Meghan Markle’s Magenta Monstrosity
They might call her Duchess Difficult, but fashion-wise, she rarely puts a wrong foot forward. Hence, this was a head-scratcher:
Harry’s expression in this photo is priceless. It’s like he’s saying ‘don’t you dare say a word about my wife’s outfit.’ OK, fine Harry but maybe enlighten us. Why is she wearing a powersuit in a power colour to read to a class of second-graders at an underprivileged school in Harlem… on a balmy New York day no less? I’m boiling just looking at it.
Never mind. Mystery solved. Meghan Duchess of Sussex apparently has her sights set on the White House. So says her estranged half-brother. So says Tom Bower, her biographer.
‘Dress how you want to be addressed,’ as the saying goes. Well, Meghan would like to answer to ‘Madame President’ and the pantsuit is the unofficial uniform of women on the campaign trail. For now, presumably, she’ll settle for ‘Duchess,’ since that’s the title she uses when announcing herself on cold calls to US senators.
To be honest, I do kind of hate it. I mean, it’s OK, but the proportions are off—the jacket’s not short or long enough and doesn’t know if it wants to be tailored or ‘oversize.’ Those slacks have ‘junior executive circa 1992’ written all over them. For the record, this is how you do oversize.
Effing politics ruins everything. It’s like an invasive species, wreaking havoc on unsuspecting ecosystems—from pro sports to award shows to pandemics—where it’s non-native and should be non-welcome. Politics has drained all the fun from the Oscars, turned friends and neighbours against each other and now has resulted in the Duchess of Sussex—with the world’s best clothes and stylists at her disposal—to appear in public wearing a pantsuit straight out of the Tabi catalogue.
“Kate, Duchess of Cornwall, would have nailed this blindfolded,’ says my friend Jenna who is a stylist and makeup artist. Jenna also pointed out Duchess Meghan’s advantage in that she’s not constrained by royal protocols. “No need for neutral-coloured hose and she can wear whatever she wants. She should have gone with jeans and cropped-leather jacket.”
True. But Duchess Kate also has an advantage. Her mission is singular: represent the Royal Family—a job she performs magnificently. Meghan is playing duchess while aiming for the highest office in the world. ‘Chase two hares, catch neither,’ as the Russians say.
It’s enough to make you feel for poor Meghan. Lord knows Meghan feels for poor Meghan.