Was this Meghan Markle's biggest fashion faux pas of 2017?

While she didn't upstage Pippa with her outfit, Meghan's colour of choice has raised eyebrows among etiquette experts. Photo / Getty

This was one of NZH Lifestyle's top stories in 2017

She wisely let bride Pippa Middleton have all the attention on her white wedding day, but Prince Harry's fiance Meghan Markle made a fashion faux pas by attending the lavish reception wearing black.

While the day had been all about the bride, the belle of the after-party ball was arguably Prince Harry's then girlfriend, Meghan, who snuck into the festivities in a glamorous long black dress, sunglasses and a white jacket.

The dress code for the late-night reception was "black tie" - an easy code for men to interpret but a minefield at times for female guests.

Meghan Markle wore a long black dress similar to this one which she wore to an event in 2016. Photo / Getty

Traditionally, etiquette and fashion experts advise against wearing black to weddings, with some cultures believing it is bad luck.

Julie Lamberg-Burnet, chief executive of The Sydney School of Protocol said Ms Markle would not have got away with wearing black 10 years ago.

"I think things have changed when it comes to wearing black and white at weddings," Ms Lamberg-Burnet said.

"It certainly wasn't appropriate many decades ago but today it's universally accepted.
Prince Harry was all smiles as he drove the 160km to collect his American actress, who spent the day at Kensington Palace to avoid stealing the limelight from Pippa on her big day.

Prince Harry and his brother William attended the Middleton ceremony together. Afterwards Harry drove to pick up Meghan to join the reception festivities. Photo / Getty

The happy couple arrived in an Audi at the reception just in time to watch a majestic fly-past by a World War II-era Spitfire plane, during one of many spectacular moments at the society wedding of the year.

From ping pong matches with tennis ace Roger Federer, to $80,000 Russian caviar, the three-phase affair - including the church service and an afternoon drinks reception - lived up to its elegant and indulgent expectations.

Up to 350 guests partied until the early hours of the morning at the Middleton family's $8 million mansion in Bucklebury, west of London, celebrating the nuptials of Pippa and her hedge fund owner husband, James Matthews.

Pippa and her new husband James Matthews steal a kiss as they leave their wedding ceremony. Photo / Getty

The decadent after-party, set in a glass palace-style marquee was peppered with cherry blossom trees and boasted a Scottish theme - with friends and family sipping vintage champagne and dining on a five-course meal featuring lamb, haggis, prawns, foie gras and recipes from Pippa's own cookbook.

Music could be heard from the marquee from a live band throughout the evening, including jazz renditions of Call On Me by Eric Prydz and The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.

The best man and younger brother to the groom, controversial reality TV star Spencer Matthews, earned rounds of applause and fits of laughter for his best man's speech which took place at the late hour of 11pm.

Guests, who stayed partying until about 3am, were reportedly playing ping pong with seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer.