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Meghan Markle made her return to red carpet events at the 2024 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. She chose to wear a custom Oscar de la Renta gown that bore a striking resemblance to the Stella McCartney reception dress she wore to her royal wedding reception in 2018.
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Markle's ESPYS dress was created by American designer Oscar de la Renta and featured a high neck halter top and long flowing skirt, mirroring the overall silhouette of her wedding reception dress. However, there were some key differences between the two gowns. The reception dress had draped fabric around the neckline, contrasting the more fitted neckline of the ESPYS dress.
In terms of accessories, Meghan kept it minimal. She wore $450,000 emerald cut diamond earrings by designer Ellie Saab. Her ensemble also included her expensive past gifts - her ex-husband Trevor Engelson's $7,350 Cartier 'Love' bracelet and her wedding and engagement rings from Prince Harry. She completed the look with strappy black heels displaying a pale pink pedicure that matched her light nude nails.
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Meghan's outfit was styled by celebrity stylist Jamie Mizrahi, who also works with top stars like Adele, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicole Richie. Makeup artist Daniel Martin gave her a natural look to complement the gown.
Despite the high caliber styling team, Meghan's ESPYS dress received some criticism. Many noted the similarities between it and her wedding reception dress from four years prior. Some critics described the look as "bland" and said the garment fit her poorly around the hips, creating an unattractive puckering appearance.
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The accusations of copying her previous gown and fit issues were likely not helped by the ongoing controversy around Prince Harry being honored at the ESPYS. To distance themselves from this, Meghan and Harry decided to skip walking the red carpet.
However, Meghan did get a brief chance to showcase the dress after her husband's on-stage appearance. She posed for photos backstage with tennis star Serena Williams. Standing next to the athletic Williams, Meghan's petite figure and broader shoulders looked comparable in size. Critics also commented that the high neckline did not flatter the stiff fabric of the gown, making it appear too tight in areas.
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Despite Meghan's star power and attempts to shine at the event, she was ultimately overshadowed by other notable ESPYS guests who took bigger fashion risks. Gymnast Libby Dunn, the 2022 national champion from Louisiana State University, stole the show with the best red carpet look of the night.
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Dunn dazzled in a gold plated halter neck gown designed by Sherrill Jhan featuring a keyhole cutout. The glittering metallic dress embraced 1970s trends. She accessorized minimally with a chain link bracelet and peeptoe platforms. Her simple yet glamorous makeup and half-up hairstyle adorned with gold leaf chips completed the standout ensemble.
Serena Williams, who hosted the ESPYS, also turned heads in a form-fitting two-tone silver and black gown. Lindsey Vonn showed skin in a daring yellow dress with a thigh-high slit. Halle Bailey sizzled in a mini black and gold dress while rapping her son's name in gold necklaces. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion highlighted her figure in a sultry black dress with cutouts.
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Overall, while Meghan's appearance drew attention due to the familiarity of her dress, she was overshadowed by guests who took more risks with fashion-forward silhouettes and embellishments. Her choice to skip the red carpet arrival and the controversy around Prince Harry's honor at the event likely contributed to the muted reception of her outfit compared to risk-taking stars like Dunn, Williams, Vonn and Stallion. Meghan's reproduction dress choice and criticisms of ill-fitting areas showed she still has room for growth when it comes to standing out on the star-studded awards show circuit.
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