The Duchess wore pieces from ‘The Smart Set’ collection for today’s launch of the capsule clothing and accessory line.
The engagement marks Meghan’s official return from maternity leave.
The Smart Set capsule collection was created to benefit Smart Works, one of Meghan’s patronages. The organization provides coaching, apparel, and styling tips for unemployed women who have upcoming job interviews. Below you see Meghan arriving at the John Lewis Oxford Street store in London where there was a function celebrating the launch.
More about the origins of the collection via Omid Scobie’s story for Harper’s Bazaar:
The idea was born just after Meghan became patron of the organization, which empowers disadvantaged women with the right tools and clothes to get back into the work place, at the start of the year.
Meghan pitched the idea for a collection to the Smart Works team, including executives Juliet Hughes-Hallett and Kate Stephens, and it was an instant hit. “She wanted the basics of a capsule collection to always be available,” a source tells BAZAAR. “Pieces that were more mix and match-able rather than just one new outfit.
Meghan delivered remarks at today’s event.A video of the Duchess speaking via Chris Ship of ITV.
WATCH: Meghan tells how she wanted to help her charity @SmartWorksHQ by focusing on ‘community’ rather than ‘charity’. pic.twitter.com/B0Nac6w5g7
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 12, 2019
And from The Telegraph‘s story:
The Duchess’s passion for this charity was evident as she shared personal stories with guests, from how she had dressed clients for a photoshoot to capture the promotional campaign images, to the issues she has observed herself when volunteering at the charity’s London centres.
Below, Meghan and Smart Works CEO Kate Stephens.
The capsule line includes five pieces done in collaboration with Jigsaw, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, and Misha Nonoo, the eponymous brand owned by Meghan’s close friend. The clothing items are offered in sizes 6-24.
Meghan and Misha at today’s launch.
Embed from Getty Images
More from Omid Scobie’s story:
The duchess spent eight months working closely with the charity and brands involved to ensure every aspect of the project is right. Alongside her royal duties and other charitable endeavors, Meghan pored over look books from her home in Windsor to curate and perfect the collection, filled with pieces she would wear herself. (Yes, she has the entire range in her own wardrobe!)
For every piece from the line that is sold, an identical piece will be donated to one of the eight Smart Works locations. Products are accompanied by signage that includes a quote from Meghan: “Not a handout, a hand, held.”
The women modeling the pieces in promotional materials are Smart Works clients. From left to right: Zara, Andrea, and Kate. More about the launch from Vanity Fair:
Meghan remarked that her elegant black tailored trousers by High Street retailer Jigsaw were incredibly comfortable. She is understood to have personally contacted the High Street store to see if they would come on board with the idea of Smart Set after she saw their recent fashion campaign which focused on Britain’s ethnic diversity.
In a release timed to coincide with London Fashion Week, the collection is slated to be available for the next two weeks. Pieces became available on a few sites early this morning and some of the items are already sold out online.
Below, an image from the launch at John Lewis in a photo shared by royal reporter Victoria Murphy.
Different pieces are available at different retailers. Marks and Spencer is offering a Crepe Shift dress in Black or Rich Blue, $32.50. The dress is also available in black in petite sizes ($32.50). (Note: online a red dress is also shown, but it is not part of the Smart Set collection.)
The unlined dress is done in a polyester crepe fabric with three-quarter sleeves and an open vee neck. It is also machine washable. Here is a view of the dress as seen at Marks and Spencer, shared by Patricia Treble, who is in London on a work trip. She stopped by stores to check out the collection.
John Lewis is offering the Leather Smart Set Tote Bag, £109 ($134), in tan or black. The inclusion of a tote came out of Meghan’s belief there is a need for more office-friendly bags.
The bag is described as a soft leather grain that is “lightweight and versatile.” In a series of tweets about the collection Patricia says it is “a good practical tote in black and rich mid-brown”. Below, another photo via Patrica.
The tote has an open-top design and it is fully lined with multiple interior pockets. It can be carried as a tote or as a cross-body style using the detachable shoulder strap. Unfortunately, the bag is sold out in both colors.
