tint shade light, £30, Space NK -
- Bobbi brown creamy conceal kit, £26, Bobbi Brown -
- Elizabeth Arden tinted powder, £27, Elizabeth Arden -
- BY TERRY Sun designer palette for blush and bronzer, £47, Cult Beauty -
- Bobbi Brown Gold brick highlighting powder, £35.50, Bobbi Brown -
- HD Brow Pro Artist Brow Pencil for brows, £18, HD Brows -
- Ciate Wonderwand mascara, £19.50, Ciate -
- Buxom Black Kohl liner, £14, Debenhams -
- Charlotte Tilbury Coachella lipstick, £24, Charlotte Tilbury -
- AiNSEL lipstick in Trench, £21, Ainsel -
- ICONIC Prep, Set, Glow, £18.50, Iconic -
MORE ON MEGHAN MARKLE
Previously we showed you how you could use the high street to recreate Meghan's striped midi dress which cost £1,430.50.
Plus here are Meghan Markle’s best outfits – from the Goat dress at Prince Charles’ birthday to the Altuzarra dress at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
And now you can see if Meghan Markle’s wardrobe suits your body shape with new digital tool… and even try on possible wedding dresses.