Meghan Markle's first fashion fail. And she breaks protocol not once, but twice.
Meghan Markle has been resoundingly rejected! Is she no longer the celebrated style icon, even when she pairs a €20 H&M dress with an Emporio Armani coat? The doubt arises spontaneously. The Duchess of Sussex has indeed received her first fashion rejection...
The two photos above tell the story. Meghan Markle went to a working lunch with the new deputy director of Kensington Palace's press office. The man (the one you can see on the right, with the scarf) is Christian Jones. 33, former speechwriter for the Brexit Secretary.
Today, Christian Jones is a key collaborator of the Royal Fab Four. In particular, that master of communication, Meghan Markle. It's no coincidence that she's a former Hollywood actress. And indeed, the first outing was with her. To discuss future communication strategies with her new right-hand man, she chose the Italian restaurant Chucs in Notting Hill.
For her outing, she chose a look we weren't used to. Especially the British. They protested. Everyone. The fans who always want her to be glamorous. The fashion experts who accused her of cloning Victoria Beckham (see photo below). And the Court, which just couldn't stomach the Duchess breaking two dress code rules at once. In short, for the first time, Meghan Markle has been accused of choosing a look inappropriate to her new rank...
Look at those Zara maternity jeans. Cropped at the knees. As is often the case today. And as she herself wore them on her first outing with Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games.
But forbidden for a member of the Royal Family. Skinny yes. Cropped no. And with the hem rolled up! How can Victoria Beckham afford them, but not the wife of Queen Elizabeth's grandson? Not even Diana, in her most rebellious/vindictive phase, had gone that far...
Second broken rule: the Duchess carries her Mulberry bag in her right hand. Not allowed. Both she and Kate Middleton, in fact, always hold their bags in their left hand: the reason? To free up their right hand, the one they use to shake hands. True, the situation wasn't exactly official, but the rule was broken nonetheless. And in fact, royal watchers say, Kate Middleton has never been "caught" with a bag in the wrong hand...
It's a shame, because as far as we're concerned, we had given Meghan Markle a thumbs up. Even if, admittedly, the look is hardly royal.
But there's something human in all this. Meghan Markle is the most fashionable royal in the kingdom, and not just the most fashionable, according to Vogue UK (and Kate Middleton isn't in the ranking). Beloved by fashion experts for her "unpredictable and youthful" style (the official reason). Then, when she surprises with a perfect street style, she's accused of being inappropriate.
Who knows, maybe Meghan did it unknowingly. Or maybe she couldn't help but be. And for once, she wanted to dress the way she wanted. The way she liked. From the revolutionary fashion at Buckingham Palace that she feels in her heart...
But a member of the Royal Family can't even take a selfie... And she can't dress the way she wants. Okay, a few small exceptions, but protocol is protocol. Even if you're Hurricane Meghan and have already "got lucky" on other occasions, between miniskirts and black nail polish...
She probably expected the criticism from the court. But perhaps not from fans and experts. And precisely in the name of that "unpredictable and youthful" style for which they had praised her. This opinion may be valid on paper, but not in reality...
For a quick refresher, here are the 10 dress code rules established by royal protocol.
- No minidresses or miniskirts above mid-thigh
- No shorts
- No dark nail polish or glitter
- No ripped jeans
- No shoulder bags
- No pants (with very few exceptions, and in any case not on official occasions)
- No wedges (especially in front of the Queen)
- No bright color combinations (solid colors at most, but pastels are better) or sheer fabrics
- No evening black, but rather dark blue or equally dark green (all-black only for royal funerals)
- No 5-inch heels, and even 5-inch heels are discouraged (in fact, not even ballet flats are allowed, except at home and without guests)...