Misha Nonoo’s ‘The Smart Set Shirt,’ $125, is a classic button-up shirt. It is done in a cotton-spandex blend with a semi-slim fit and Misha Nonoo branded buttons.
In keeping with the brand’s sustainability practices, the shirts are made on-demand; each shirt is cut and sewn when the order is placed.
For its part of the collection, Jigsaw offers a two-piece pantsuit from their Paris line. The Paris one-button jacket in black (£199, roughly $245) is crafted in a wool blend with a fitted silhouette, slanted front welt pockets, and an acetate/poly lining. (Please Note: You will see the jacket in navy online, but that color is not part of The Smart Set collection.)
The Paris Slim Fit Tapered Trouser in black (£120, about $150 at today’s exchange rates) is done in the same polyester/wool/elastane fabric used for the jacket and features a front zipper, front and back pockets, belt loops and a full lining. (Again, the navy trouser shown online is not part of The Smart Set collection.)
One FYI: Per Jigsaw’s Instagram comment to inquiries regarding orders outside of the UK — The Smart Set collaboration only works when ordering in the UK.
Below, a quick refresher on the pieces in the collection.
And the retailers offering the styles.
- Marks & Spencer: Dress ($32.50)
- John Lewis: Tote ($138)
- Misha Nonoo: Shirt ($125)
- Jigsaw: Jacket (£199, about $245) and Trousers (£120, roughly $150)
We can look forward to seeing the Duchess in the pieces again; at today’s launch, she said she plans to wear them on the upcoming tour.
It was in January of this year that the Duchess was appointed the royal patron of Smart Works. Shortly after the announcement was made, she made an official visit to the charity.
Meghan had been meeting with the charity and some of its clients privately for several months before the announcement.
In the September 2019 issue of Vogue, which the Duchess guest-edited, the Duchess revealed in an article that she was working on a capsule collection for Smart Works.
In late August the Sussex Royal Instagram account shared behind the scenes footage of the Duchess at the photoshoot for the collection.
This isn’t Meghan’s first fashion collaboration. Previously she teamed up with Canadian retailer Reitmans to create a work-to-weekend-wear line.
Now for our look at what Meghan wore for today’s launch. The Duchess was in the Misha Nonoo shirt ($125) from The Smart Set collection.
The shirt is 97% cotton with 3% spandex for stretch and ease of movement.
Meghan also wore the Paris Trouser from Jigsaw (£120, roughly $150 at today’s exchange rates) that is part of the collection. The trousers are done in the same polyester/wool/elastane fabric used for the jacket and feature a front zipper, front and back pockets, belt loops, and a full lining.
A final note on the collection via this Telegraph story: “The Duchess hasn’t just lent her name to the project – you can tell that she’s been involved in every stage of the process. These really are clothes that she would wear herself – and by all accounts, clothes that she will wear herself – and it shows.”
Meghan appears to be wearing a new pair of Manolo Blahnik BB 105mm pumps with the ‘Tora Heel’ today in the brand’s cognac colorway. The shoe is available at Farfetch, $601.
The design is a classic pump with a pointed toe and Manolo Blahnik’s ‘Tora Heel’. Nordstroms has the shoe in the 105mm stiletto heel (w/out the ‘Tora Heel’), available in all sizes, $665.
Meghan had on a Polo Ralph Lauren belt. It looks like the label’s Nappa Leather Skinny Belt (£85, about $105) in the ‘saddle’ color.
Meghan wore Princess Diana’s butterfly earrings, as well as her cuff bracelet.
(Both are shown as worn on a previous occasion.)
Below a photo of Princess Diana wearing the earrings and matching necklace from May 1986, Royal Tour Canada.
Another image of Diana wearing the earrings and matching necklace can be seen in People Magazine.
She also wore the Zofia Day Open Diamond Cuff, $1200; Shaun Leane Tusk Bangle in yellow gold vermeil and diamonds,$1,227; the Pippa Small ’Oshna’ bangle, $140.
Another view of Meghan’s bracelets below:
ITN’s Royal Family Channel has a video running 6+ minutes from today’s launch event.
And here you see the photos posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram page.
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Also today, a quick reminder: The TARGET 20 Years of Design for All collection goes on sale this Saturday, 14 September!
Target is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Design for All by bringing back some of their most-loved products from 20 of their iconic design partners – Jason Wu, Altuzzara, Anna Sui, Zac Posen, Proenza Schouler, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Hunter to name a few.
Grab some #MatchMeg styles during this special event from some of Meghan’s favorite designers past and present!*****
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Finally, earlier this week Ellen DeGeneres kicked off the Fall Season of her talk show, The Ellen Show, and shared this video clip on Twitter revealing an exciting upcoming collaboration!
This summer I got to meet Prince Harry and Meghan’s son Archie in England. Would you like to see the picture? pic.twitter.com/gdNpYwrsXv
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 9, 2019
In the clip, Ellen mentions how she and wife, Portia de Rossi, talked with the Royal couple about their love for the work they do in Botswana with the elephants. In return, Harry and Meghan also like what Ellen is doing with the Gorillas in Rwanda. Ellen then revealed that she and Portia are planning to join forces with Harry and Meghan on an upcoming conservation project!
We think we’ll hear some sort of an announcement on that soon.
LINKAGE:
- Read our previous posts about the collaboration here and here.
- The Smart Works website is here; the charity’s Facebook page is here; its Instagram page here and Twitter feed here
- The Mirror’s story is here; The Daily Mail’s piece is here; a Daily Telegraph story is here
- a People article is here; a Harper’s Bazaar piece is here; a Vox story is here; Victoria Murphy’s Town and Country piece is here; a Hello! story is here
- a Harper’s Bazaar gallery on the collection is here; a PopSugar gallery is here and the Fug Girls post is here; Vogue Australia’s coverage is here
Shannon says
The collection is a wonderful idea but it will not be around long enough to be accessible as for meghan’s outfit i know her signature look is smart/casual but this is too casual for a royal!Her hair needs to be styled and swept back too so the hosts/public can proper see her face and her hands are not distracted i feel the stacked bracelets are becoming the new stacked rings and it’s starting to look juvenile.
Jackie says
Great effort and great, simple, staple work ready pieces.
Christine16 says
Wonderful idea that each piece bought brings the donation of a new item. I hope it is tremendously successful. Which items can be bought in the states?
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Christine, The Marks & Spencer dress can be purchased on the US side as well as The Smart Set Shirt from Misha Nonoo. We’ve included info in the post with links to the items. The Jigsaw pieces can only be purchased in the UK to count towards to the donation. John Lewis will ship the tote if that should come back in stock. – SC
Amelie says
Lord do I envy Meghan’s public speaking skills! I shouldn’t be surprised, she’s blown me away ever since I saw her speech she gave at the UN on gender equality in 2015 (so pre-Harry) and apparently something she’s been good at since she was a kid. I’m not sure anybody in the BRF matches her level of public speaking! I’m not familiar with everyone’s speaking style so I’ll going to try to pay attention but the fact she managed to speak for nearly 7 minutes with no notes is very impressive.
As for the whole Smart Set endeavor, it is such a great initiative Meghan has spearheaded bringing all these big British fashion brands together to donate pieces from their own collections to Smart Works for each piece purchased. I really like the dress though I’m not sure if it would look good on me, I’d have to try it on first. I do hope they are able to expand the Smart Set to petite/tall/plus sizes if the run of the capsule collection is successful and meets projected targets.
As for what Meghan is wearing, smart for her to wear pieces from the collection itself! It may not be the most exciting outfit but that’s the kind of outfit that will give prospective employers a good impression. I think the fit looks okay for the most part and I like the accessories Meghan paired with the outfit. This successful launch makes me excited for the other kinds of projects Meghan will attack in the future. As she stated, she tries to do community-based projects and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
WhatMeghanWore says
Amelie – the M&S dress is available in petite sizes. 🙂 – Susan C.
Joan in NV says
Good concept, but not terribly flattering shapes and colors. The black pants and white blouse combo, particularly, reminds me of what a dealer at a blackjack table wears.
