Another day, another meticulously curated attempt to convince the world that Meghan Markle embodies the queen of ‘effortless’ earthy living. Her latest contribution to this ongoing narrative? A barefoot stroll through a perfectly manicured garden, watering can in hand, dressed in an impossibly crisp white shirt that, somehow, remains spotless.
And let’s not forget the freshly picked, supermarket-clean bunch of spring onions—part of what is being framed as her ‘daily rituals.’
The aesthetic feels strangely familiar, evoking Meryl Streep’s iconic *It’s Complicated* gardening scene—the rustic, wealthy, effortlessly chic vibe. The stone pathways, the white linen ensemble, the bare feet—it’s all strikingly similar. Except, of course, Meryl was actually acting in a movie. Meghan, on the other hand, appears to believe life itself is a perfectly staged photo op. One can only imagine Streep sipping her morning coffee and laughing at the uncanny resemblance.
If there’s one thing Meghan remains committed to, it’s her barefoot branding—gardening barefoot, cooking barefoot, running with Lilibet barefoot, even meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time barefoot. Yet, despite all these ‘earthy’ activities, her feet remain spotless—no dirt, no grass stains, nothing. Almost… magical.
And then there’s the outfit. Who wears light-wash jeans and a pristine white button-up for a serious day of gardening? No gloves, no sweat, no visible struggle—just a perfectly tousled, ‘I woke up like this’ aesthetic that likely required a professional photographer, multiple assistants, and hours of preparation to achieve.
The vintage-style watering can is another carefully selected prop—because let’s be real, Meghan likely isn’t the one tending to these plants. Sprinkler systems and hoses exist for a reason, but they don’t quite fit the ‘whimsical’ aesthetic of an organic lifestyle brand rollout.
And that’s the key—illusion over authenticity. Critics argue that every PR push centers around Meghan alone. Where is Prince Harry? Where are their children? The brand Meghan is building, *As Ever*, appears to be less about actual products and more about aspirational vibes—carefully curated images designed to sell an unattainable, hyper-polished version of ‘authentic’ living.
If this truly were part of Meghan’s everyday routine, wouldn’t we have seen it before? Instead, it arrives right on cue with *As Ever*’s latest marketing push, feeding the narrative of a lifestyle brand built on perfectly staged Instagram-worthy moments.
At this point, Meghan Markle has attempted to embody many roles—Princess Diana’s successor, a royal revolutionary, a humanitarian, a podcaster, and now, apparently, Martha Stewart. But while Stewart built an empire on genuine expertise, Meghan’s version of homesteading feels more like an aesthetic concept—white linens, soft-filtered sunlight, and an immaculate, rustic setting. No dirt, no sweat, no actual labor—just the illusion of effort, much like the illusion of authenticity her brand is striving to create.
Somewhere, Meryl Streep is likely laughing.
