Lady Sarah Chateau made waves at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, turning heads with her striking outfit that bore a striking resemblance to Meghan Markle’s iconic style.
The 59-year-old attended the event in a brown and white striped dress by Jasper Conron, a piece previously seen on Princess Beatrice in a yellow and white variation.
The signature blithe shirt dress, priced at £250, boasts a timeless design crafted from a cotton blend fabric, featuring a fit and flare midi silhouette with an elasticated waist, side pockets, and a removable obi belt.
Sporting the striped ensemble that resembled a shirt from the waist up, Lady Sarah’s choice of attire sparked a frenzy in the fashion world.
Meghan Markle, who also graced Wimbledon with Kate, Princess of Wales, wore a £515 blue and white striped shirt by Ralph Lauren.
However, the attention swiftly shifted to Lady Sarah as leading fashion platforms rebranded Meghan’s looks to now credit Lady Sarah Cotto, dropping the word ‘iconic’ from the headlines.
The shift in focus from Meghan to Lady Sarah underscores a broader trend in the fashion industry, where brands are increasingly cautious about selecting brand ambassadors.
Amid reports that Dior dismissed any potential collaboration with Meghan due to concerns about the couple’s public image, entertainment journalist Kinsey Schofield shed light on the situation.
She highlighted the hesitance of high-profile couture clients to be associated with Meghan, citing potential backlash and negative publicity as deterrents.
While Meghan’s influence on fashion sales is well-documented, with her endorsement often translating into a boost for brands, her recent struggles to secure endorsement deals indicate a shift in the industry’s perception.
Despite the Sussexes’ post-royal commercial ventures, including deals with various entities, the absence of a formal partnership with a fashion brand hints at underlying concerns within the industry.
According to Ms. Schofield, the couple’s openness about their experiences and opinions, particularly during interviews like the one with Oprah, may be off-putting to potential collaborators seeking discretion and brand protection.
Brands fear being associated with any negative narratives or controversies that could arise from a partnership with the couple, leading to a reluctance to engage in formal agreements.
While senior royals have traditionally refrained from endorsing fashion houses, some extended family members have leveraged their royal connections for brand partnerships.
Lady Kitty Spencer, Prince Harry’s cousin, serves as a global brand ambassador for luxury labels Bvlgari and Dolce & Gabbana, a role she secured after being dressed by the latter for Harry’s wedding to Meghan in 2018.
Lady Helen Taylor, another royal figure, holds the distinction of being the first royal to sign a luxury endorsement deal, representing prestigious brands in the fashion world.
In a landscape where royal connections and brand affiliations intersect, Lady Sarah Chateau’s sartorial choice at Wimbledon not only sparked a fashion frenzy but also shed light on the evolving dynamics of celebrity endorsements and brand partnerships in the modern era.
As the industry navigates shifting trends and consumer expectations, the scrutiny surrounding potential collaborations with high-profile figures like Meghan Markle continues to shape the narrative of fashion and influence in the public eye.