Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attended the 25th Anniversary Memorial Service to celebrate the life and legacy of Stephen Lawrence. In 1993, Stephen Lawrence was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. His family transformed the tragic event and turned it into a powerful Charitable Trust honouring Stephen’s memory.
At the service, Prince Harry read a message of support on behalf of The Prince of Wales.
Meghan’s look was unexpectedly without a blazer, but stylish in a chic Spring 2018 Ready-to-Wear dress from French designer Hugo Boss.
Heels: Beige Suede Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps
Earrings: Silver halo studs, most likely her Cartier Diamond and White Gold Earrings
Dress: Hugo Boss Spring 2018 Ready-to-Wear Dress
Purse: Wilbur and Gussie Bespoke Oyster Silk Clutch
Love Meghan’s look today? We asked the team to come up with some of their favourite #MirrorMeg options:
What did you think of Meghan’s look?
Perfection
I’m really liking this look!! This is definitely an outfit that I would wear to work or to a special summer occasion. I don’t even mind the nude/beige shoes and clutch lol. I admit that I’m thrilled to see Harry and Meghan holding hands today!! They haven’t on their last few engagements and I missed it, it’s just a little couples thing that I find sweet.
I imagine all the British press is camped out at the hospital awaiting the first sighting of the new Prince, so we might not get a lot of photos of today’s engagement.
The look is fine, but I do question bare arms and casual “bed head” at a memorial service. I’m not clutching my pearls and reaching for the smelling salts, but I’m surprised she didn’t play it safer for the occasion.
I agree. It seems a bit disrespectful. I’m not a pearl clutcher either, but I think that her dress – while very nice – and her hair weren’t best for the occasion.
Agreed! Would have preferred a blazer or even a shawl. The length of the dress is fine and the accessories are lovely but I think a memorial service should warrant a more conservative look.
Agreed. I love the look, but I was surprised she chose it for this particular occasion.
Me too. I have rolled my eyes at the pearl-clutchers in the past, freaking out over the sight of a shoulder or arm. But I think a jacket or a cardigan was called for here. I am a lawyer, and have to wear a jacket to court, and there are certain occasions in life that I think require “court attire”…and a memorial service is one. I like the dress otherwise though.
I hate the nude shoes. This is the third outing in a row she has worn Kate-esque plain pumps. I really hope this is not the end of her cute shoes.
I don’t think this is “bed head”. If you’re black and have naturally curly hair, temperature and moisture can cause your hair to frizz up or get slightly messy even if you have a gorgeous silk press or get hair treatment. It’s happened to me many times and it can sometimes be beyond your control, as the elements do their own thing. Just an FYI as i’ve seen a lot of comments about her hair being messy. No matter the treatment, hair will do what hair does.
Gorgeous dress and three cheers to Meghan for going to Hugo Boss, her savvy with big names continues to stand her in good stead. I can understand going sleeveless in muggy sticky London. I think the dark tone of the fabric just right for the occasion and I love the pale flecks which lighten it and give the excuse for pale accessories .
I’m having a struggle with the hair. A part of me wishes Meghan could prove she knows how to do an elegant smooth updo, but another part of me worries that if all the loose ends were tidied away maybe we might lose something special about Meghan. I think she may be on a journey of discovery herself with that one!
Gorgeous. I totally understand that it’s a bit more of a casual vibe, but I think that’s going to be the de facto Meghan style for a long time and I think it’s not inappropriate. I think soft, pretty hair is always appropriate, from work-out to funeral. The length and the width of the ‘straps’ make this appropriate clothing as well, in my opinion. I am drooling.
I’m beginning to wonder if all the trailing hair isn’t Old Meghan/ Toronto Meghan as it were. Apart from anything else there’s the sheer impracticality demonstrated every time she ends up tucking loose hairs behind an ear.
I must admit I can’t see loose strands working with a tiara if she uses one for the wedding.
But these are early days and she must be in a big transition phase from Old Meghan to Royal duchess.
I was just thinking similar thoughts Bertie. Looking back on the various “married in” British royal women, they all struggled fashion wise for the first few years or so. Sophie tended to wear very frumpy suits, Diana wore some absolutely hideous dresses and hats (it was the 90’s though and the fashion during that time was just horrible so I give her a bit of a pass for that), Kate wore some nice dresses but didn’t “style” her look at all and lets not forget those nude Sledge pumps :(. Meghan hasn’t even “married in” yet, has only been engaged 5 months, still has to learn the British culture and royal protocol (which all the other royal brides probably already knew) and through it all is trying to keep a sense of “herself”. Of course she’s will make missteps and mistakes here and there but I’m trying to be a bit more forgiving and more positive, while giving her time and space to figure it all out.
I mentioned this in a previous thread…but…she REALLY needs to get away from the “messy bun” look for every outing. Also…I think a nice shawl or some sort of covering would’ve been a bit more appropriate. I totally understand mugginess being in Texas but while I love the dress…her hair style and the bare arms at an event such as a memorial service, in my opinion, were not appropriate.
Please! Someone in her inner circle get her a good hair stylist! Hoping she doesn’t do the bedhead look at her wedding 😛 She’s so glamourous….would love to see her show her full potential.
