Even before Meghan and Harry arrived in Colombia on Thursday, their trip was being billed in the media as a “DIY royal tour.”
It’s a suggestion that implies a packed schedule (check mark), a number of charity events (yes), and plenty of opportunities to shake hands and cut ribbons (on the first day alone, Harry and Meghan met dozens of charity leaders, politicians and schoolchildren).
Less obviously, the visit has also produced a royal “tourdrobe.” The fashion choices Meghan has packed for the four-day program of events appear to have been as carefully selected as they would have been for an official, palatial itinerary.
The Duchess of Sussex has made a series of outfit changes that are full of messages to decipher. Wearing clothes and accessories by Colombian designers including Johanna Ortiz and Aquazzura is considered “diplomatic attire” — the polite act of nodding to your host country. It’s a trick the current Princess of Wales has been known to pull off on trips from Canada to India.
The inspiration comes from Queen Elizabeth II, who always wore colours, patterns and symbols related to the places she visited. Princess Diana did the same.
Meghan has also been tweaking her Colombian wardrobe in other subtle ways. For example, she’s been repeating pieces she’s worn in the past so she doesn’t get criticized for wearing brand new clothes (something the Princess of Wales is also aware of). She’s also been wearing bright colors, like coffee brown, from head to toe to make sure she stands out from the crowd.
“There’s a lot that goes into dressing as a public figure that a typical celebrity doesn’t have to think about,” says Rosie Harte, author of The Royal Wardrobe: A Very Fashionable History of the Monarchy. “It’s so much more than creating a style identity with certain on-trend brands or flattering silhouettes, it’s about knowing how to put together looks that support a story. The fact that Meghan roots her messages beneath the surface and chooses designers who complement her own story is a testament to the impact royal life has had on her approach to styling.”
While there are signs that Meghan has continued to apply some of the style lessons she learned during her time as a working royal, there have also been plenty of decidedly un-royal fashion choices made on this trip. From toting oversized designer bags to embracing kitten heels and thigh-split skirts, Meghan has clearly also enjoyed the freedom of not having to adhere to protocol.
“Meghan rarely adopts any of the traditional royal silhouettes when she’s on tour,” Harte adds. “No coat dresses, no hats, no lace, opting instead for sleeker, more stylish looks.”
“I don’t entirely agree that Meghan is approaching this visit as if it’s a royal tour,” says the founder of Royal Fashion Police, an Instagram account that meticulously tracks the outfits of royal women around the world. “Her outfits in Colombia are much more casual than you would expect from a British royal tour. The halterneck vest with cropped pants, the high-slit dress with a cutout… they suggest a more relaxed approach.”
The Royal Fashion Police account’s 170,000 followers are debating whether it was appropriate for the duchess to wear a sleeveless Veronica Beard cardigan to her meeting with the Colombian vice president, and whether the slit in her Johanna Ortiz dress was too daring.
“My followers have reacted strongly to the first two looks,” the founder said. “The navy Veronica Beard co-ord and the Johanna Ortiz dress, with some commenting that the bare arms of the Veronica Beard vest are not appropriate for occasions like a meeting with the VP or a school visit. I think this is an overreaction, especially since the First Lady of Colombia herself wore an asymmetrical one-shoulder outfit during her state visit to Spain. Many other royals have worn sleeveless dresses to meet heads of state, including the late Queen Elizabeth, who wore a sleeveless dress when she met US President Richard Nixon at Buckingham Palace in 1969.”
“As for Johanna Ortiz’s dress, the criticism focuses on the cutout and the high slit,” she continues. “I [saw] Similar reactions when Queen Letizia of Spain wore a cut-out dress in 2022, with people arguing that such a style is not appropriate for a formal engagement. However, Meghan is not a working royal and does not represent the British royal family in any way. So why should a formal royal dress code apply to her?”
In May this year, Harry and Meghan visited Nigeria on what was described at the time as another copycat royal tour. Meghan again ticked several ‘royal’ fashion boxes – wearing token jewellery that belonged to the late Princess Diana and donning brands from Lagos. There were signs during that trip that the duchess had shunned professional help – some of her hems pooled on the floor, while other pieces were creased. That would be seen as a decidedly unroyal move – the late Queen, the current Queen and the Princess of Wales have all been known to employ aides to help with wardrobe planning and execution.
This time around, however, those kinks appear to have been ironed out (literally) for the Duchess of Sussex. The Sussex team has confirmed on a number of occasions now that Meghan enlisted Jamie Mizrahi—a Montecito-based stylist who also works with Adele—and the level of sophistication on display during this trip suggests that a professional stylist or tailor may have been consulted before she set off.
Of all the things she’s learned during her time as a working royal, this last point might have the biggest impact on her personal style. Looking impeccable, in well-tailored clothes, is something anyone could strive to perfect in their style formula, especially if they’re dressing for the public eye.
Behold: The arrival of customization
The arrival outfit on a royal tour usually sets the tone for the trip. Meghan and Harry went all out on Thursday – but with a casual twist. Harry opened the collar of his Brioni shirt, while Meghan’s suit consisted of a halterneck vest and Veronica Beard trousers. Her £3,775 Loro Piana bag was noticeably larger than most royals would carry on tour. What was in it? She wisely threw it away before official photographs with the Vice President of Colombia were taken.
Look two: The diplomatic dress
Wearing a dress by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz on the first day of the tour was another statement of fashion diplomacy. Meghan actually owns the style in three different fabrics — the latest purchase is this “Navajo” textile. Some on social media criticized the dress’ thigh-high slit and midriff-baring detail as “inappropriate” for a royal tour — the dress served as a reminder that the Sussexes have no such protocol to follow.
Look three: The rich color
The final outfit of the first day of the tour was this tan silk top by Victoria Beckham, paired with satin pants from New York label La Ligne. The choice to wear a rich color from head to toe ensures that the Duchess stands out and looks well-groomed in photographs. Her shoes are also noteworthy: Aquazzura is a footwear brand that the Duchess has worn for years, but this new pair of low block-heeled sandals feels well-timed, considering that the label’s founder, Edgardo Osorio, is Colombian.