Any Detective Could Figure Out What Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress Looks Like

It's less than a month until the wedding of the year: Meghan Markle will marry Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on May 19, and we're all desperate to know what she'll wear. Though there's still plenty of speculation as to the designer and the exact number of gowns Meghan will wear on the day, if you dig deep enough, it's easy to come to a number of conclusions as to what she'll pick. As a devotee of both the royals and bridal trends, I got on the case, digging into the latest looks from Bridal Fashion Week, hunting down Meghan's old interviews, and examining her style in order to predict exactly what she'll wear on the big day. The conclusion? Well, it depends how brave she's feeling . . .

Lace Sleeves
Getty | Thomas Concordia

Lace Sleeves

Many people believe that Meghan will choose to avoid a full-skirted lace dress for fear of comparisons to Kate Middleton's now-iconic wedding gown. But those potential comparisons didn't put Kate's sister, Pippa, off choosing a lace dress, and it's unlikely to stop Meghan either. A gown like this Reem Acra design is definitely fit for a princess and would be completely appropriate for a royal wedding . . . however, my gut tells me this is far too fussy for Meghan. If she avoids a big lace dress, it won't be because she doesn't want to be compared to Kate, it will be because it doesn't suit her personal style.

Sleek and Simple
Getty | JP Yim

Sleek and Simple

Many experts are predicting that Meghan will choose a narrower silhouette and clean lines for her gown, like this simple Theia number. After all, she once told Glamour that Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's unadorned slip dress was her favorite wedding dress of all time. It's definitely a look that she could pull off — especially if she borrows some jewels from the queen — but if you're marrying a prince in a wedding watched by millions, surely you'll give in to the pressure to wear something a little bit more dramatic?

Modern Classic
Courtesy of Lela Rose

Modern Classic

If Meghan does decide to keep things pared back, simple details like the neckline and bow on this Lela Rose gown could be the little touches she needs to make her dress memorable. Though royals tend not to wear strapless gowns as they are usually required to be a little more covered up in church, Meghan is no stranger to challenging royal traditions and breaking protocol, so she could choose to break this rule.

Simple Romance
Courtesy of Tadashi Shoji

Simple Romance

Meghan famously wore a jacket slashed to show off her collarbone on a trip to Scotland, so clearly she's not afraid to put her shoulders on show. This beautiful off-the-shoulder Tadashi Shoji dress with a draped bust has a slight Grecian feel that makes it timeless and elegant. Is it enough for a royal wedding though?

A Sheer Bodice
Courtesy of Galia Lahav

A Sheer Bodice

Meghan raised a few eyebrows when she chose to wear a Ralph & Russo gown with a sheer bodice for one of her engagement photos. Generally, royal wedding gowns are quite modest and traditional and do not show too much skin or cleavage. But Meghan is no ordinary royal bride, and since she's proven she can pull off this look, perhaps she will take a risk with an intricate modern gown like this Galia Lahav design?

Bold at the Back
Getty | Randy Brooke

Bold at the Back

If we learned one thing from William and Kate's wedding, it's that the back view is just as important as the front! Meghan and Harry are marrying at a smaller church in Windsor, rather than the grand surroundings of Westminster Abbey, so it seems unlikely that Meghan's gown will feature a huge train like Kate's. Perhaps she'll choose a gown that has intricate ruffles down the back instead, like this Angel Sanchez design. It will allow her to stay true to her modern, sophisticated style, with a little added whimsy.

Retro Romance
Courtesy of Temperley

Retro Romance

There's a lot of speculation as to which designer Meghan will choose for her big day, but most people agree it's likely she'll go with a Brit. Perhaps Meghan will follow in the footsteps of her friend Millie Mackintosh and call on Alice Temperley for her gown? Though Millie's marriage may have not endured, her gorgeous wedding dress definitely has. It's been reported that Meghan will wear two dresses during the day, and I think it's likely the second one will be something simple, romantic, and easy to move in. This pretty gown ticks all those boxes, and the high neckline is appropriate for a royal. However, perhaps it's a bit too vintage inspired for modern Meghan?

The Winner
Getty | Estrop

The Winner

Real talk: we can speculate all we want, but in the end, tradition will probably win out. If you were to ask me right now what I think Meghan will wear, this Pronovias gown is pretty close to perfect. It's dramatic and modern, with clean lines and a touch of sex appeal. It's modest without being frumpy, and it's anything but fussy. Meghan's gown will obviously be custom designed, probably by a British designer, but my money's on it looking similar to this.

As much as a formfitting or slimmer silhouette would probably suit her personal style, the truth is that Meghan's having a big royal wedding, and with that comes certain expectations. It's likely Meghan's ceremony dress with be traditional and full-skirted with a fairly high neckline, like those that came before it. I do think she'll avoid all-over lace or embellishment, choosing to add a little at the back or in panels instead. My gut tells me we're more likely to see a chic, fairly unadorned dress than an all-out embellished showstopper. Despite her fondness for breaking the rules, I don't think she'll opt for a strapless dress because I doubt the queen would allow it, but perhaps she'll have the guts to go sleeveless or add very sheer sleeves to a gown like this.

Whatever she wears, one thing is for sure: she's going to look beautiful, and no doubt there'll be copycat gowns across the globe within days!