Meghan and Harry visit Courtnay Creative for an event celebrating the city's thriving arts scene in Wellington, New Zealand Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Pregnant and radiant, with her winning smile, intelligence and down-to-earth warmth, Meghan Markle has been unquestionably the star of the first official extended overseas royal trip she and Prince Harry are taking for 16 days to cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
According to the local press, she has taken the region by storm and the talk is about 'Meghan Mania," her popularity among the public and in particular the young women and children with whom they come in contact, her influence on the fashion industry that follows her every sartorial choice and the almost immediate effect her taste has on the fashion houses she chooses to wear.
Meghan visits Courtnay Creative for an event celebrating the city's thriving arts scene in Wellington. Considered one of the best looks of the tour, this white tuxedo dress with adjustable buttons by New Zealand-based designer Maggie Marilyn was custom-made for Meghan. The blue shoes are Manolo Blahnik Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Glowing naturally as pregnant women do during their second trimester, Meghan has looked stunning in each of the many outfits she brought for the trip, from a mini tuxedo white dress she chose for a cultural event that has been praised to the moon by fashionistas, to the spectacular Oscar de la Renta princess gown she wore for the Australian Geographical Society Awards and all the formal and informal stylish looks in between, including beach wear, city chic, sporty gear, ballgowns and environmentally-responsible jeans.
"Australian designers get a taste of the 'Meghan Effect' after the Duchess of Sussex championed a spate of local names during the royal tour," WWD wrote in an article about "Meghan Mania" sweeping Australia, and the fact that she included a number of local labels in her tour wardrobe, "alongside international brands as Brandon Maxwell, Jason Wu, Roksanda Ilincic, Stuart Weitzman, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci and Birks."
Dressing down in waterproof jackets for a visit to Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand's South Island to visit conservation initiatives managed by the Department of Conservation. With the Seasalt jacket Meghan wore Outland Denim ‘Harriet’ jeans, Stella McCartney tennis shoes and a Loro Piana scarf Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
For a visit to the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club to discuss the country’s mental health initiatives, Meghan chose a Club Monaco Ellayne Trench coat in seaweed green, black Outland jeans, a Jac and Jack black turtleneck and lace-up Stuart Weitzman boots Photo: Ian Vogler-Pool/Getty Images
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
After the media attention fixed on every outfit, many of brands have seen their websites crashed from a tsunami of orders. Among the affected are Sydney designer Karen Gee, who made the ivory crepe sheath dress Meghan wore for their first engagement at Admiralty House. According to WWD, in 24 hours the brand sold more than 250 dresses, that cost 1,290 Australian dollars, or $918 each, with hundreds more consigned to a waiting list.
It must be noted that Meghan has made a point of wearing brands with a sustainable focus such as her skinny black jeans from Queensland-based, B Corp. which are made by Cambodian women rescued from human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Her flats by San Francisco brand Rothy’s are made from recycled plastic bottles and her white sneakers by the French ethical brand Veja.
The casual chic ASOS maternity black midi dress and plaid trench by Karen Walker Meghan wore for their arrival to the Wellington New Zealand, airport has been another favorite among fashionistas. She completed the look with Sarah Flint pumps. She kept the outfit during the first events of the day - a welcome ceremony and a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
For the closing of the Invictus Games, where she gave a speech, Meghan wore a bespoke Antonio Berardi dress, a Cuyana mini chain saddle bag and Aquazzura Casablanca peach suede pumps Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan presented gold medals to Team USA at the Wheelchair Basketball final of the Invictus Games in Sydney, wearing a poppy clasped to her jacket by Australian luxury label Scanlan Theodore, Outland Denim black trousers and matching pumps Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
"Australians have always loved Prince Harry," writes The Sun. "And now they wanted to love Meghan, too. She was not going to let them down despite the fatigue that comes with jet lag and her pregnancy."
According to the paper, she wanted to give them her best and be the best even if it meant getting up at 4.30 am to do yoga to “refresh her mind.”
"No one was going to stop this strong American woman who wowed crowds with her panache. All she wanted in return was to be able to hold Harry’s hand for reassurance, which she did. So much so the media named it 'the tour of PDAs (public displays of affection).'"
In a blue button-down Veronica Beard dress, teamed with suede blue shoes, for the unveiling of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy at Tupou College in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan stole the show with this bird-embellished Oscar de la Renta gown for the Australian Geographic Society Awards in Sydney. The look is considered the best of the tour by fashion experts. Photo: Paul Edwards-Pool/Getty Images
Meghan wore a Martin Grant stripey button-down shirt dress to an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts in Nuku'alofa, Tonga Photo: Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images
After a quick change on the plane, the Sussexes touched down in Fua'amotu and Meghan made a bold statement with this red Self Portrait dress. She kept her Manolos on and teamed the look with a Dior clutch bag Photos: Karwai Tang/WireImage
A formal and impeccably elegant look for a private audience with King Tupou VI and Queen NanasipauÕu at the Consular House in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Meghan wore a white cap-sleeved custom gown by Theia with black heels and a Givenchy clutch Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan visits the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, and for a morning tea she chose a colorful pink floral drap-dress with pom-pom details by Figue, paired with her trusted black Castaner espadrilles Photo: Phil Noble-Pool/Getty Images
During a meeting with President Jioji Konrote on the first day of their tour to Fiji, the Duchess wore a white Zimmerman dress with long sleeves, accessorized with a matching fascinator, black clutch by Kayu and bow detailed shoes by Tabitha Simmons Photo: Andrew Parsons-Pool/Getty Images
Another favorite: Meghan wore the blue "bump hugging" cape gown that accentuated her growing baby bump by the Fijian brand Safivva to the state dinner hosted by the president of the South Pacific nation Jioji Konrote in Suva, Fiji Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Relaxed and refreshed in this breezy, see-through (similar to a famous one Princess Diana wore in 1980) linen frock by Reformation that included a revealing thigh-high slit, Megan walked with Harry along a jetty during a trip to Fraser Island. She paired it with gladiator sandals by Sarah Flint and sunglasses by Karen Walker Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
For the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island, Meghan wore black skinny jeans, a button-down shirt with the games logo and a white Altuzarra blazer with shades and her black Tabitha Simmons heels Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan attends the official opening of the extension of the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney, dressed in this tea-length black button-down dress by Emilia Wickstead, accessorized with a black fascinator, and a Kayu clutch Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
For a walk to Bondi Beach in Sydney, she wore another breezy olive-striped dress by Martin Grant with her black espadrilles Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
During a visit to Macarthur Girls High School in Sydney on the fourth day of their visit to Australia, Meghan wore this Roksanda's sleeveless navy dress with a contrasting hem, neutral pumps and a gold bracelet Photo: Phil Noble/PA Images via Getty Images
To visit South Melbourne Beach, Meghan kept the trench coat she had worn earlier in the day over a black dress by Club Monaco and traded her heels for flats by Rothy Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan opted for this folded sail-style navy dress with a cascading flounce by Australia designer Dion Lee, with navy pumps, to attend a reception hosted by the Governor of Victoria at Government House Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
This was the first casual look of the tour chosen by Meghan for her arrival at Dubbo Airport: black pants, a crisp white untucked button-down and an oversized blazer designed by her friend, tennis star Serena Williams. She accessorized with a pair of black ankle booties Photo: Samir Hussein / WireImage
In a white, crew-neck sheath dress by Karen Gee, paired with a classic trench coat and matching heels to meet members of the public outside the Sydney Opera House Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
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