Mother of the bride Doria Ragland wears classic Oscar de la Renta - but keeps her nose stud in
FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ROYAL WEDDING HERE
For any mother of the bride, getting their outfit just right is no mean feat. And when the bride is marrying into the British royal family at the most publicised wedding of the year?
Well, let's just say that Doria Ragland had a big decision on her hands.
To ensure that all eyes were on her daughter, Doria chose an understated pale pistachio green day coat and dress with white floral embroidery by Oscar de la Renta, worn with a small matching hat by Stephen Jones worn close to the head and heels by Aquazzura.
But while the outfit, and the pearl and diamond earrings and small snowflake pendant (both by Birks) were classic choices, Doria did maintain a little of her own style and personality - with a small diamond nose stud.
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This personal flair is something that Doria has no doubt passed down to her daughter, who has stayed true to her own sleek, modern style while dressing for royal occasions.
Meghan has retained her own individuality at such occasions with a similarly tiny but telling detail: mis-matched earrings.
Royal wedding | Fashion and Beauty
These were the first glimpses that the British public had of Meghan Markle, the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex, arriving in her wedding gown. She shared the moment with the most important woman in her life: her mother, Doria Ragland.
Having found it too difficult to appoint a matron of honour from her many friends, this proved an intimate moment for mother and daughter instead, no doubt especially so following the announcement that illness would keep the father of the bride for attending the wedding.
Burberry looked like the likely choice when Doria was spotted carrying a Burberry garment bag on her way to La-X airport earlier this week.
Instead, Ohio-born Ragland chose an American label founded by the late Dominican-American designer Oscar de la Renta. In the 1960s, he became known internationally after first lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore many of his designs.
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The brand's current co-creative directors Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim were behind Doria's design. The choice of a British milliner, Stephen Jones, was a diplomatic nod to the country that will become her daughter's home.
The sleek pastel outfit nods to the classic mother of the bride style that Carole Middleton championed at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding back in 2011.
Her pastel blue Catherine Walker dress and matching coat, topped off with a matching blue hat, was certainly elegant, and Doria's pastel suit equally so.
It's no coincidence that Doria Ragland chose to mark this special occasion wearing both American and British labels.
Seeing her daughter move to another country to start her married life would be bittersweet for any mother, but there was no mistaking the look of pride on her face as her daughter walked down the aisle to marry her Prince.