LadyLeah says
Love this project, love her work ethic, love the results!
Meghan looks fantastic in this classic ensemble. I love how she elevated the basics with great bracelets and those stellar shoes. Simple pieces plus gorgeous accessories is a winning look.
Faith says
Hi. I’m pretty sure the earrings are not Diana’s. If you enlarge the pair Meghan wore yesterday and Diana’s the shape and proportions are completely different.
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Faith, The butterfly earrings Meghan is wearing are indeed the ones Princess Diana wore on the Royal Tour Canada in 1986. There are a number of images online of Diana wearing the earrings with the matching necklace. We’ve added an embedded image of Diana from that tour to the post as well as another one of Meghan in the earrings from the launch. Also, here is a link to People Magazine’s image of Diana in Canada wearing the earrings – https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/m.jpg. The earrings are gold with tiny diamond and sapphires. I hope this helps. – Susan C.
BethR says
Classic look. Total win!
Maria says
Great idea! Am I the only one seeing that the pants do not really fit well and give her body a nice shape? Low waisted pants do not go with most female body shapes.
Bonnie says
I agree, Maria with your point about low waisted pants not working well for many women. But maybe, as you say, these pants would look this way for many others. Pity if that is the case, because this Smart Set collection is supposed to be for ALL shapes and sizes.
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Caroline A. says
I agree with you, Maria. I applaud the concept of the Smart Set, and think The Duchess is doing a great job to lend practical support to women who need it, but I think that it would have served women better if the pieces had been made to fit different body types. For example, an option for pants that had a wider leg and a higher rise, a jacket that was more boxy/roomy and different lengths for the pants and jackets as well. I see that the dress is available in two lengths, but I don’t know if the pants or the jacket are. The shirt seems a bit slim for some body types. It would have been helpful to have a roomier option for those who need it, perhaps minus the Spandex. Another colour option might be helpful too as white doesn’t suit everyone, and isn’t very practical in some work environments. For example, I work in a library and I remember wearing a white and navy pinstriped shirt on my first day. I quickly realised that white was not a great colour for library work as the cuffs became grubby within a couple of hours. I wasn’t doing much shelving either on my first day. It was just the cuffs rubbing on desks that did it. Perhaps a soft blue and/or a dusky pink option would be useful to add to the collection, and possibly even a three quarter sleeve option would be great, especially for summer and to avoid the grubby cuff situation as well. When The Duchess stated that they are pieces that she herself would wear, she might have reflected on the fact that not everyone has a petite, slim figure, and asked the partners in the scheme to also design versions of the various pieces that would suit those who are taller, and also those who have a fuller figure. Having said all that, I still think that it’s a great concept and I applaud The Duchess’s efforts. It just needs some work in order to make the pieces more suitable for different body types. I know that it would have added to the cost of the scheme, but I think that it would have provided more women with the confidence they need, and probably also increased sales of the pieces and consequently added to the availability of pieces for those in need. It doesn’t make one feel confident if clothes do not fit correctly, especially at a job interview.
WhatMeghanWore says
I think that if this collection is successful, they will do another one in a few months. Initially, they were trying to add some pieces based on what they felt were missing at Smart Works in offerings to their clients. I too was expecting to maybe see a wide-leg trouser as well as the narrow leg. Also a black skirt. Then again, perhaps these options are plentiful at Smart Works, who knows. Another thought, I’m wondering if many clients were coming in and requesting these types of pieces. The M&S dress is based off a dress that the store currently sells – if you look, you will see that they offer it in various prints and colors within their collection. Jigsaw did the same for the jacket and trousers – it is a part of their Paris collection and they chose that to offer as a part of this collection. If you look at the Paris collection on the Jigsaw site, you will see that there is a skirt and dress that is also a part of that collection and I believe another jacket and another style pant. Nothing was “designed” for this per-say. Other than maybe the John Lewis tote and Misha’s shirt – those two I believe were specifically designed for this capsule collection.
