Today Meghan participated in The New York Times’ 20th Anniversary of DealBook – a gathering of icons in, business, policy, and culture to take stock of our rapidly evolving world.
The online summit is a two-day event celebrating the 20th anniversary the launch of DealBook. The summit brings together some of the most influential minds in business, policy, and culture to take stock of a world in the midst of rapid reinvention, grappling with the ripples of COVID and rewriting the rules in real time.
DealBook was introduced in October 2001 as an email newsletter service providing up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the financial market and began as a full-fledged website on March 6, 2006.
Meghan participated in-person in New York City in the “Minding the Gap” segment of the summit, a conversation with Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments. The two discussed how women can reach economic and professional parity, top-down solutions, and reflected on how their shared experiences influenced their thinking about creating opportunities for others.
Mellody is also chairwoman of Starbucks and former chairwoman of Dreamworks Animation. She became the first African-American woman to head The Economic Club of Chicago. She was also named to chair the Board of Directors of Starbucks in 2021, making her one of the highest profile African-American corporate directors and the first Black woman to be chairperson of an S&P 500 company. As of 2020, she is listed as No. 94 on Forbes’ list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. Mellody is married to world famous film director and producer George Lucas.
Interviewing the duo was Andrew Ross Sorkin, who asked Meghan about her recent calls to U.S. Senators campaigning for paid family leave. Though typically members of the British Royal Family stay out of politics, for Meghan, this was a humanitarian issue, not a political one, she said.
“We can all agree that people need support, especially when they’ve had a child,” the Duchess said. “Paid leave, from my point of view, is a humanitarian issue.”
The importance of standing up for humanitarian issues has been a long-held belief for the Duchess of Sussex, who recounted at the summit selling homemade scrunchies when she was a young girl.
“When my life and lifestyle were very different, I always stood up for what was right,” Meghan said.
Meghan also discussed the word “ambition,” referring to it as a “trigger word” and referencing the double standard that exists between men with ambition and women with ambition.
“Why are we equipping girls and women to think that if you are ambition is there something wrong with that?” she said. “If a boy or a man is described as ambitious, that’s an incredibly positive thing culturally.”
When asked how she’s feeling about everything after the past several years Meghan said that she is “feeling much better about everything,” and that, even though conversations like the one today are a small step in the right direction, they are a step in the right direction nonetheless.
“In ten years’ time it might be a different version of the same conversation, but hopefully a different version in the right direction,” she said.
New York City-based photographer Calla Kessler shared this photo she took of Meghan today on her Instagram account —
Now our look at what Meghan wore for today’s event.
The Duchess wore an all-black ensemble, her hair down, her often-worn gold jewelry, and a poppy pin – a flower that has been used since 1921 to commemorate military members who have died in war in the U.K. (This weekend will be Remembrance Sunday and the Festival of Remembrance, which the royal family always participate in.)
UPDATE 11/10: After some discussion – another suggestion for Meghan’s top is the Givenchy top much like the one she wore in Ireland, 2018 and New Zealand, 2018.
Another thought is that she might be wearing a bodysuit from Wolford – the Shortsleeve String Body, $195 (Now $125). The neckline doesn’t seem to come up as high on the model though so it’s hard to say.
It is described as a soft, seamless form fitting piece in an opaque, mat look with a round neck.
Her black trousers have not yet been identified. Please check back for updates.
Meghan’s belt is from Ferragamo. It is the adjustable Gancini belt, €450 ($521). Also available at FarFetch here, $794.
The belt is crafted in black calfskin with an antique gold finish Gancini buckle. More from the Ferragamo site —
The special workmanship of the Gancini is twisted for an exciting finish, with the added mini studs for a contemporary take.
We’re thinking she is wearing her Armani velvety leather court shoes with asymmetric top line, $675.
She first wore the shoes while in New York City back in September this year.
The Duchess wore a new bracelet today from New York-based jeweler Mateo. It is the Eye of Protection Bracelet in 14k gold and diamonds, $1500.
The hand painted bracelet is made in New York City and designed by Matthew Harris for Mateo. It is described as follows —
The Eye of Protection is a classic and essential piece which you will never want to take off. Ward off undesired energy with this bracelet and attract good vibes only.”
More from Huffington Post’s Carly Ledbetter who confirmed the bracelet and interviewed Matthew Harris here.
In a tweet from Carly tonight — Matthew Harris told her he had “no clue” that Meghan was going to wear the bracelet today.
“I almost had a meltdown,” the @MateoNewYork founder said, adding that the duchess was on his “dream list” of people to wear the brand.”
Once again Meghan wore her “signature” pieces on her left wrist consisting of Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank watch in 18k gold, Cartier ‘Love’ bracelet and Jennifer Meyer 18k gold bezel tennis bracelet ($3000).
We were able to catch a few quick glimpses of Meghan wearing Princess Diana’s diamond an sapphire butterfly earrings today. She first wore the earrings while in Australia, October 2018 (shown below, top right).
Diana wearing the earrings in Canada, May 1986.
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Meghan appeared in-person at the New York City office location of the New York Times. We’re wondering if we might see her tomorrow evening with Harry at the Intrepid Museum’s Salute to Freedom Gala.
The Duke is a special guest and will be handing out the medals for the Intrepid Valor Awards to five service members, veterans and military families who are living with the “invisible wounds of war. The event is a black tie affair so it would be a special treat and surprise to see Meghan at his side in one of her amazing evening looks!
We’re also expecting to see the couple mark Veteran’s Day on Thursday, 11 November for the US and Remembrance Day on Sunday, 14 November for the UK. Last year the Duke and Duchess marked the day with a private visit to the Los Angeles National Cemetery (shown below).
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We have an ID update to share. Lafayette 148 New York has confirmed that Meghan wore their Rafferty Wool Pencil Skirt, $398 (now $150), while visiting New York City in September.
Here is a closer look at the skirt.
Originally we thought that she may have been wearing Roland Mouret as the skirt was similar in style. We apologize for any confusion.
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Hard to get excited about an all black business-casual look. But the duchess looks lovely, as always! What I really want to know is more about the floral sweater Mellody Hobson is wearing!
Hi Laurie, I have Mellody’s sweater on my list to look for! Thanks, Susan 🙂