The Meghan effect: Duchess of Sussex dons stylish $1,800 dress by an Australian designer on day two of the royal tour – and traffic crashes the website in MINUTES
- Meghan Markle opted for an Australian designed dress by Karen Gee on the tour
- The white shift ‘Blessed’ style retails for $1800 and caused the site to crash
- Karen Gee has been working as a designer for five years and has a loyal following
- FEMAIL also revealed the cheaper dress options to help you get the look for less
Making her first appearance since announcing her pregnancy, and the premiere outing of her Australian and Pacific tour with Prince Harry, all eyes were on the Duchess of Sussex and her wardrobe choice on Tuesday.
Meghan Markle opted for an Australian-designed dress by Karen Gee which barely showed a hint of a ‘baby bump’.
Moments after Meghan was spotted in the $1,800 dress, interest in the ‘Blessed’ shift style caused the Karen Gee website to crash.
All eyes were on the Duchess of Sussex (pictured with Prince Harry) this morning, when she opted for an Australian-designed dress by Karen Gee
The $1,800 ‘Blessed’ style seen on Meghan (pictured) features a scalloped neckline and falls just below the knee
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Moments after Meghan was spotted in the $1,800 dress, interest in the ‘Blessed’ shift style caused the Karen Gee website to crash (pictured: the website)
A spokeswoman for the brand said : ‘We’re all like proud mothers right now. We’re super excited
A spokeswoman for the brand said: ‘We’re all like proud mothers right now. We’re super excited’.
Karen Gee herself added: ‘[I’m] so proud, particularly because I am not a world recognised brand’.
The dress worn by the Duchess was an elegant ivory style that fell just below the knee and featured a ‘simple, structured fit’, as well as a ‘sleek silhouette’.
Meghan’s blossoming bump was only just visible beneath the dress, which she paired with her trademark sleek blow dry and nude stilettos.
Sydney-based Karen Gee started her business five years ago, with products offering women the chance to customise dresses to their body shape.
Karen Gee reportedly sent several items to Kensington Palace for Meghan Markle to consider, but was bound by a confidentiality agreement against releasing any information about it
A favourite of local television presenters, the brand has quickly risen to fame in Australia.
However, the exposure of being chosen by the Duchess on a day when she had created headlines worldwide with her pregnancy news meant the fashion brand could expect demand to soar.
Karen Gee reportedly revealed that she sent several pieces to Kensington Palace for consideration for the visit.
However, she was bound by a confidentiality agreement that she couldn’t reveal any of the details.
The Sydney-based designer is a favourite among homegrown celebrities, but Meghan opting for one of her styles is the kind of press designers can only dream of
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex couldn’t hide their delight when they enjoyed their first engagement on the tour on Tuesday morning, hours after announcing the baby news
The 37-year-old royal was expected to wear a number of Australian designers during the local leg of the tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Fraser Island off the Queensland coast.
The brands considered most likely to be featured included Zimmermann, Camilla and Marc, Scanlan & Theodore, Dion Lee and Alex Perry.
The 37-year-old royal is expected to wear a number of Australian designers during the Australian leg of the tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Fraser Island
For those who want to get a little of the Duchess’ style for less than purchasing the genuine item, there were very similar white and ivory shift dresses available for under $100.
The Iconic had several options around the $70 mark, all of which featured the scalloped neckline worn by Meghan.
Alternatively, international website Boohoo was selling a simple white shift dress for just $15, while Showpo had an option for $70.
UK-based royal favourite, LK Bennett, also offers a sleeved white shift dress.
While Meghan’s dress retails for an impressive $1,800, there are plenty of cheaper options you can get your hands on that look similar
The Iconic (pictured: one of their dresses) has several options around the $70 mark, all of which feature the scalloped neckline worn by Meghan
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex looked refreshed by their Monday rest day following the long flight to Australia, and began the official engagements of their tour just hours after revealing their joyous baby news.
The mother and father-to be began at Admiralty House, the harbour-side Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, where they stayed on Monday night to begin their 16-day tour.
The couple were formally welcomed to Australia by the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, on the lawns of the historic building, which offered spectacular views across Sydney Harbour.
Alternatively, Boohoo are selling a simple white shift dress for just $15 (right), while Showpo have an option for $70 (left)
The royal couple arrived on Monday on a Qantas flight from London via Singapore, and touched down at Sydney Airport to be greeted by supporters (pictured on Monday)
From there, they visited Taronga Zoo to open a new science centre and meet some local wildlife, including koalas and echidnas.
They then took a boat for the short trip across the harbour to meet the public on forecourt of the Opera House.
The royal couple arrived on Monday on a Qantas A380 flight from London via Singapore.
Meghan, wearing skinny black pants and a black, burgundy trimmed coat, was smiling and clutching folders, while Harry gave a thumbs up to bystanders.
The couple was due to spend a week in Australia, the Duchess of Sussex’s first ever trip to the country, before jetting to Fiji on October 23 where they will spend two days.
On Sunday, October 28 they will cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, visiting Wellington, the Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua before heading home on Wednesday, October 31.
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