Meghan Markle and Prince Harry royal wedding: what dress designer will she wear?

FASHION lovers are counting down the hours until Meghan Markle walks down the aisle — and all eyes will be on her wedding dress.

WILL Meghan Markle’s super powers to sell fashion come with a cape on her wedding day?

Counting down the hours until the former Suits star walks down the aisle, Prince Harry’s bride to be has sent London’s style set into raptures she may be set to play the ultimate Wonder Woman on her big day.

As speculation over what the American bride will wear went into overdrive, the latest runway

collection of London-based Australian design duo, Ralph and Russo was being poured over for a few final clues to what Markle could be set to sparkle in.

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Aussie born designer Tamara Ralph of Ralph and Russo is thought to be the wedding dress designer. Picture: M WRIGHT/P SCOTT/BACKGRID

A Ralph & Russo Haute Couture creation. Picture: AFP/Patrick Kovarik

Their recent couture show featured gowns with heavily beaded and fitted bodices, with appliqued lace billowing over the models’ shoulders to create an exquisitely modern train.

It was from this same collection that Markle chose her engagement portrait gown, which featured a risqué sheer black top, embroidered in gold feather detail and a full tuille skirt.

Her hand-stitched wedding dress, rumoured to cost 100,000 pounds will be paid for by the royal family, is said to feature similar beading.

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Adding to the intrigue, the Royal School of Needlework, which hand-appliqued the lace netting of Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, tagged Ralph & Russo into a photo of their haute couture atelier team earlier this month — perhaps hinting they were working with the designers on a special commission.

Kate Middleton wore Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen on her wedding day. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Capturing the right kind of drama for the royal wedding will be king, fashion insiders say — with a fluid, romantic cape, handcrafted by some of Britain’s most sought-after artisan lace makers seen as the perfect marriage of Markle’s fashion forward approach and the conservative family she is marrying into.

With the bride expected to change dresses at least once after the Church ceremony, it is possible other designer favourites, including Roland Mouret, Amanda Wakeley or her fashion designer friend, Misha Nonoo could be creating any one of the gowns she will wear during her big day and night.

Meanwhile, British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful has declared Markle one of the most powerful forces for fashion sales, predicting her contemporary and conscientious style could eclipse Kate Middleton and generate more than 1 billion pound for the UK fashion economy.

“When we watch her take her first steps into an ancient institution, she will be an embodiment of all that is modern,” he says. “She stands up for diversity, for her gender, for equality. In short, she is a woman of today.”

While bookmakers stopped taking bets last month, after a rush of money came for Kate Middleton’s wedding designer, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, etiquette and style experts believe Markle will want to make a fresh statement of her own.

RALPH & RUSSO

Ralph & Russo Spring Summer 2018. Picture: Richard Bord/Getty Images

Shanina Shaik wearing her Ralph & Russo wedding dress. Picture: Instagram

London-based, Australian design duo and married couple Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo created her engagement gown and are favourite with their dazzling, red carpet designs.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

A model shows a creation from designer Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. Picture: AP/Joel Ryan

A royal favourite, Sarah Burton designer the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown and has

established a working relationship with Markle, who wore a McQueen tuxedo to an evening gala.

BURBERRY

Meghan Markle's Mother Doria snapped carrying a Burberry bag. Picture: Snorlax/Rachpoot/MEGA

Late contenders after Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland was spotted toting the label’s garment bag when she travelled to London this week. She wore a lot of the label as Rachel Zane in Suits.

ERDEM

Erdem Fall collection for 2018.

Erdem Moralioglu, the lead designer of his namesake line, Erdem. Canadian-born, London-based, he is highly regarded with the young royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Eugenie.

ROLAND MOURET

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pictured wearing Roland Mouret. Picture: Chris Jackson — WPA Pool/Getty Images

The designer behind the famously structured ‘Galaxy’ dress is already a favourite with Markle, who turns to him for sleek cocktail frocks and lean tailoring. He calls her “a woman of the times.”

AMANDA WAKELEY

An Amanda Wakeley wedding dress.

A favourite with Sloane Rangers and Prince Harry’s late mother, Diana. A delicately beaded, vintage-style, blush pink wedding gown she designed features in this month’s society tome, Tatler.

MISHA NONOO

Meghan Markle and Misha Nonoo have been friends for years. Picture: Andrew Toth/Getty Images

British-raised, US-based best friend of Markle designed the ‘Husband’ shirt she wore at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Specialises in sexy cocktail frocks but released a bridal collection in March.

Originally published as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry royal wedding: what dress designer will she wear?