Meghan Markle Or Kate Middleton: Who Is The More Powerful Celebrity Fashion Influencer?

Although royal watchers are still awaiting the official Harry and Meghan Markle engagement announcement from the Palace, the Suits actress already appears to be the biggest fashion influencer in the royal family.

According to the Sunday Times, Lyst, “a global fashion search engine,” a company that creates a top 10 list of the most powerful celebrity fashion influencers, has announced that both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are on that prestigious list.

According to their top 10 list, singer Rihanna, actress Selena Gomez and model Bella Hadid are the top three. Number four on the list is Prince Harry’s intended, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton is number five, beating out the First Lady, Melania Trump.

The Lyst communications director Katy Lubin recently discussed how they determined that Meghan Markle was a bigger fashion influencer than her future sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

“We monitored the increase in searches created by some of their most talked-about outfits.”

The Times points out that one of the reasons that Markle may have a more impressive search percentage is because Kate Middleton does recycle a lot of her clothes and they are not available for purchase. Another reason could also be that for nearly two months, Kate was out of the public eye due to serious morning sickness.

Lubin further explained that the “Kate effect” has been a huge influence of fashion, yet the designers that Meghan Markle has worn has changed the online search dynamics.

“The ‘Kate effect’ continues to drive demand for her chosen fashion brands, but this year we noticed outfits worn by Meghan causing unprecedented spikes in search for lesser-known labels such as Misha Nonoo, Mackage and Sarah Flint.”

What put Meghan at the top? Her first social appearance with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games. She wore a white Misha Nonoo “husband shirt” and a Mackage Baya burgundy leather jacket. According to Lyst, of the top 10 “most searched for items of clothing,” six were worn by Meghan Markle.

Could this be the beginning of the “Meghan effect”?

Since her marriage to Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge has influenced fashion, the phenomenon nicknamed the “Kate effect.”

As the Inquisitr previously reported, in the past few years, Duchess Kate has been a major fashion influencer in fashion and accessories. For example, last year, Catherine brought the Jackie Kennedy inspired pill box hat, as well as classic hair nets back into fashion, with her modern-retro, fashion-forward classic looks worn at somber events.

Yet, unlike Kate Middleton, who has been under the sharp scrutiny of Queen Elizabeth, American actress Meghan Markle has had the luxury of dressing however she wants due to her occupation. Could this change if she should marry Prince Harry? More than likely yes.

Although it is probable that Markle won’t be wearing fashionably ripped jeans, as she wore at the Invictus Games, and she will most likely not be wearing such short hemlines as she had previously worn, before dating Prince Harry.

Yet, she has already proven that she has the good fashion taste to dress properly for royal functions, as both Kate and Meghan have the same dress. This is the infamous Diane Von Furstenberg Zarita lace gown: Kate has the long black version, while Meghan has the shorter, navy version.

Meghan Markle is already a known fashionista, as she is friends with several fashion designers, and has regularly attended fashion shows. On the other hand, Kate Middleton started out as “reluctant” fashionista.

The secret to Kate’s fashion success is her stylist Natasha Archer. “Tash” as she is know, who recently married royal photographer Chris Jackson, has been working for Kate since the birth of Prince George in 2014.

According to a source who spoke to Vanity Fair, Archer works with designers and often will consult with them to create bespoke garments for the Duchess of Cambridge. She also has the fashion savvy to encourage Kate to try something a little more daring.

“Initially Kate was a reluctant fashion icon, but now she enjoys it. Tash helps source some of the clothes. She shops a lot for Kate online, and calls in hundreds of dresses for Kate to try on. She has persuaded Kate to take some more risks. The hemlines are shorter and Kate’s really pushing the boat out in the fashion stakes.”

Yet, in the end, Kate Middleton has the final say of whether she wears a garment or not.

Kate’s favorite designers are British, including Jenny Packham, Temperley and Marchesa. We know she loves her wedgies, nude pumps and trainers.

Currently, Markle has been seen wearing Canadian, American and British brands. Will she go all British once she becomes engaged to Prince Harry? And will she wear the same designers as Kate, or will she continue to wear garments that are little more daring? Will the fashion influencer playing field even out in a couple of years, once Meghan begins to recycle clothing?

No matter what, it sounds like the probable sister-in-laws will surely continue to be top ten celebrity fashion influencers.

[Featured Image by by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]