I’m close in age to Meghan Markle. I feel confident that we have many of the same generational and pop-cultural memories. That’s one of the reasons why I side-eyed Meg when she said she didn’t know much about Harry – most girls who were teenagers in the 1990s have very, very strong memories of Princess Diana and the divorce and that last summer on the yacht with Dodi Fayed. It was all over the American media too, and Diana was a transcendent global figure, an icon of beauty and fashion and humanity and tragedy, even then. Does it follow that Meghan would be royalty-obsessed and quietly stalking the Wales brothers all this time? Of course not. But there’s no need to play dumb about it either.
Anyway, because I feel so confident that Meg and I have similar cultural references, I’m absolutely shocked that this did not occur to me before now: Meghan has been sartorially referencing another iconic ‘90s woman this whole time: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the golden girl who married John F. Kennedy Jr. (they died almost almost two years after Diana’s passing). Carolyn’s style was much-copied back then, and her memory still serves as muse to many women, most prominently… Gwyneth Paltrow. Amal Clooney has been trying to homage Carolyn and, weirdly, Jackie Kennedy too. But Amal’s kind of flunked at it because she likes a dash of showgirl sparkle rather than sleek minimalism.
It wasn’t until the Daily Mail pointed out that Meghan has been homage-ing the sh-t out of Vintage Bessette that I put it together. Now I see it: American princesses, Carolyn and Meghan. Both married to/about to marry the golden princes of two of the biggest dynasties in the world. The outfit Meghan wore for her first public event after the engagement announcement is basically an unflattering recreation of the beige skirt/black turtleneck/black boots ensemble that Carolyn wore when she and John-John became super-official. Carolyn loved a menswear-style white blouse paired with anything, and so does Meg. Carolyn loved mid-length and tea-length skirts. So does Meg. Carolyn did the center part and long, straight hair in a perfect blowout. Meg is doing the same. I’m so glad that the Daily Mail – of all f–king outlets – pointed this sh-t out. It’s so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. Anyway, I approve of this homage. I hope Meg leans into it even more. She will look awesome in those minimalist styles.
Photos courtesy of Getty, PCN and WENN.
Or… it’s just because all the clothes is appropriate for a “royal”, and/or it’s the 90’s coming back in fashion?
agreed. Meghan sartorially referencing Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is a STRONG reach.
Ditto.
It’s not much of a reach.
Meghan has openly admitted to fangirling CBK.
i have to disagree that it’s a reach. I noted the similarity the other day with Meghan’s tan skirt and black sweater — why? Because I’ll confess that I’m STILL referencing Bessette-Kennedy in my fashion choices. I even continue to wear the tan suede skirt and black merino wool sweater that I bought all those years ago after I saw the pic of Carolyn that Kaiser has posted above. And unlike Meghan, I wear close-to-the-leg knee boots as Bessette-Kennedy did, because I think they are so much more flattering than those awful scrunch boots Meghan wore. I tore that pic of Carolyn (above, in the tan and black ensemble) out of Vogue and still have it in a folder with other looks I consider timeless. Sometimes I wear black boots with it, but generally I favor Carolyn’s brown boots because the rich brown leather has such a beautiful, quality look and avoids the sin of over-matching.
Nope, Meghan doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. It seems to me that Meghan tries to emulate Carolyn but doesn’t quite get the why’s and what not’s.
Meghan’s white blouse is likely cotton and a slim cut whereas Carolyn’s white blouse is silky silvery and a somewhat more loose cut.
Carolyn’s pencil skirt is just right. Meghan’s “pencil” skirt makes her look stocky and short and dowdy and it is too tight around the hips and too full below and it doesn’t display one of her strongest features – her legs. The turtleneck is a mistake as it makes Meghan looks as if she had no neck. Notice Carolyn’s jumper with the v-neckline.
Carolyn’s blonde hair is a nice contrast to that grey-black jumper. Meghan’s black hair has no contrast with her black turtleneck. Meghan’s boots are matchy-matchy with her turtleneck. Whereas Carolyn’s light brown boots and khaki skirt and grey-black jumper are an interesting combination.
Meghan has no curvy waist / hip. Carolyn didn’t have much waist either because she was pin-thin but that is what she showed off perfectly.
Meghan does some kind of independent style which does look nice on her. But she ain’t no fashion icon and I doubt she will become one.
@curious
meh. A mostly subjective assessment. they both look equally dowdy. Caroline’s outfit looks like what an elderly librarian would wear. Her white shirt looks very, very untidy and frumpy to me.
Meghan may have got away with that homage outfit if she had chosen a simpler shaped boot, so as not to compete with the busy ruffles of her lower skirt. I love the turtle neck on her. Her white shirt in the bottom picture looks just as frumpy and meh as Carolines does.
Both very, very average dressers in my opinion. Their charm derives more from personality and good looks than from any genius fashion choices.