I think she is not in a position where she would be getting her hair professionally done before every single event. And I think it’s kind of absurd to expect her to have professionally styled hair all the time… it would be a waste of time and money. Honestly, her hair doesn’t look any less professional than Princess Anne’s, just more modern.
Just the fact that Harry is marrying a woman of color is a departure of the usual “protocol” of the royal family. She brings with her an innate sense of style that may not conform to those who believe the British family should stay in the Victorian age. hat is wrong with bare arms? It wasn’t a funeral, it was a memorial service. A celebration of life. If it does not bother Harry, why would it bother any of you? She is refreshing and I love what she wears.
I don’t think the British family should stay in the Victorian age. Royal family or not, memorial services are generally a “play it safe” event, because the service is about the person being memorialized, not those who are attending. I like the outfit, just not at the memorial service. I also like reading what other people have to say about what Meghan wears. If this becomes a site of “let’s fawn over everything Meghan wears and does” it’s going to get pretty old, pretty fast.
Thanks lawmom. I have had the same feeling about the site and had briefly stopped visiting it because of the fawning. I like to see balanced comments even if the opinions differ from my own.
*waving* chief fawner here! LOL
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in response to Raisa, one cannot know if “Harry” was bothered by it or not.
I like the fresh approach MM is bringing to royal events (all these “rules” like not showing your arms are out of step with modern life, why do we cling to them?), but her minimalistic style can come across like office wear and I’d love to see her bring a touch more glam. This outfit is the perfect example of veering a little too much towards office wear, and not sure that clutch is very practical.
I don’t understand the shoes and clutch. I would have prefered a black shoe, and the clutch is way too evening in the satin fabric. Some days she gets it so right with her new, fresh perspective and other days I’m left perplexed.
wearing sleeves and not having “bedhead” hair is NOT following antiquated rules, it is a mark of respect for the solemnity of the occasion. It is rather surprising that, as a person of color, Ms Markle was not more sensitive to that.
it was a rather warm day in London but the Baroness Lawrence is wearing a jacket as are other female members of the family, the Prince, and the PM.
please note that i also winced when the Duchess of Cambridge wore the hot pink coat to the annual event honoring the late Stephen Lawrence even though that event was not a memorial service in a church as this event was; it was also disconcerting when the Duchess wore the same coat to the 9/11 memorial in New York. It seems disrespectful to those memorialized, irrespective of race.
I really love the dress and while I was a little surprised that she didn’t wear a jacket to a Memorial Service, it’s not a deal breaker for me.
Another thing to keep in mind for those who visit this site and are not aware, Meghan is a mixed woman of color, and her natural hair pattern is very coiled/curly (You can see childhood pictures of her in Daily Mail online if you need a reference). I mention this because when you chemically straighten or simply blow out this hair type with high heat and flat iron, while it will appear very straight and smooth at times, with any change in the humidity outdoors, the hair will “frizz” out a bit. Granted she’s got some of the best hairstylists at her disposal (and her hair always looked amazing on Suits), but the fact remains that people are going to have to get used to the fact that her hair will NOT always lay as flat someone with naturally straight hair, especially when it is in an updo. I think it’s part of Meghan’s charm and what makes her unique, so I hope it doesn’t continue to distract people from her astounding beauty and style choices. 🙂
Ahhh I commented saying almost exactly this before I had a chance to see your comment! I absolutely agree. My hair does the same. A little droplet of rain or a tiny bit of moisture and my edges go astray lol.
Thanks for the enlightening input MM, beautifully and sympathetically expressed. I suspect there’s more work to be done on the hair and I’m confident Meghan is up for the challenge!
I love her hair. I think it would be powerful and awesome if she let it be in her natural state sometimes (and I think the same of Kate, who shares my curly hair but like me, never ever rocks it). This idea that hair must be smooth, shiny, and stuck perfectly into place is – I hate to say it – just one more way that we make women conform to standards, and standards that only apply to men, at that – and mostly WHITE women.
She doesn’t need to keep every strand in place to be respectful or appropriate and opinions about her hair are just that – opinions. It’s good for everyone to stop and think about what drives their opinions. If it’s just ‘well this is what I’ve always thought of as appropriate’ then maybe Meghan is giving you a good opportunity to update your views!
I actually love this look however I dont think it fit at all for the occasion. It was a memorial service for a hate crime but she looked like she was headed to sit front row at fashion week. Even a blazer over top would have been a little better.
Ahhh I’m torn! I didn’t have any issue with the sleeveless dress until I saw everyone else in attendance and she stood out, maybe a short sleeved or cap sleeve would have been better, however the color/length/and pattern/shoes were all more than appropriate so it’s fine. I don’t mind messy buns, I’m just board of this look on Meghan, please switch it up! Also, I hope she doesn’t do this hair look for the wedding! Wouldn’t a pulled back poneytail have looked great with this?? However, even on her worst day, she’s gorgeous!
Unfortunate choice. Bare arms is disrespectful and a more sophisticated hair look is needed.
Hugo Boss is a German brand.
That dress is stunning.