We test the best 'Meghan Markle wedding dresses' the high street has to offer
On May 19 a new bridal trend was born, thanks to Meghan Markle.
The 36-year-old (now formally known as the Duchess of Sussex) wed Prince Harry at St George's Chapel in an extremely minimal, yet elegant design by Clare Waight Keller, artistic director of French fashion house Givenchy.
Whether you're a bride-to-be or simply want to have your own sartorial fairytale ending, since that day we've all (secretly) been searching for our very own version of the luxe number, just one without the £200k-£400k price tag.
And, luckily, the high street has come through.
Missguided recently hit headlines for its £35 take on the dress, Chi Chi Clothing fittingly created the "Meghan dress" and a handful others have similar simple numbers in stock..
But, how convincing are they?
We tried and tested four of the best affordable replicas we could find, rating them from 'princess-perfect' to 'definitely not'...
The Most Meghan-esque: Bridal Fishtail Dress by Missguided
Price: £35, shop it here
Less than 48 hours after the royal wedding, Missguided were selling the "Bridal White Long Sleeve Open Back Fishtail Dress" like hot cakes.
From the front it held many similarities to Meghan's simple Givenchy gown and even boasted an elegant fishtail train.
The main difference? Missguided's design only cost £35.
But how did it compare?
Coming in as our front runner, we all agreed the dress was "princess-perfect", as it shared the same simplicity and silhouette as Meghan's.
However, at £35, there had to be a hitch, which was that it did not pass the VPL (visible pant line) test... at all.
“I just feel very exposed,” said Lucy Croft, meanwhile Sabrina Carder suggested: "You’d have to go commando on your wedding day".
That said, as far as affordable Meghan- esqe dresses go it was simple, it was elegant, and for just £35 you could definitely afford a slip dress to go underneath.
The Worthy Contender: The Meghan Dress by Chi Chi Clothing
Price: £65, shop it here
Almost as soon as Meghan stepped out of St George's Chapel, Chi Chi Clothing created its own take on the Givenchy number, the aptly named "Meghan dress".
Sharing the same tight fit as Meghan's with the added bonus of a flattering waistband, we all agreed it was a great budget alternative.
Lucy said: “It feels the most Meghan one," adding, “I feel like a bride in this, definitely.”
The compliments continued as Sabrina said: “I think if my mum saw me in this she’d cry."
For £65 it's definitely a worthy contender.
In Third Place: Ivory Satin Wedding Dress by Next
Price: £190, shop it here
At £190, Next's ivory wedding dress was the most luxe dress in the running. Although, all testers agreed it held the same modest aesthetic as Meghan's, we unanimously decided it was more appropriate for a beach wedding, rather than a royal one.
Top tip? Size down. The dress came up rather big leaving Edwina Langley feeling like she was “wearing a massive nightie.”
Meanwhile, Sabrina said: “It’s nice, but I wouldn't say it resembles Meghan’s. This is no Givenchy.”
The Online Shopping Fail: The Maya Bridal Dress by Quiz Clothing
Price: £89.99, shop it here
You know when you order something online and it arrives, only it looks absolutely nothing like it did in the picture?
Well, that's what happened to us with this dress. “I look like a frumpy mermaid” and “I look like a sparkly toilet brush” were just a few of the feelings thrown around by Edwina and Sabrina.
Lucy, however, went against the grain, stating: “I do feel like a princess", before elaborating "just more like a Disney, jazz hands kind of princess.”
Undoubtedly, the Jon Richard tiara and epic Grace Loves Lace veil are definitely this looks saving grace.
So, there you have it, if you're looking for a Meghan Markle-inspired wedding dress on a budget, we hope we've made it a little easier for you to decided which one to add, or delete, from your basket.
