Meghan Markle made her debut as a fashion investor last fall, and her international tours have showcased some of her favorite brands, including Johanna Ortiz, Heidi Merrick, and Aquazzura.
It’s been just over eight years since Prince Harry confirmed he was dating actress Meghan Markle, turning the Suits star into a household name almost overnight. While Meghan’s official title and career ambitions have changed several times during that period, one thing has remained constant: she continues to showcase her personal style, and when she wears an item of clothing, it’s likely to sell out. This year, Meghan opened up about how this phenomenon, often referred to as the “Meghan effect,” has shaped her own approach to dressing for the very first time.
In an August interview with The New York Times, the Duchess revealed that she had invested in Cesta Collective, a socially conscious handbag brand, which has been part of her wardrobe since at least 2023. “I support designers I’m very close friends with, as well as smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t received the attention they deserve,” she told the newspaper. “It’s one of the most powerful things I can do, and that’s simply to wear an earring.”
In addition to her upcoming lifestyle brand, Meghan reportedly has between five and ten businesses in her portfolio, including Cesta Collective. She has also invested in Clevr, an innovative beverage company; Three Gate Strategies, a public relations firm founded by her friend and employee; and Highbrow Hippie, a haircare line founded by her colorist Kadi Lee. It is not yet known whether she has invested in any other brands she frequently wears.
Alongside her new role as an entrepreneur, Meghan and Harry embarked on another series of international trips related to their charitable commitments in 2024. During their tours of Nigeria in May and Colombia in August, the Duchess combined these two goals in her wardrobe. In a display of fashion diplomacy, she wore brands with strong ties to the countries visited, while also highlighting women-owned labels.
On August 17, her dual approach came to fruition effortlessly. During a visit to a drumming school in Cartagena, Meghan wore a patterned tank top and matching trousers by Johanna Ortiz, a Colombian-born designer who studied fashion in Miami. She accessorized with a Juste Un Clou necklace by Cartier, earrings and a pendant by Ariel Gordon, brown suede sandals from Aquazzura, her longtime favorite brand, and a beige bag from Cesta Collective. She actually owns two bags of the same style in different colors, having showcased the beige version at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf last year.
Meghan has also incorporated pieces by Los Angeles-based designer Heidi Merrick into her wardrobe throughout the year, including during a trip to Miami in April for the annual Sentebale Royal Salute polo tournament. She also wore a blush-colored dress from the brand during a school visit on the first day of her stay in Nigeria. A range of women-led brands, such as Staud, Victoria Beckham, Misha Nonoo, Veronica Beard, Gabriela Hearst, Logan Hollowell Jewelry, and Leset, have complemented her looks this year.
For red carpet events, however, Meghan has returned to some of the brands she has favored most since her royal years. She wore a reworked version of a familiar Carolina Herrera dress to pose with her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen at a fundraiser for Children's Hospital Los Angeles on October 5. When she joined Tyler Perry at the Paley Gala on December 4, she wore a strapless Oscar De La Renta gown with a side slit and a flirty sweetheart neckline. After a few years in which utility and quiet luxury reigned supreme in the wardrobe of the Duchess and mother of two, Meghan still has a wardrobe ready for those moments that make a statement.