This may lead to a full collection specifically designed though. We will have to wait and see. That I would love to see because then they could offer more with something like that – other versions of the white shirt, a blue shirt, grey or stripe, skirts, the wide-leg trouser and one or two versions of the tapered leg trouser (a slim an curvy cut might be good – and in a mid-waist/high waist). The idea though was to stick to classic, basic black and white – which makes sense. Navy or grey would’ve been good to incorporate though – that is also a good corporate/business look. – Susan C
Larissa says
Thanks for that explanation! I popped into my local Jigsaw yesterday before I read this post or saw any prices online, and was a bit shocked at the price of the blazer and trousers. It was certainly in keeping with Jigsaw’s prices, but it seemed a bit weird for a charity collection. Now that I know that these pieces were part of Jigsaw’s existing collection, and they’ve simply opted to match sales with a donation, it makes perfect sense.
I was actually keen on the trousers because I could really use a pair (though seeing the low-rise cut now, I doubt they would suit me). Sadly I am not in a position to be dropping £120 on trousers on a whim! Same with the tote, I hoped we would get a cheaper version of Meghan’s Everlane tote, but now I see the designers opted for leather, which actually makes that piece a bit of a bargain for it’s design. Unfortunately the only thing I could afford from Smart Set is the dress, which isn’t to my taste. So I do hope they expand the collection if this one does well!
WhatMeghanWore says
Larissa – it may also be helpful to know, if you didn’t already, that Smart Works collects donations of high end quality designer clothing and well made pieces. If you follow their Instagram account they will post clients and list the brands or designers of the pieces the clients are wearing. I knew this, but then saw some posts recently with the information. For The Smart Set collection at the various price points, this makes a bit of sense as well when looking at it all. I just got my M&S Smart Set dress and it’s really a great dress. I hope this helps. Thx, Susan C.
rachel says
agree. my eyes went right to the waist on the pants. I am not sure what’s going on here. the shirt is a classic however. the shoes are waaaay too high for my taste.
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Betty says
I always feel that Meghan speaks so well and her passion for the project is very much evident.
Bonnie says
The world has to agree, that Meghan is an excellent public speaker. I’ve given training workshops on Public Speaking and the thing I emphasize most is that you speak, you don’t read. Meghan excels at this.
Regarding her outfit today, I tend to think she is often too casual in her royal role, but she does look nice. The colour matching of the belt and shoes pulls it all together.
The concept of Smart Set is a good one. The Marks and Spencer’s dress at $32 seems too good to be true…especially since it provides for a donation of another dress. The other items in the collection will be too expensive for many people.
Nisha says
A wonderful idea from the Duchess., she definitely has a talent for coming up with creative charitable ventures. Im sure this will be just as successful as her cookbook. It is unfortunate that she receives so much negative press despite her hard work. I see that some of the pieces are available in other colors but are not included in the Smart Set. I do wish that the retailers had been a bit more charitable and included more color options.
Natalie E says
I love all of this—the collection, the DoS look, the work of the charity. I also appreciate that they are helping women with style tips because it can be intimidating when you’re not quite sure what to wear in a professional setting or job interview. So many unspoken rules; when I worked for an employment agency we offered advice and it was so obvious the relief some women felt for kind suggestions. These pieces look smart and allow an applicant’s competence and demeanor to be the showcase.
ElizaMo says
Meghan looked absolutely terrific today. The capsule collection is a knock-out, on-trend, accessible, and eminently wearable. I love the extra touches Meghan added to her own ensemble, the Diana butterfly earrings and blue stone bangle, plus her matching belt and pumps. Though of course brand-new Blahnik pumps might seem at odds with the theme of helping unemployed women.
Thanks for the extra detail on the Misha Nonoo shirt in particular. I was almost tempted until I saw the logo on the back of the neck and I’m a dyed-in-the-wool no-logo freak. I saw there was elastane involved and your description of a narrow fit plus a stretch fabric take it out of the kind of shirt I favour, which is generally pure cotton through-and-through. The tote interested me too, but is clearly for a different generation that requires to carry gym kit plus laptop when out and about. I myself go for smaller scale accessories partly because being of petite stature I could look overwhelmed by such a deep bag.