😉
Agree. Now that she’s becoming royal, she might have to dress more appropriate and proper for a while. Her ripped jeans might have to put away for now, but she looks great dressed either way
What ever she’s doing she’s looked appropriate and put together so far. And not a peek at her drawers or lack there of so far. Meg FTW.
And/or those outfits never went out of style. Each of those outfits in that comparison is pretty generic. Who here doesn’t own at least a couple of those items (albeit not as expensive as the ones they are wearing)? I know I have a boyfriend cut white oxford, a black sweater, a tan coat, and several black jackets. Those are just basics, tbh.
That is like a look at my mother’s 1970s fashion wear for me. Caroline had great style because it was classic with clean lines.
Caroline wore her clothes well. She might not have invented what she wore, but she definitely wore them better than other people do. And that’s usually what sets fashionable people apart. I can pick out the same items, but I know I won’t look as good because I don’t have whatever it is that she had that made everything look awesome.
Sigh. Still upset about losing John Jr and Carolyn. I wonder what they would have gone on to do with their lives. I’m a big fan of both Carolyn and Meghan, I think they both have incredible style and tend to go for classic timeless style. I can’t wait to see Meghan’s dress!
@starfish me too.
As far as what they would have gone on to do with their lives…John was angling toward a Senate seat around that time and so many said if he wanted the white house he could have walked in and sat down. I’ve been really wondering if now would have been his time, if things went that way for him politically. Things would have been different, eh?!
My favorite description of Carolyn was from Rob Littell’s book. He described the moment he met Carolyn, and John’s description of her. They talked about her otherworldly vibrance, I wish I could remember the words. But John said to Rob, “I know! Isn’t it WILD?” referring to her, (for lack of better description), magnetism. And this coming from John Jr! Everyone who saw him (including myself) was changed forever by experiencing that crazy aura he possessed. And here he was, in awe of her.
2 bright lights extinguished far too soon. I’ll jump into any post with her name attached.
And yes I noticed that tan skirt combo on Markle right away, no question.
Yes, I tend to think they just like/liked the same sort of classic clothes. These choices are minimalist and timeless and scream “professional” to me. I have been wearing the same sort of thing since the 1970s, and I wore them all those years because I liked them and they were appropriate for my work, not because I was copying anyone else who wore them.
Well, so what. It’s a compliment, not a thing wrong with it.
If she is copying Bessette’s style, she’s chosen a suitable role model. Sadly, she will also run out of outfits after about 6 more appearances.
The problem is that Carolyn BK was about 6 feet tall and thin as a rail, built a lot more like Kate. Meghan is, what? 5ft4 inches tops, and is curvy, with no waist, boxy midsection and great legs.
Meghan should dress for Meghan’s body, and I hope she gets a stylist in the beginning to help her dress well. Cause, honestly, once they take away any choice in what she does and what she says, her clothes, like kate’s, will probably be all we have to talk about.
I’m really glad that Kaiser is acknowledging the fact that Meghan is doing this and the fact that she was making out that she, as an American knew little about Harry. The whole scene she is trying to set is really annoying me.
I’m a Brit and I have to say that we have been well aware for a long time that our audience is largely American when it comes to the Royals. Sure there are British Royal followers but they are mostly the older generations.
Would Meghan be giving up her acting career and freedom to speak about politics, to be with Harry if he weren’t a prince? It’s one thing for her to make that choice but another to try to hide it.
She looks like what she’d wear on her tv show Suits, she probably had a stylist in the show teach her how to dress for all kinds of events, scenarios and she probably has good taste. Also, dressing like it’s the 1990’s has been going on the last few years so JP, I don’t think she’s copying Carolyn Kennedy. I think she dresses like a lot of stylish, well off women that can buy designer, minimalistic styles clothing and look classy/timeless.
I don’t really see it, sorry. Just see classic clothes, particularly the white shirt.
Agreed. Also, she dressed like this before she was put more in the spotlight. Her clothing line at that Canadian retailer was pretty minimalist. I dont think shes “paying homage” or anything because of two outfits lol
I don’t see it either. Carolyn’s style came from more than her clothes, too. She owned a chicness that seemed effortless and I don’t get that from Meghan.
+1000. Like I said below, CBK had true style. Meghan, no.
Carolyn’s style wasn’t effortless. She created herself in that image because she wanted to marry wealthy and she worked at Calvin Klein.
She did not create her look but she copied what rich fashion girls were wearing at the time. Even the haircolor was the hot shade of blonde at that time. She was more beloved outside of NYC than she was in New York.
She just had a larger platform so her looks were shown all over the country.
@ Really
I couldn’t quite pinpoint what I didn’t like about Meghan’s style…..now o know! It’s similar to CBK which I’m not a big fan of either. She’s tall and naturally elegant, but the outfits themselves are ugly as f*ck. (In my humble, probably tasteless opinion).
