Meghan Markle proudly wore a custom-made white Oscar de la Renta gown to yesterday’s ESPYs in California, which looked nearly identical to her wedding dress.
The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex looked on proudly as her husband accepted the prestigious Pat Tillman Award for Service, an honor that has sparked fierce reaction and controversy.
And she absolutely glowed as she wore a custom-made ensemble that bore a striking resemblance to Stella McCartney’s second wedding dress, which she wore in 2018.
Both designs look almost identical: both feature a high-neck halter top and a long, flowing skirt.
But the only difference between the two is the neckline. Her wedding dress was more fitted, but the Oscar de la Renta dress she wore yesterday had draped fabric around the neck.
All eyes were on Meghan Markle yesterday as she stepped out in a custom Oscar de la Renta gown
The white dress bears a striking resemblance to Stella McCartney’s wedding dress that she wore in 2018
She teamed her tight white dress with a pair of black heels, specifically the Celine Sharp sandals, which retail for around £550.
It seems Meghan is a fan of the ‘bridal beauty’ type, as she has been seen wearing shiny white dresses several times over the years.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: ‘I think [Meghan] could have done this to show a united front and support [because of the controversial award win].
It could have been her way of showing [her] “I loved him and supported him with the award. I didn’t expect him to get such negative reactions.”
Rochelle believes the couple are still in their ‘honeymoon phase’ and adds that Meghan wanted to support her husband.
“I think they are celebrating their love and the support comes from the controversy surrounding winning the award.
‘She wants to present a united front, even if that is through fashion statements and items.
“She likes to wear fitted dresses and tailored clothes that enhance her style and make a statement. I think she knows all eyes are on her.”
The former actress has been wearing white suits, flowing ivory gowns and mini dresses since her marriage to the Duke of Sussex.
During their recent almost-royal trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan looked elegant and heavenly in a white strapless dress by St Agni Studio.
In Tonga in 2018, Meghan wore a Theia dress with structured cap sleeves and a touch of glitter on the shoulders.
That same year, she traveled to Australia and wore this simple shift dress by local designer Karen Zee, then headed to New Zealand and wore a glamorous Maggie Marilyn bridal look.
In 2022, Harry and Meghan visited New York and once again she chose to wear a striking white Louis Vuitton dress.
The Duchess showed off her new Rodi Cassandra ring, which retails for a whopping £984
She held her husband’s hand at the event, as he was considered for the prestigious Pat Tillman Award, wearing her £5,000 gold Cartier Love bracelet
During their recent almost-royal trip to Nigeria in May, Meghan was elegant and ethereal in a white strapless dress by St Agni Studio
All of these looks look like they came straight from a bridal shop and would definitely not look out of place in a church.
As Meghan met and greeted people on the red carpet yesterday, including her close friend Serena Williams, she showed off her new Rodi Cassandra ring.
The piece is made from 14-carat white, yellow and rose gold and diamonds and costs a whopping £984.
The mother-of-two also wore her £5,000 gold Cartier Love Bracelet, which is believed to be a romantic memento from Prince Harry.
Meghan also paired her ivory ensemble with much-speculated diamond earrings from celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz.
The duchess previously wore a ring by Schwartz, reportedly worth £45,000 ($62,000). However, the couple denied that the ring was made from diamonds given to the couple by a mysterious donor in the Middle East.
In Tonga in 2018, Meghan looked as radiant as any bride for a state dinner, wearing a Theia gown with structured cap sleeves and a touch of glitter on the shoulders that could have been plucked from a bridal boutique
That same year she traveled to Australia and wore this simple shift dress by local designer Karen Zee
This glamorous Maggie Marilyn bridal outfit wouldn’t have looked out of place at a ‘posh’ civil ceremony
They said the ring was obtained directly from the designer by a stylist during the photo shoot and that there was no link to a mysterious donor in the Middle East.
But in a spectacular about-face, they later reversed their denial and clarified that they were only referring to a ring on Meghan’s left hand: a £380 ($525) pinky ring from Shiffon, which symbolises female empowerment.
In 2021, it was claimed that Schwartz used the same set of diamonds to make earrings that the Duchess wore during Trooping the Colour in 2019.
It is unclear whether Meghan received these while she was still working as a royal, or after she completed her official duties in early March 2021.
She hasn’t officially visited the region, but there’s always the possibility she made a private trip. Buckingham Palace only publishes a list of gifts royals have received while on duty in the UK or abroad, and there’s no public record of Meghan receiving diamonds.
Meghan wore her brunette locks in a stylish, sleek low bun and opted for natural, glossy makeup.
A striking white Louis Vuitton dress that Meghan wore during a visit to New York in 2022 wouldn’t have looked out of place on this year’s brides
When it was announced yesterday that Harry had won the award, Meghan stood up to give her husband a standing ovation, proudly clapping as he walked onto the stage.
The gong, named after Pat Tillman, an iconic NFL player who abandoned his lucrative career to join the military after 9/11 and was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, has sparked fierce controversy, with critics arguing that the honor should only be given to unknown veterans.
Tillman’s own mother, Mary, told DailyMail.com last month that she was “shocked” that the ESPYs would select “such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” adding that she had not been consulted about the decision.
“There are recipients that are much more appropriate. There are people who work in the veteran community who are doing wonderful things to help veterans,” she said.
“These people don’t have the money, the resources, the connections or the privileges that Prince Harry has. I think these people need to be recognised.”