Since Meghan Markle came into worldwide attention in 2017, she has been embracing sustainable fashion at an increasing rate. From black skinny jeans by eco-friendly brand Outland, to her iconic halter reception dress by Stella McCartney, to conflict-free diamond and recycled gold jewelry, Markle’s wardrobe choices have been inspiring both aesthetically and ethically.
If you are also in love with Markle’s ‘modern-elegance with a twist’ lewk, take note: the Duchess of Sussex just announced via her @sussexroyal Instagram account that she will design a workwear line in collaboration with retailers Marks & Spencer, Misha Nonoo, John Lewis, and JigSaw. Oh, my!!
Markle unveiled the plans inside the September issue of the British Vogue, which she guest-edited. (Where does she find the time to do all of this? And yet I see no under-eye bags in sight. Ugh.) Markle came up with the idea in order to benefit one of her four chosen charities, Smark Works, which provides interview-appropriate clothing and guidance to out-of-workforce women.
“Throughout [Markle’s] visits she noticed that while the donations were plentiful, they were also notably a combination of mismatched items and colours which weren’t always the right stylistic choices or sizes that didn’t necessarily ‘suit’ the job at hand: to make a woman feel confident and inspired as she walked into her job interview,” the IG post explains. (Who else is delighted by the ‘suit’ pun? I can imagine Markle was writing this herself with her The Tig-era voice!)
For each item purchased from the line, the same item will also be donated to Smart Works. So not only will you feel empowered as you move through the work force, you will also help empower another woman, too. Plus, with Markle’s notable interest in sustainable fashion, and the considerable resources presented by four major retailers, we’re likely to see a significant sustainable / ethical direction for this new line.
Misha Nonoo, for example, makes each item to order, reducing fabric waste and shipping between multiple factories and warehouses. Her “Husband” shirt exploded onto the scene when Markle wore it (with ripped jeans, no less) in her first public appearance with Prince Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games. Let’s revisit that moment.Full disclosure: The Husband shirt, while pretty and boasting a more streamlined supply chain, is still made from conventional cotton and spandex. Conventional cotton is one of the most resource-draining fibers and requires a breathtaking amount of pesticides and water; spandex, meanwhile, leaches microplastics into our waters and air, like all synthetic materials. We strongly encourage you to opt for organic cotton or other natural fibers whenever possible! (Ms. Markle, are you listening?)
While Markle is hopefully taking our wish list into account and designing a line of organic cotton / Tencel / Cupro / and vegan leather clothes, let’s dream up the kind of silhouettes and colors we’re likely to see. Because, this is obviously very important!!
Markle *nailed* maternity dressing in this monochrome outfit, but this would look so good on any woman regardless. We would like to petition her to please make a blush blazer + dress + stiletto thing a part of her collection.
One of my favorite Markle looks of all time. This Brandon Maxwell sheath has a Givenchy-era Audrey Hepburn-esque feel with its boatneck and body-skimming, sleeveless silhouette. But that canary-yellow color does all the talking! Notice how well Prince Harry matches her in his navy-blue suit, too. That’s some stylist-sorcery right there.
A Meghan Markle collection would simply be incomplete without a trench coat *and* a trench dress. This one she wears on repeat is extremely classic, but notably modern for its loose, flowy texture and unstructured shoulder line.
Again, Markle loves clean, crisp sheath looks. That represents power dressing in 2019, no?
On the day before her wedding, Markle was caught wearing a Roland Mouret dress notable for its departure from her usual sheath format. But this number kept things modern with its flowing A-line silhouette (as opposed to a ball-gown shape) and an asymmetric, waterfall draping. And it’s great for any occasion: if it’s appropriate for an afternoon tea with the Queen, it’s appropriate for your job interview.
Speaking of the Queen, Markle chose this demure almond-colored Givenchy number for her first solo appearance with her grandmother-in-law. We would again like to petition, strongly, for inclusion of cape dresses in her collection. 🙏
Would you wear Meghan Markle’s new line?
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Photo: Sussex Royal via Instagram