I think the dress is inspired. I’ve seen it dismissed as unfashionable but I take issue with that. There’s plenty of extra-loose outsize shifts about at the moment and this trades on that look without drowning the wearer. Also, fashion is catered for in careful choice of detail in the sleeve cuffs and collarless neckline with clever gathering at the shoulders. It’s so versatile, I’m struck at how good it looks with a belt for those who wish, while the rest of us can comfortably hide away in those generous folds. It’s just perfect for interview.
All the different combinations of outfits from the capsule are beautifully modelled and I’m just delighted to see the Duchess launch yet another successful project. She’s setting her own stamp on the royal role and it’s none the worse for that.
Bonnie says
ElizaMo, You and I are often kindred spirits. I agree with your take on the blouse. Like you, I don’t wear logos, not wanting my body to be a walking advertisement for any designer or manufacturer. For me logos are not a status symbol. Also, I don’t buy clothes with elastane or Spandex involved. Although some feel it gives a better fit, for me it clings in all the wrong places. This collection is supposed to suit all shapes and sizes, but full busted women, will likely not appreciate the Spandex.
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Ladies – the logo or monogram rather on the shirt, is small at the neck. I’m not sure if this is something new or just to show another placement for a monogram. I own the Husband shirt and it does not have the “MN” on it. I did purchase it about two years ago though. It might be something to inquire about if you are really interested in the shirt. The company is fantastic to deal with. The Husband shirt is extremely nice and I’ve worn it a number of times. – Susan C.
Dawn C says
As someone who needed something similar to this many years ago, I LOVE it! What I love the most is the women who are in the program get not just clothing that is appropriate but NEW clothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with secondhand clothing when you choose to buy/wear it, but when you’re forced to by circumstance, and especially for job interviews and such, it’s not exactly a morale booster. I don’t know if there is anything even remotely like this here in the States and if not, there should be. I personally wouldn’t wear any of these pieces, and most likely none would fit (I have to always shop in the ‘tall’ or ‘long length” section for everything), because I have no need for them, but I do love the initiative.
Teresa says
Random side bar. There is a program similar in the states its called dress for success.
Christina says
Yes, Dress for Success is actually worldwide. https://dressforsuccess.org It’s a wonderful organization. If you donate clothing to them, please donate the highest quality! I did clothing drives for them and I was dismayed when women would donate old, faded, worn out cheap things, or unsuitable styles such as yellow snakeskin stilettos. Think about a woman preparing for a job interview–what would make her feel confident? Something up to date, in excellent condition. Thanks!
Dawn C says
Thank you for the information. I agree most things donated are so not what women need when they are trying to get back on their feet. A lot of what I looked through was just not appropriate for interviews/jobs. And none of it fit because I’m so tall. I imagine shorter petite girls have a similar though you can always hem a pair of pants or a skirt/dress. You can’t add to it.
Caroline A. says
Hi, Dawn. I am 5’8″ tall, which I wouldn’t say is especially tall, but I find that most tops, trousers, and jackets are too short for me. I think I must have long arms and long legs, and a long torso. I always have to take the hems down on trousers and even then they are never quite long enough, especially when I wear shoes with even a moderately high heel. Here in New Zealand we don’t seem to have shops that stock items in various lengths so I am constantly disappointed when I try things on. I would love to know which shops you buy from that stock longer lengths if you would care to enlighten me, please. (I know about Long Tall Sally already).
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Caroline,
What about stores such as J. Crew and Banana Republic – do you have those by you? I have the exact opposite issue. I’m 5’2″ – petite an run into the issue of jeans/pants being too long if they don’t come in petite sizes or crop can sometimes hit at my ankles or heels. Very frustrating sometimes and I find myself hemming a lot. With tops, it’s that the sleeves are too long and so forth. I hope you have more luck and can find some shops or online stores that stock the right lengths for you! – Susan C.
