Meghan’s Invictus Games wardrobe shows ‘a conscious decision to be more likeable’
Meghan Markle made her debut appearance as Prince Harry’s girlfriend at the Invictus Games back in 2017. It was a big moment. Of all his endeavours, the sporting event that he founded in 2014 for injured servicemen and women is probably the closest to Harry’s heart. That Meghan was by his side indicated that she was somebody special.
And she was. In ripped jeans, flat shoes and a white shirt we would later learn was named the “Husband”, she came across as modest, relatable and chic. “I don’t think she put much thought into it back then,” says Mary Robinson, the fashion sleuth behind the @meghansclosetchronicles Instagram handle, which tracks every garment the Duchess of Sussex wears for some 42,000 followers.
“The look was very simple and straightforward, and gave off a very relatable, casual impression. It showed the world that she was a down-to-earth, all-American girl who wasn’t trying to fit into a stereotype of what we think a traditional, soon-to-be princess should look like.”
Six years on, a royal wedding, two children and a transatlantic move later, Meghan’s troubled trajectory of fame has been well-documented. Ditto her wardrobe, because clothing can convey so much about how we want to be perceived. Meghan is no different, and she clearly enjoys fashion. Her Invictus Games wardrobes through the years tell a story in themselves.
Take the carefully judged outfits she’s been wearing for the 2023 Invictus Games this week in Düsseldorf, Germany: designer pieces that we’ve largely seen before (Valentino, Chanel, Celine) mixed with a high-street element in every look (Banana Republic, J. Crew).
The Sussex reps, notably, are also briefing the press that she will be doing her own hair and make-up for the duration of the visit. With no glam team and simple, low-maintenance outfits, they are keen for the focus to stay on the sporting action and away from the fashion.
It’s all a lot more relatable than the all-designer-everything outfits Meghan wore for the 2022 Games, which included a £3,200 white suit and a £3,600 laser-cut minidress by Valentino, a £2,800 Celine “Chasseur” jacket, and a £600 Khaite bodysuit. The “full look” approach, which refers to the practice of wearing one brand head-to-toe, lacked nuance.
This year’s high-low label mix, with a smattering of rewears and preloved pieces, has been more positively received, Robinson says: “I think she went into this year’s event with the realisation that she would be heavily under the microscope, and planned accordingly. Her wardrobe this week reflects her desire to maintain a dialogue not about her or her clothing, but instead about the incredible competitors at the Games and their achievements.”
What’s interesting about this shift is that it’s a strategy that’s long been part of the royal fashion playbook, and with the very same goal. The Princess of Wales has been doing the high-low-rewear thing for more than a decade, as has the Duchess of Edinburgh.
It may be that Meghan has discovered that despite her go-to “stealth wealth” aesthetic and monochrome palette, it’s still possible to come off a bit brash when you go heavy on designer megabrands.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on a big recovery mission to regain their popularity, and Meghan knows how influential her fashion can be in that mission,” says Christine Ross, royal commentator and host of Us Weekly’s Royally Us podcast. “The responses to last year’s outfit choices at the Invictus Games were largely unfavourable – too expensive, too high fashion.
“Meghan is a businesswoman at heart, and I think she can assess what went wrong, with a project to improve for the next time. The 180-degree turn from Valentino to Banana Republic is no coincidence. It’s a very conscious decision to be more appealing, down-to-earth, and likeable.”
Ross believes there is more to it than approval ratings, though. It’s thought that Meghan is preparing to relaunch her fashion and lifestyle blog, The Tig, which she closed down when she and Harry got engaged. A site such as this would rely on affiliate links for revenue (through which a media platform earns a small fee for every customer that clicks through to a retailer to make a purchase).
“Several comments have been made about the ‘affiliate-friendly’ nature of many of [Meghan’s] high-street items, like the Banana Republic dress and J. Crew cardigan,” she says. “A ‘what I packed for my [Invictus] trip’ feature, for instance, would be a huge success and, in terms of affiliate commissions, a cash cow. This contrasts with her choice of vintage and secondhand designer pieces, but perhaps those items are there for balance.”
That’s a theory, but it may be more simple than that. Meghan overhauled her wardrobe when she moved to the UK, and again when she moved back to the US. It may be that with a little more stability and permanence in her life, she’s settled on a personal style that’s somewhere in-between.
That’s Robinson’s feeling, at least. “She’s found her niche with what seems like a capsule wardrobe that incorporates elements of both [designer and high street] in a way that is relatable to the average person watching – and admiring.”
