Meghan Markle has shared what might be her most revealing social media post since reviving her Instagram presence after the much-publicized Megxit. The image, seemingly taken within the confines of her Montecito wardrobe, offers an intriguing glimpse into her world.
Clad in a lilac coat, the Duchess of Sussex strikes a full-length mirror selfie pose with Lilibet, four, crouching at her feet, captioned ‘Mama’s little helper’ – a shot topped off with a lovely purple heart emoji.
As with all things Meghan, this post is no mere afterthought. With her 4.5 million followers watching closely, it seems likely there’s a message behind the carefully curated snapshot. But what could she be communicating?
Is she aiming to present a more relatable or endearing image, especially after having voiced her experiences of being “the most trolled person in the entire world”? That seems unlikely, given the polished display of high-end brands like Armani, Manolo Blahnik, and Christian Dior rather than any laid-back, casual attire.
One might note the striking resemblance of the Armani jacket in the photo to the one she donned in Geneva recently, during the unveiling of the Lost Screen memorial dedicated to the children impacted by social media harm.
However, the most plausible interpretation might be Meghan’s foray into the fashion industry under her brand, As Ever. Notably, this is the sole account she follows on Instagram, indicating her potential focus.
“Fashion is something I will explore at a later date,” Meghan shared in an interview last year, hinting at her interest in the field. “Because I do think that’s an interesting space for me.”
That date could be looming ever closer. Eagle-eyed devotees did spot a new sizing chart for T-shirts appearing on her brand’s website, both for adults and kids, last week, although it was swiftly deleted. Was it a tease, or a glitch?
Is this photo of Meghan Markle and her daughter Princess Lilibet a clue that the Duchess of Sussex is launching her own fashion brand?
The Duchess was pictured wearing all-black on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, as speculation over her fashion brand plans grew
The Duchess’ spokesman declined to comment. If Meghan really is expanding from the kitchen, and her pricey jams, meandering into her wardrobe era with an As Ever garment collection, what can we expect?
There won’t be tights: we know she wasn’t keen on having to wear those as a working royal, branding the custom ‘inauthentic’.
Stiletto shoes, perhaps? There are two pairs of nigh-on identical black heels by different designers in the forefront of her photo next to the Armani jacket and, of course, several beige lookalikes in the background.
Speaking of beige, a colour she heavily favoured wearing on her show With Love, Meghan (highly impractical, given how much cooking she was doing) – could she be moving away from neutrals? There is blue, green, red, even orange lurking in her perfectly colour-coded rack.
She has mentioned feeling the need to shy away from bright hues when she was in the Firm so as to not risk the faux-pas of matching ‘more senior members’.
Since then, she hasn’t exactly been a walking rainbow, but maybe she’s still in the process of a metamorphosis and yet to become the multi-coloured butterfly she was always destined to be. Beyond these clues, it’s hard to guess what she might conjure up.
The Duchess is undeniably stylish, so I was a little surprised by the naffness of her actual wardrobe – walnut-hued with chintzy metal handles – but I’m sure it wasn’t cheap. Nor would her own fashion line be.
And what’s with the good old Rolodex on her cabinet? Very Devil Wears Prada; a metaphor for her Anna Wintour-esque orbit of powerful fashion contacts? Or her affirmations in her signature calligraphy? We’ll have to wait and see. Meghan is, as ever, full of surprises.