Meghan Markle's Surprising Method For Avoiding Outdated Trends Couldn't Be More Simple
Meghan Markle's style transformation proves she's one of the most influential fashionistas in the world, but having all eyes on you every time you leave the house comes with a lot of pressure. Thanks to the likes of TikTok and Instagram, once-hugely popular trends are becoming outdated in record time — and it can be tough to keep up. But the former working royal has an ingenious hack for staying on top of what's hot. Speaking to The New York Times in August 2024, Meghan admitted she's very conscious of the brands she wears and relies on new, up-and-coming designers to avoid wearing outdated pieces. "I spend a lot of time just Googling, looking for brands. When people are online looking for things or reading things, I'm trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories," she explained.
The star knows she can bring a lot of attention to companies that may not have gotten their big break, too, which is just one of the reasons we love her. "Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven't gotten the attention that they should be getting," she explained. And she's done that quite a few times.
She wore a t-shirt from a one-woman brand
In 2021, Meghan Markle relied on fashion designer Carrie-Anne Roberts' brand Mere Soeur to keep her style current. In the trailer for the Apple TV+ series "The Me You Can't See," the former "Suits" star wore a casual white t-shirt emblazoned with the words "Raising the future". Slogan tees were hugely popular at the time, so Markle looked totally on-trend. Roberts told BBC that the Duchess of Sussex's support had taken her super small business-of-one global.
Meghan Markle's on-trend earrings put Roxanne First on the map
When Meghan Markle attended the Endeavour Fund Awards in 2020, she made sure to highlight the then lesser-known British jewelry brand Roxanne First. Meghan wore the company's gold hoop earrings, a trending jewelry style that also gave her outfit a classic edge. Founder Roxanne First told Hello! that, thanks to Meghan, the 2-year-old company began receiving a flurry of orders from the US.
The Duchess carried a Strathberry bag in 2018 that kept her look fresh
Boxy bags with chain straps were in back in 2018, and Meghan Markle made sure she didn't fall into the trap of carrying an outdated pocketbook in Edinburgh via the small Scottish brand Strathberry. Meghan's modern, structured, forest green piece with gold hardware from the 5-year-old brand made the perfect accessory for her winter look — and it meant big things for the company too. Thanks in part to the attention of Meghan, co-owner Guy Hundlby told WWD he was able to hire more employees.
Meghan Markle's red Oríré dress was anything but outdated
At the Women in Leadership event in Nigeria in May 2024, Meghan Markle opted for a glam look by the small Nigerian fashion house Oríré, founded by Oríré Aleshinloye three years earlier. Red became the color to be seen in for summer 2024, so much so that even red bikinis were hot. Being such a fashion-conscious superstar, of course, Meghan was very much in on the bold shade, as she opted for Oríré's stunning spaghetti strap dress with ruffles across the hem.
She got in on the blazer dress trend with Maggie Marilyn
When Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Harry, Duke of Sussex, visited New Zealand in 2018, Meghan Markle decided to wear the trendy long blazer style of the moment. She wore a sleeveless white dress from local designer Maggie Marilyn, a brand that began just two years prior. Marilyn told Fashionista that the Meghan effect resulted in visitors to her website multiplying a whopping seven times. The bright material was stunning against Meghan's skin tone, and it looked super flattering and comfortable, as she was pregnant at the time.