Dawn C says
Caroline, I am 5’10” and am short waisted with long legs and long arms. I like Old Navy for tall/long length shirts, pants and jackets. I live in a small town here in the U. S. that has limited options and accidentally found ON online shopping has a whole section for tall girls. I’m a low key dresser so Old Navy works perfect for me.
Marilyn says
I 100% love this project. And these are clothes that I have in my closet right now as I tend to wear classic pieces that don’t go out of style. I bought the dress in black for myself and just like the DoS said, when I wear my dress, I’ll be happy in knowing that someone, somewhere in the UK will be wearing the same dress.
Lee says
Wow! What a great initiative this is!
I love the idea that these clothes will be donated to SmartWorks on a one-for-one basis; it’s a great way to draw attention to the cause and to also make physical impact on the charity’s work. I’ve said this before, but I will repeat it again: Meghan’s patronages are lucky to have her as their patron because her ideas are creative, and she doesn’t stop at much to achieve them!
I probably wouldn’t wear any of the items in the collection, but I do love that tote bag! Too bad I have a bunch like that already — doesn’t justify another purchase….
Susan, thank you for this fabulous and timely post! One note: I think you meant to say conservation, not conversation, in the sentence about the Sussexes’ upcoming collaboration with Ellen.
WhatMeghanWore says
Goodness, yes, that is what we meant! You are wonderful to let us know, Lee, thank you. 🙂
Clare says
Do we know where her belt is from? Love the color.
WhatMeghanWore says
Hello, Clare. It is a Polo Ralph Lauren piece. We managed to get the post updated just a bit ago and now there is a product photo. 🙂
Clare says
Thank you!!!
Ava Pittman says
This is a wonderful initiative. The Duchess looks great. I would never have put brown and black together but it looks terrific. I like a crisp white shirt. She looks lovely.
MaryKate says
Lovely post! Thank you for the coverage. I am probably missing it, but I’m curious, did Meghan design the clothes? Or are these items that were already in stores, Meghan then selected them, and the retailers are now participating in the program? Thank you!
Linda says
This is a very professional looking outfit and appropriate for a job interview. If only she would cuff her sleeves properly! Perhaps she is going for the messy look, but the models in the photos look so much more put together with the nicely cuffed sleeves. Obviously this is a pet peeve of mine!
Bonnie says
Linda, I agree with you about the rolled up sleeves on the blouse. I mentioned it in my comments regarding the blue blouse, that Meghan wore at the recent photo shoot. It is a pet peeve of mine also. It only takes a few minutes to fold the sleeves properly. But Meghan seems to like a casual/messy look
Laurie says
I love the mixing of brown and black. It’s a great everyday workwear look, which I’m sure is what the duchess was trying to demonstrate. It’s not an ensemble that will go down in the history books, but that’s not really the point. I like that she stacked her bracelets, instead of sticking to her usual tiny almost invisible jewelry. This outfit needed that extra sparkle to boost the look. Those shoes are divine.
SG-Chi says
Bought the white button-up. I’ve been thinking of refreshing this wardrobe classic, and this one is perfect on multiple levels.
Kay Khyabani says
What a wonderful and collaborative idea! The Duchess look is glowing and looks just lovely. I would have never thought to put together a brown belt and brown shoes with black and white like that. I’m loving today’s look.
Sophie Holmes says
No ID on the rest of the outfit? I’d love to know where her bangles are from.
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi, Sophie! The post is updated now, apologies for the missing info. We had a technical hiccup this morning. 🙂
Laura says
How cute is Meghan! She looks adorable, confident and very professional! I’m always a fan of affordable over couture, so I like that she’s modeling her own collection- and looking fabulous. Love the belt matched to the shoes, and the crisp blouse and pants. I just wish she put her hair back, because like the Duchess of Cambridge, it seems to be blowing all over- must be distracting. However, she looks just great, in my opinion!
Ellen says
I think it was a creative idea for getting basic pieces into the hands of women who can use them as they enter the workforce. Raises awareness of the charity/ focuses on the gaps in clothing available for SmartWorks to supply to the women. I would wear any of the pieces & especially coveted the sold-out leather tote. Meghan looks good. Glad to see her back to work.