Fashion Reverie Prediction: Meghan Markle’s Fashion Choices, Good, Bad or Indifferent?

Last month, Fashion Reverie reported on the potential power of actress Meghan Markle’s status as a rising fashion icon. Since her engagement to Prince Harry, fashion pundits have been scrutinizing everything she wears from her coats down to her earrings. Recently, Markle was spotted wearing a bespoke Philip Treacy felt hat for Christmas Day church service in Sandringham.For her first royal Christmas with Prince Harry, Markle went for a more price-friendly look by sporting a Sentaler wide-collar camel coat and a burgundy “Tay” velvet dress from Club Monaco, accessibly priced at 234 British pounds. She didn’t forget to add a little bit of luxury though by adding a Chloé bag.

For her engagement photos, Markle embraced British fashion designers. The crown jewel of all her outfits would have to be her Ralph & Russo couture gown, estimated at a price of 56,000 British pounds. For the photo shoots Meghan also donned a diaphanous, embellished cashmere sweater by Victoria Beckham.

One thing that is clear from Markle’s recent fashion choices is that she understands her role as a future member of the royal family. Yet to be established is the effect her fashion choices have on British culture. Her greatest testament as a style star will be to introduce the world to brands that weren’t necessarily household names. Markle is known to be a big fan of British designer Misha Nonoo, who has made a big name for herself in the States.Nonoo was part of the CFDA Incubator Program, which helped her build her business in the US, gaining the attention of actresses of Markle’s ilk. It is also expected that Markle could don other American designers with notable British roots, such as Bibhu Mohapatra, who has amassed an impressive list of celebrities and is a staple on the New York Fashion Week calendar scene.

Meghan Markle has an ideal style opportunity, unlike Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, in that she won’t be required to be quite as formal as Kate Middleton. Markle will have room to be a little more adventurous with her fashion choices. Still, as the first woman of color to marry into the royal family, everything she does will be under a microscope and should be approached with caution.

Meghan could possibly craft a more relatable image by wearing the globally popular British label Burberry. The acclaimed British luxury label is expected to name a new creative director as former creative director Christopher Bailey has exited his post. Rumor has it that former Céline creative director Phoebe Philo could be taking the top design post at Burberry, which means Philo could craft an entirely new image for the brand, as well as a new image for Markle. Meghan is already a fan of Burberry, having worn a Burberry dress to the Isabella Blow Foundation’s Fashion Blows Gala in 2014.        

That said; the future duchess has an on-going love affair with accessories, namely shoes. Meghan Markle has provided us a glimpse into her shoe closet via Instagram, and her closet is worthy of the gods. Her collection has included Aquazurra, Jean-Michel Cazabat, Gianvito Rossi, Isa Tapia, Sam Edelman, Miu Miu, and Brian Atwood.

Markle’s enormous shoe collection is expected to follow her to the UK, but the question is, but what other independent and emerging designers will she promote with her style choices. Based on her understated, yet luxurious approach to style, potential designers (who are also on the London Fashion Week calendar) that could become Markle favorites include Mulberry, J.W. Anderson, Simone Rocha, Teatum Jones, Roksanda and Christopher Kane. While none of the aforementioned designers have officially stepped up to the plate, anything is still possible. It’s Meghan’s world now, and we’re about to be living in it.      ­—Kristopher Fraser