prince harry

Duchess Meghan was a ray of sunshine in a yellow midi dress by Brandon Maxwell at the Commonwealth Youth Forum. Kensington Palace reminds us that 60% of the Commonwealth’s population is aged under 30. That number is around 40% for the US. Young people need to use their voice- check your voter registration, buy a yellow dress, and get ready to vote in November. I bet Meghan would also tell you to vote.

"Meghan and I are incredibly excited to meet so many of you representing the future of the Commonwealth."— The Duke of Sussex, #CommonwealthYouth Ambassador pic.twitter.com/pBrl1tjzYr

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 5, 2018

What makes this look royal

• The color is the sole “wow” accent for the dress
• Clean lines
• Midi length

Picks for a princess

It is not shocking that in the week after Meghan wore this dress, it sold out across the internet. You can add it to your wish list here, but I have no idea what your odds are for it making a return. This Oscar de la Renta dress is the backup (and still fabulous) pick for a princess.

Picks for a peasant

This dress is SO fun and SO affordable. Treat yourself to it now, hang it in your closet, and put a note on it that says “wear on voting day and not before.” Then what a great day of democracy and style you will have!

This dress is also a phenomenal choice- and again at a lovely price point. As an added bonus it is made by Everlane, which is an ethically run company that champions transparency and quality. It’s also an American company based in California. It’s simple, clean lines and vibrant colors are reminiscent of Meghan’s look, and as an added bonus: POCKETS.

This one is only a match on two fronts- the length and the color. But it is so darn pretty I couldn’t leave it out. What a great choice for any summer event- YOU can be the ray of sunshine at the party!

Tell me which is your favorite! This one is a toughy- I am torn between the Everlane and the lace dress at Dillard’s. If I find two elections to vote in, does that mean I can get both?

A beautiful dress to wear in a beautiful country! Travel to Ireland and you will not be disappointed. Do it wearing a sleek and simple Emilia Wickstead black, square neck, midi dress and you will not disappoint Ireland!

Meghan looks STUNNING #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/WKVAl5b59s

— Stephanie Grogan (@StephGrogan3) July 10, 2018

What makes this look royal

• A solid neutral color
• Below-the-knee-length
• Flattering fit and flare sillouhette
• Are you sensing patterns yet?

Picks for a princess

Talk about not disappointing, this dress is love. The square neck is perfect with the thick straps and fluted midi skirt really makes this dress a class act. Setting the standards high, Duchess Meghan!

 Picks for a peasant

This great little black dress from Banana Republic. The similar neckline and straps mimic the feeling of the dress- just add a belt! Visiting Ireland tip: add a black leather jacket. I swear every woman I saw on Friday night in Dublin was rocking a black leather jacket.

This ModCloth A-line dress also has a square neckline and thick straps, and is more true to the fit and flare silhouette worn by the Duchess. A few more inches in length would make it spot-on, but its a great pick nonetheless! Wear your black leather jacket for a night out, or put on flats and go tour Blarney Castle. And forget kissing a stone- Blarney Castle has 60 acres of gardens to explore so gear up to spend some serious walking time!

What’s fun about this dress style is you can go into so many stores (in person or online) and look for a coverall/overall/apron/pinafore dress. Any of these styles are likely to have a square neckline and thicker straps. Instead of the typical white shirt you might usually seen worn under these, put on a black bandeau bralette and you will stun (and stay cool!) all summer long. This is perhaps not a royal look, but we’ll let it slide because you will look so darn cute rocking it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whats your favorite pick? I have to say that Max Mara dress rocks my world. My backup pick is the black overalls dress with black bralette for the pure VERSATILITY of it. There are an infinite host of places to dress up or down any of these royally-inspired little black dresses.

The royal family attended the hundredth anniversary service for the Royal Air Force, and Meghan turned the fashion dial up to max in a long sleeved, navy, fit-and-flare dress by Dior. I do not seem to attend many centenaries or Royal Air Force events, but I do go to the airport. And maybe at the airport I want to feel like our modern day Audrey Hepburn, which turns out to be Duchess Meghan. I will save the fascinator for after I debark the plane, however.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at @Wabbey to attend a service marking the Centenary of the @RoyalAirForce today. #RAF100 pic.twitter.com/pLibSjzQ10

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 10, 2018

 

What makes this look royal

• The fit and cut of the dress is everything- no embellishments
• Except that FASCINATOR

Picks for a princess

This long sleeved black dress by Rani Arabella features a bateau neckline, long sleeves, and a flared skirt. It is simple, classy, and beautiful, but it also costs several times more than my flight.

 

Picks for a peasant

A pricey peasant-pick, maybe more for a lady-in-waiting, but a stunning alternative to the look we seek to emulate. This dress is fully princess perfect with the bateau neckline, long sleeves, fit-and-flare, and midi length. So flattering I can hardly stand it!

 

This pick from Asos is a navy, midi dress with a bardot neckline (I think I see a neckline lesson coming in our future). At this price, this dress is a steal- pick it up to wear to weddings this year.

 

This Free People dress is a more casual take on the look. A look I might actually sport at the airport. Longer dresses are great for travel days because no one actually wants to touch any surfaces on an airplane. This dress could easily be dressed up or down to add versatility to your wardrobe.

 

Fascinators

Fascinators are actually quite easy to find and inexpensive! Remember to match your fascinator color to your dress color. No navy dress with a black fascinator. Another great place to find a fascinator is Etsy. If you are having trouble finding a fascinator for a certain look, Etsy sellers are often willing to work with you to customize pieces as well. Etsy is about craftsmanship and the sellers love creating their items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to dress like a royal: Keep it simple. Understated. Maybe the dress that looks a little boring on the hanger looks GREAT on you. Everything except your hat. Feel free to go CRAZY with that fascinator pick.

Comment with your favorite Duchess-inspired look from this post. I’m choosing the navy Asos dress and am heading over to Etsy to find my fascinator. September weddings here I come!

As the Duke and Duchess tour Ireland, Meghan was seen in this taupe draped dress. What will you wear when you ring a peace bell? I like to think of every bell as a peace bell. Even the one I ring every night to call my family to dinner (I might, you don’t know).

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ring the Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin, designed to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/n1N1YXJlmD

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 11, 2018

 

What makes this look royal

• The neutral solid color
• The below-the-knee length
• The front drape (only one detail!)

Picks for a princess

For the true princess look, go right to the source with a Roland Mouret. Even though Meghan’s exact dress isn’t listed, the silhouette and draping will not disappoint. I would wear every dress that Roland Mouret makes if I had a princess budget. Just every day no matter what I was doing, you would see one. How classy would I look picking tomatoes from the garden? 

Picks for a peasant

Since we do not all have the princess budget, here are some picks that will capture aspects of the look:

To emulate the taupe-green color, below-the-knee length, and a draping detail, try this sleeveless dress from BCBGeneration

If it’s the front drape detail that you seek, try this checked dress from Marks & Spencer

And for a close overall feel (getting close to a princess budget $$), try this Halston Heritage one shoulder dress is sage with front draping detail

Which dress are you choosing for when you ring your peace bell? I’m going with the BCBGeneration design for this one. A rare treat when the lowest price wins the day! How to dress like a royal: When being inspired by a look it doesn’t have to be an exact match. Pick a couple elements and find a piece that evokes the feel of the garment. Buy a dress and ring a bell in it- look great doing it!