It barely seems like news anymore when Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wears a little-known label and sends the brand’s sales spinning. But, for the designer in question, it can have a real impact far beyond the news cycle.
‘The response has been absolutely overwhelming’, the Australian designer Karen Gee ecstatically told Grazia yesterday after the royal wore one of her cream dresses for the first day of her royal tour.
Meghan and Prince Harry are currently on their first royal excursion outside the UK - a 16-day trip with a packed itinerary that takes them to Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji. In typical Meghan fashion, she’s playing the diplomatic card with her wardrobe by wearing local designers. Names like Ellery and Sass and Bide were floated as Aussie labels that she might patronize, but the little-known internationally Karen Gee was, in fact, the first brand she chose. It was as much a surprise for Karen as it was for the press. ‘The first I knew she was wearing the dress yesterday was a Karen Gee customer in Queensland who messaged asking me “Isn't this Karen Gee!?”. There was some happy screaming - from me - and some confused looks from passers-by!’ The designer said of the moment she found out the royal was wearing her design.
See: Meghan's Royal Tourdrobe
Meghan Markle Australia Tour Outfits - Grazia
Day 1
For the first stop on the royal itinerary, Meghan chose a cream shift dress by Australian designer Karen Gee, paired with Princess Diana's butterfly earrings.
Day 1
For an afternoon reception, the Duchess changed into a khaki shirt dress by US designer Brandon Maxwell, thought to be priced at £1,728.
Day 2
For a Wednesday visit to the rural city of Dubbo, Meghan wore the 'Serena' Boss oversized blazer, designed by her friend Serena Williams (which costs $203, or £109) with a pair of black high-rise jeans by Australian brand The Outland, which cost $199, a Maison Kitsune button-down collar shirt for $75 and ankle boots by J.Crew, which cost $318.
Day 3
For the third day of the tour on October 18 Harry and Meghan visited Melbourne, the Duchess wore the 'Folded Sail' Navy Dress by Dion Lee and Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps in Navy.
Day 4
For her first outfit of day four, Meghan more a £1,080 Martin Grant Maxi Dress which is no longer available to buy, and a pair of Castaner Wedges which she kicked off to walk in the sand on Bondi Beach
Day 4
For her second outfit of day four, the Duchess wore the 'Athena' Midi Dress by Roksanda, and a pair of Stuart Weitzman 'Legend' Pumps to visit Macarthur Girls School
Day 5
For the opening of the enhanced Anzac Memorial Meghan wore a black Emilia Wickstead dress and a pillbox style hat by Philip Treacy.
Day 5
In the afternoon of Day 5 Meghan changed into a white Altuzarra 'Acacia' blazer and black skinny jeans by LA label, Mother. She finished the look with Illesteva sunglasses and Tabitha Simmons 'Millie' heels.
Day 6
For a lunchtime reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Meghan wore a pinstriped white blazer by Californian brand L'Agence. She also wore her favourite Aquazzura Deneuve Bow Pumps and striped cross-body Orton bag.
Day 6
Meghan and Prince Harry take in the sailing segment of the Invictus Games tournament. For this windswept occassion, Meghan wore a fashionable pair of Veja trainers, which likely marks one of the first occasions this royal has stepped out in public in sneakers. She paired the shoes with a pair of dark jeans, likely from Outland or Mother denim and an official merchandise jacket.
Day 7
Meghan picked sustainable Los Angeles label Reformation's Pineapple dress for a walkabout visit of Fraser Island.
Day 8
Meghan Markle left Australia wearing a white linen J Crew shirt (coming in at just £79.50), her Outland black skinny jeans, and Aquazurra DJ mules (£468).
Day 8
The Duchess arrived in Fiji wearing white dress by Australian brand Stephen Zimmerman, with a matching white hat from Stephen Jones. She was also wearing a pair of earrings that were given to her by the Queen (and first seen when the pair visited Chester together) and a bracelet given to her by Prince Charles.
