Sydney designer Karen Gee reveals why Meghan Markle picked her label

ROYAL visitor Meghan Markle wearing Sydney designer Karen Gee was months in the planning. On her first full day in Australia she stepped out in an $1800 ivory shift dress. Now the designer reveals why she was chosen by the popular duchess.

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ROYAL visitor Meghan Markle wearing Aussie designer Karen Gee was months in the planning.

On her first full day in Australia, the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in an $1800 ivory shift dress from the Sydney designer.

“There has been a lot of interest and communication for quite some time now,” Gee told Confidential.

“To even be in that mix of conversation was fantastic. I can’t legally disclose what happened but what I can say is that Meghan does love Karen Gee, not just the dresses but what our values are and our message.”

The Duchess of Sussex wearing the ivory shift dress from Sydney designer Karen Gee. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins/POOL

Once news spread of the label Meghan was wearing, Katherine Gee’s website crashed. Picture: AAP Image/AP Pool, Steve Christo

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Markle’s wardrobe choices were a hot topic ahead of the 37-year-old touching down in Sydney this week. Like the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, Markle’s outfits often sell out after she’s worn them, with some fashionistas dubbing it the “Meghan effect”.

Stylists and commentators had tipped Markle to wear landmark fashion names like Dion Lee, Scanlan & Theodore, Bec & Bridge and Ralph & Russo and she’d previously favoured a few Australian designers, including Oroton and Camilla and Marc.

To choose a lesser known brand like Karen Gee came as a surprise.

Sydney designer Katherine Gee revealed Meghan doesn’t just love the dresses but also the values and the message the label stands for. Picture: Supplied

The dress comes in three colours and costs $1800. Picture: Supplied

So intense was interest in Gee’s “Blessed” design that her website crashed with “hundreds of thousands” of visitors to the site.

The dress, however, didn’t sell out as all pieces are made at Gee’s Sydney studio with a production schedule of 15 to 21 days.

“I am totally overwhelmed,” Gee said, adding that she doesn’t “gift” clothing to celebrities and that Markle’s team bought the dress.

“There are obviously so many incredible designers in Australia and for her to love the brand and choose Karen Gee is an absolute honour.”

The couple spent much of their day meeting the public along with royal commitments. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Markle is understood to be travelling with close friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, as well as her hairdresser George Northwood.

Alex Perry is among the designers also to have been approached by Markle’s team.

“She has a really kind of prim, discreet, very ladylike way of being sexy,” Perry said.

“It is interesting because we get so much blatant in-your-face images on social media, so those women who can be sexy in a chic kind of way, there is something special about that.”

With the Duchess due to travel to Dubbo with Prince Harry, fashionistas will be eager to see what more casual attire the couple go for.

Vogue Australia editor Edwina McCann said: “The Duchess is always impeccably and beautifully dressed and her support of Australian designer Karen Gee is a game changer.”