Why Meghan Markle Has Looked to Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy for Fashion Inspiration
Since joining the royal family nearly a year ago, Meghan Markle has already drawn comparisons to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana and former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, both fashion icons and noted humanitarians.
Meghan, who styles herself for events, has looked to these women for inspiration because their outfits are timeless, just as their legacies are. “Meghan’s very aware of how any photo taken of her will be part of the history books for a lifetime, so she’s always careful not hop on flash trends or look at that season’s runways for inspiration," a source familiar with Meghan's style shared. "Looking back to outfits that have stood the test of time is often a safe bet."
How Princess Diana Has Influenced Meghan's Work and Style
Meghan's commitment to issues like gender empowerment, gay rights, and women’s education has shown she is not afraid to use her newfound profile to support those in need. Like Diana, she is also a passionate supporter of the arts. Diana was famously patron of the English National Ballet, and Meghan has taken over as patron of the National Theatre from Queen Elizabeth II.
Many credit the late Princess of Wales with singlehandedly changing the perception of AIDS in 1987 when she famously shook the hand of an AIDS patient, de-stigmatizing the disease and showing the world that HIV and AIDS couldn’t be transmitted by casual contact. Diana's visit to Angola with the Halo Trust shortly before her death was also seen as a turning point in the global campaign to ban land mines.
Meghan has had a similar journey, not afraid to tackle controversial issues while respecting the traditions of the royal family.
Meghan’s secret visit to the Grenfell Tower fire victims echoed Diana’s private late night visit to the homeless during her own life. In the aftermath of the fire, Meghan made regular pilgrimages to see the women affected by the tragedy, later creating a cookbook. That book's proceeds helped keep the Hubb Community Kitchen open seven days a week.
A trusted confidant shares Meghan is passionate about her charity work and that’s what really drives her: “All the private visits to places and charities and stuff that she does without the media, with no one looking-it's literally incredible how much she does, the places she sneaks in and out of. Meghan has shared with those closest to her, “I just really want to be there, and I don't want anyone that's there to feel distracted or funny about me being there.”
And like the People’s Princess, Meghan has already shown her ability to connect with those from all walks of life. "I think being open to other people is such a gift...When Meg talks to people, she is genuinely connecting, that genuine concern, that’s just her normal. She really is an inspiring person,” a source close to the Duchess of Sussex told Elle.com.
Similar to Princess Diana, Meghan has become one of the world's most influential fashion figures, her every move chronicled by photographers and the fashion elite. The Duchess of Sussex has been frequently compared to her late mother-in-law for her timeless, stunning look that takes a nod from Diana’s iconic style.
How Jackie Kennedy Has Influenced Meghan's Style
But Diana is not Meghan's only fashion influence. More recently, the Duchess of Sussex has been making a nod to another iconic figure whose elegance and grace also transformed the fashion world a decade before Princess Diana did: Jacqueline Kennedy. Then, Mrs. Kennedy was one of the most photographed women in the world, and her fashion legacy endures.
The former First Lady’s style was recently showcased on the Milan runways, with Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber paying homage to her in Moschino’s fall/winter 2018 campaign. Pillbox hats, sleek two piece suits, and gorgeous sheath dresses, along with boat necks which Jackie Kennedy made famous, have made a comeback.
It seems in some ways fitting, given Jackie and John Kennedy's marriage captivated a generation half a century ago, much like Meghan and Harry’s marriage is now. Both young couples were similarly driven by a devotion to duty and service and a desire to use their influence to transform society in a positive way.
On the fashion front, Meghan appears to be making a subtle nod to Jackie Kennedy, just like her late mother-in-law Princess Diana did before her.
One month before Meghan's wedding, on April 19, 2018, the future Duchess of Sussex wore this graceful, sophisticated “Jackie O belted dress” by Black Halo to a women’s empowerment reception. The event marked the launch of the Platform for Girls' Education.
The Duchess of Sussex also successfully adopted an elegant, Jackie Kennedy-esque style on her recent tour of Australia with Prince Harry.
And last month, the Duchess of Sussex again drew inspiration from the former First Lady’s maternity style, wearing a 1960s vintage Dior silk coat, similar to Mrs. Kennedy’s look shortly before giving birth during her husband John’s victory speech.
Meghan has turned to sleek, understated designs, which don’t draw attention from her charitable work. Meghan wore a blush pink suit with covered buttons and an asymmetrical hem at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards alongside Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry:
At her first engagement with the Queen in Chester, Meghan looked stunning in a cream cape dress by Givenchy. With each outing, Duchess Meghan has dazzled with beautiful ensembles, which have caught the eye of the fashion world while being mindful of Royal tradition.
While Meghan has her own vision when it comes to fashion, she has often paid tribute to designs from the past for inspiration. Like many, she’s a fan of Jackie Kennedy’s timeless style. Most recently, Meghan made a nod to her with the look she selected for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. In fact, Jackie Kennedy was the inspiration for the white pillbox hat out of several others. She liked the fact it had that iconic look but still felt modern with the Victoria Beckham white coat and dress.
A source shared, “Meghan has often turned to Kennedy looks from the past for inspiration. When working with Claire Wright Keller on her monochrome outfit for the Endeavour Awards, they used images of Carolyn Bessette in a similar outfit for reference."
While she is new to the royal family and its traditions, Meghan’s influence is slowly evolving and making its mark on the fashion front like Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana did.
She is mindful that she has the power to create trends with what she wears and that she also has the ability to change lives by highlighting certain ethical fashion labels and brands.
“In terms of her own day-to-day style, Meghan is a huge fan of how Jennifer Aniston dresses," a source told ELLE.com. "You can go back to photos of Jen and a lot of the looks still look clean and modern to this day. It’s all about that timeless elegance." Certainly we know the best is yet to come from the woman who has already inspired millions across the globe.
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