Before she was a duchess, Meghan made a fateful decision that propelled her into the path of Prince Harry. Photo / Getty Images
Before she was a duchess, Meghan made a fateful decision that propelled her into the path of Prince Harry. Photo / Getty Images
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex spent $NZD970,600 on her astonishing designer wardrobe for official outings and jaunts in 2018, which was more than any other European royal. (Our Mary came in a distant second having only forked out $NZD108,300.)
More recently it was revealed the majority of the very chic ensembles Meghan dons for public appearances come from high-end French or American designers, rather than the mid-range British labels favoured by Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. (I would assume the stockholders in affordable brands such as Jigsaw and Reiss say a prayer of gratitude every night to their Duchess of Cambridge candles for her sartorial munificence.)
Designer duchess: Meghan is stunning in an Oscar de la Renta gown during the royal tour of Australia last year. Photo / Getty Images
More recently it was revealed the majority of the very chic ensembles Meghan dons for public appearances come from high-end French or American designers, rather than the mid-range British labels favoured by Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. (I would assume the stockholders in affordable brands such as Jigsaw and Reiss say a prayer of gratitude every night to their Duchess of Cambridge candles for her sartorial munificence.)
This green embroidered Erdem wool dress and coat are believed to have cost about $17,800. Photo / Getty Images
Essentially, Meghan has serious style and now, thanks to Prince Charles' hefty chequebook, can afford to buy best — in bulk even.
Which makes it all the more fascinating the catalyst that propelled her to stardom, and thus into the path of one red-haired HRH, was nothing more than a simple dress from a major fast fashion brand that cost only $NZD53.
I'll explain, shall I?
Before she was famous
Let's rewind to 2010. After about five years in Hollywood, Meghan was still doing it tough. There had been numerous bit parts and auditions, not to mention a stint as a suitcase girl on Deal or No Deal, a job that necessitated spending hours in towering, excruciating high heels while keeping a rictus grin plastered on her face. She had come close to hitting the big time in 2007 when she landed the lead role in a (US) pilot for ABC called The Apostles. Meghan loved the role (a stripper turned suburban wife) and was sure the show would be picked up.
When word came back from the studio it was going to pass, she was devastated.
Life as a struggling actor was as tough as you would imagine. To make ends meet, Meghan worked at a Beverly Hills restaurant and did calligraphy for wedding invitations. (Her closet brush with real celebrity — doing the invites for Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's wedding.)
Attending audition after audition meant being constantly ready. According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, she carted around a large tote bag containing everything from short skirts to bikinis to blazers, in a variety of colours, in her car so she could be ready at a moment's notice to read for any part.
The big break
Which brings us back to 2010. Her agent had given her the script for an intriguing new drama called A Legal Mind. Meghan particularly loved the role of Rachel Zane, relating to her feistiness and drive.
Come her big audition day, she "dressed sexy-professional-casual to screen test for the role", Morton says in his book, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. However, on her way to read for the show's producers she realised her look was totally wrong for the role of Rachel who was meant to be far more sophisticated and classically chic.
So, she did what any sane woman with a functioning credit card does when faced with a wardrobe crisis — she went shopping, specifically to H&M where she snapped up a simple black $NZD53 dress. (There will forever be a huge blank space in the history books given we tragically do not know exactly what said garment looked like.) At the audition, producers asked her to change into her new outfit, which she had not even tried on.
On the red carpet in London in 2013. This is not THE black dress that helped her win the role. Unfortunately that is lost to history. Photo / Getty Images
"We all looked at each other (after Markle's screen test) like, 'Wow, this is the one!' I think it's because Meghan has the ability to be smart and sharp but without losing her sweetness," Suits creator Aaron Korsh told Vanity Fair.
As Morton writes, "It was the best $US35 ($NZD53) she had ever spent."
Role that changed her life
While it might seem a bit of a leap to ascribe such life-changing bent to a comparatively affordable frock, I'd beg to differ.
Meghan had been a passionate advocate for social justice issues since childhood (aged only 11, she famously campaigned against a sexist dishwashing detergent ad and got the company to tweak the offending commercial).
However, her platform pre Suits was incredibly limited to say the least.
With her role in the hit show, Meghan was dramatically elevated, which resulted in roles with the UN and philanthropic missions to Rwanda and India to champion female education and empowerment. None of that would have happened without said LBD (little black dress).
Ditto her first date with Prince Harry. By the time they were first set up by Ralph Lauren PR Violet von Westenholz in July 2016, Harry was focused on building the Invictus Games and fundraising for his African charity Sentebale.
The woman he chose to share his life with would need to be someone equally committed to trying to change the world, one rousing speech and hashtag at a time. (Also obviously, Meghan would never have been in London, enjoying a lovely PR jolly to Wimbledon if she had not found fame and success on Suits.)
Harry and Meghan announce their engagement. Photo / Getty Images
Thus, here we are in 2019: Team Sussex is, thrillingly, poised to expand their global reach in the coming months and years. Harry and Meghan, even after a full 365 days of married life, are still, charmingly, sappily besotted with one another.
And, there is now a third member of the Sussex clan who, I am assuming, will win us all over thanks to his dashing good looks and the fact he will be a dab hand at polo AND hugging orphans.
Let us all now collectively say a silent thanks to the god of fast fashion for the blessed moment Meghan decided to splash the cash and grab that black dress. And let us all bow our heads and pray we never, ever have to see her in something off the rack ever again.
Meghan and Harry introduce Archie to the world. Photo / Getty Images