Day 8
For her first state dinner at Fiji's Grand Hotel, the Duchess wore a caped gown by British label Safiyaa in Fijian blue, complete with earrings borrowed from the royal vaults. No tiara, though - that's because a state dinner is a black tie occasion (unlike a state banquet) and so tiaras are not required. Good to know.
Day 9
For her second day in Fiji, the Duchess opted for a wrap dress in a floral print by Figue from Shopbop, paired with some Castaler espadrilles - and a traditional Fijian garland. She also carried a woven clutch bag, made by talented Fijian craftswomen as part of a UN initiative.
Day 9
For Meghan and Harry's final evening in Fiji, the coupel met with the King of Tonga. The Duchess wore an ivory cap-sleeved beaded silk satin column dress by Theia with Birks earrings, Aquazzura pumps, a Givenchy clutch and an aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana.
Day 10
For a commemorative ceremony to remember a British-Fijian soldier, Sergeant Talaisasi Labalaba, which was attended by the President of Fiji, Meghan wore a Jason Wu sheath dress, Manolo Blahnik suede navy pumps, Pippa Small earrings and bangles with a Christian Dior satin clutch.
Day 10
Meghan stepped off the plane in Tonga in a custom scarlet Self-Portrait dress, Manolo Blahnik navy suede heels and a bespoke Christian Dior clutch.
Day 11
For the unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College Meghan wore a blue shirt dress by the American designer Veronica Beard.
Day 11
In the evening Meghan wore a tulle Oscar De La Renta gown for the Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards in Sydney.
Day 12
While attending the Wheelchair Basketball Final at the Invictus Games Meghan wore a wrap top by Australian designer Scanlan Theodore.
Day 12
For the Invictus closing ceremony Meghan wore a khaki halter dress by Antonio Berardi.
Day 13
As Meghan and Harry bid farewell to Australia the Duchess wore a BOSS by Hugo Boss dress with Aquazzura Casablanca heels and a Cuyana mini bag.
Day 13
Meghan visits the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington wearing an ASOS dress, plaid trench by Karen Walker and pumps by Sarah Flint.
Day 14
Meghan wore Stella McCartney x Adidas Grosgrain-Trimmed Faux Leather Sneakers, black 'Harriet' skinny jeans by Outland Denim and a blue weatherproof jacket, suspected to be by Seasalt Cornwall, for a walk in Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington.
Day 14
The royals visited Courtnay Creative in Wellington for an event celebrating the city's thriving arts scene. Meghan wore a white sleeveless blazer dress by Maggie Marilyn for the occasion.
Day 15
Attending an event for the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, Meghan wore J. Crew jeans paired with a Karen Walker blazer and a simple top from Lavender Hill Company.
Day 15
Visiting the Pillars charity in Auckland, Meghan paired a custom cream shift dress from US designer Brandon Maxwell with her Burberry trench and Stuart Weitzman's 'Legend' pumps.
Day 15
For a formal reception hosted by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Meghan opted to re-wear the navy Antonio Berardi dress that she debuted back in 2017, at her first (albeit unofficial) public outing with Prince Harry.
Day 16
Meghan paired a bespoke Stella McCartney dress with Manolo Blahnik pumps and Boh Ranga earrings to viist a Rotorua, a town central to Maori culture.
Day 16
Meghan wore her beloved Manolo Blahnik pumps a bespoke Givenchy sweater and pleated skirt for the final day of the royal tour.
A lot has been said about the name of the piece in question. The white dress is called ‘Blessed’, which was a happy coincidence as this was one of the first ensembles Meghan wore publically since the announcement of her pregnancy. Karen explains her thinking behind the moniker: ‘All of my garments have a meaning or some sort of inspiration about a woman. Blessed was named because each day I truly feel I am blessed to do what I love.’
It’s been reported that Meghan’s entrance to the royal family has added a £1 billion on to the UK economy. She’s also sent brands into overdrive with Hiut denim reporting backlogs of orders of the jeans Meghan wore on her trip to Wales months and months after the event. While it may mean a lot to Karen to have the Duchess of Sussex pick one of her designs, the sums will spell out a more significant message in the long run.