Meghan Markle champions current trends and supports small businesses

The Duchess of Sussex’s fashion sense has transformed significantly over the years, shifting from bold red carpet looks to more understated royal attire. 

Her current style champions Hollywood glamour – a reflection of her life after stepping back as a senior royal in 2020.

However, Meghan has faced significant criticism regarding her clothing choices, particularly concerning the fit of her dresses and trousers. 

She has recently opted for outfits that appear quite oversized, even when paired with high heels, such as the St Agni linen co-ord she wore to the G9 Ventures summit in July. 

Celebrity stylist Martine Alexander believes Meghan is simply embracing current trends. 

‘One of the key trends for spring/summer was oversized, unstructured suiting. Meghan opted for something looser and I personally think she looked incredible.

‘It’s quite easy to say that she’s wearing something unstructured because she’s wearing linen. This fabric will naturally crease and it gives quite quickly, so it will look less tailored and won’t be as sharp as a crepe.’

Martine adds: ‘I love that she is wearing under-the-radar brands. One of the things that I adore doing is giving small businesses the exposure they deserve.

‘It’s so rewarding for the stylist, the client and the brand – that’s why I think Meghan is doing it. Her appearance could change a business. 

‘When I dressed Rebecca Adlington in a small business brand for the Olympics, the outfit sold out. To be able to do that for somebody else is the most incredible thing.’ 

During her tour of Nigeria earlier this year, rather than opting for clothing which was tailored to her 5ft 6in frame, Meghan favoured a relaxed approach, allowing several garments to trail along the floor. 

But the oversized aesthetic is nothing new for the Duchess as she has adopted such looks for a number of years. 

In 2015, Meghan attended a glamorous event in an all-white ensemble, featuring long, wide-leg trousers.

At the time, Meghan was filming the US drama Suits and would have been given clothing on loan for photoshoots or borrowed from her character’s wardrobe.

Some experts speculate that she may be wearing samples that cannot be adequately altered. 

Although there are rumours that Meghan is working with stylist Jamie Mizrahi, this has yet to be confirmed. 

‘I don’t know whether Meghan works with a stylist. If she does, the stylist may have contacted PR companies or brands directly to ask if they can borrow pieces,’ Martine says.

Sample sizes vary by brand, with most British ones offering sizes 6 to 10, while many oriental brands typically range from sizes 6 to 8. 

These samples are generally designed for models, which could explain the longer lengths. 

Martine explains: ‘Samples are made with models in mind so that when they shoot lookbooks or online images they have the perfect fit – so they do tend to be made for someone who is 5ft 10in.

However, it is possible to make temporary alterations to these samples. 

‘You can do a temporary alteration on sample clothing, such as a dress or trousers, which is easy to unpick and revert the item to its original state,’ Martine says.

‘But if a pair of trousers have a kick flare, it’s more difficult as you would have to cut the length off.’

These brands are aware of their target audience and adhere to a specific aesthetic. 

Martine explains: ‘Fashion houses will have an idea of who is on-brand for them – someone who fits their look, vibe, genre, age, size and overall aesthetic on social media. Whether it’s an influencer or a celebrity, they will have a target list that they work towards.’

Perhaps the most notable item in her wardrobe, Meghan’s wedding dress faced significant criticism, with fans questioning its fit as she arrived at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2018.

Designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, the gown was made from triple silk organza, a material with little stretch, leading to a looser appearance, particularly around the bodice. 

It is believed that Meghan and Clare intentionally chose a relaxed cut for comfort and ease of movement. 

Had the dress been skin-tight, Meghan might have struggled to sit comfortably due to the thick fabric’s restrictive nature.