For both ladies, I can pick out 1, maybe 2 genius outfits:
CBK: I love how she wore black:
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/192951165261988575/
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/1470766
Meghan: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popsugar.com/fashion/Fashion-Brands-Kate-Middleton-Meghan-Markle-Both-Wear-44322613/amp
Other than that……nope. Not really for me, thanks! 😬
magnoliarose, Yes, that’s why I said her look *seemed* effortless. I know a lot of work went into creating that incarnation of her but still I think she owned it.
I think whatever CBK wore basically suited her. On somebody else, it could be boring, but on her everything seemed to work well.
I don’t think I ever saw CBK in a.very short skirt or anything revealing, but somehow she managed to look glamorous anyway. I appreciate that.
@magnoliarose thank you. I said in a comment below that CBK never particularly cared for fashion. I don’t think that’s completely true, and you’re right. She cared as much as she needed to, which was an effect of her working at Calvin Klein. Another thing people forget is that fashion was already changing, with or without her. She just happened to be at the helm in a very visible way.
@Esmom
I knew what you meant. 😉
What I wanted to add to your comment is that is a talent in a way. To find the right cuts and styles that fit your looks and body type has the effect of looking effortless. And she did own it. I agree.
@A Lemme check your comment. She chose minimal because she wasn’t fashion obsessed and it was the right choice for her.
Lol – exactly. If Meghan is copying Carolyn than I guess all of J Crew and any other classic American style stores are. I know people love to fan girl Carolyn’s style but there was nothing special or unique about it. She wore classic timeless pieces. Which are classic and timeless for a reason.
Right? Simply classic, clean style. If Meghan is playing homage to CB then CB was playing homage to me since I have basically the same classic foundation pieces. LOL. This is a real stretch.
+1
I’ve always loved Carolyn Bessette’s timeless style. I think Meghan should find her own style as she goes, but what I’ve seen from her, she looks great. I think the skirt she wore is the wrong cut and the boots don’t go with the outfit either.
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s style influenced me for years but at a budget. It was clean, defined and classic. A nice break from the over styled mall hair and spandex pants or the curtain inspired Laura Ashley flower prints.
Not to mention the fabric. Bessette skirt was exquisite, Megan’s is definitely a cheaper one and it shows (no hem?).
If you go minimal you need to invest in quality (fabric, details, fitting and execution must be in point).
I read somewhere that Meghans skirt is suede.
C.remm. I read this , too, but then I take a close look at the frayed hem and, honestly, suede doesn’t look like that.
I saw the hem as well and thought that it was awfully done, but when I read that it was suede, the hem made sense to me. It must be very thin suede otherwise the skirt would be too heavy.
Actually, with Meghan’s skirt (vs the original version), it appears that there was a hem. They removed it and ironed it out, likely to make it longer for her appearance.
The hem on Meghan’s skirt was deliberately frayed. I saw the posting on one of those what Meghan wore sites. Deliberately frayed hems are in style (again) at the moment. And no, it’s not suede, suede doesn’t fray like fabric (it’s skin, after all).
@Midigo – RE: “If you go minimal you need to invest in quality (fabric, details, fitting and execution must be in point).”
I love this advice for myself. I realize that I’m more of a minimalist person, but I still want to look put together. This is where quality comes in. CBK’s style was too minimalist for me, but there are certainly tips to be learned.
I might be totally wrong since I do not have an eye for fashion, but: are women of shorter height supposed to wear light colors for the top and darker colors for the bottom part or the other way around? High waist, shorter hair? Shorter skirts/dresses opposed to long length?
No “bulk” so those boots don’t qualify?
I don’t get it, she is very well dressed in Suits. Yes I am aware she is playing a character and has a stylist or more on the set. But I’d imagine one learns from experts? Don’t many models/actresses say they get the best make-up artists and they know all the tricks? Why not when it comes to fashion?
I don’t know who you replied to @magnoliarose but since your reply is under mine, I will just say that you seem to have more than one eye for fashion.
It is wrong. From certain angles, it looked ok, but with a closer look, the proportions are off. In a redress of her outfit, I would have chosen a more classic cashmere turtle neck, a close slightly A-line deeper rich light brown skirt and some Maison Margiela boots, a camel coat, and a Burberry scarf. Her hair down, side-parted and away from her face.
A side part is always flattering and looks good in a slick low chignon too.
She couldn’t get away with biker boots or riding boots with the look she wanted. I live in mine, and they look beat to death. The Mommy Mafia side eyes them, so I wear them more like the petulant 13-year old I am.
Slouchy boots are fine, but hers were too slouchy. A slight slouch leather, not suede. She needed some texture and spark.
It is a beginning. With a bigger budget, she should kill it. Love her, but the truth is the truth.
Slow clap, @magnoliarose. I don’t know if someone chose those clothes and the look or was it she who did it. Based on this one, she might need to hire someone who’s competent but I shall wait and see what she does next. My feeling is that she’s worked with and promoted friends of hers.
Does anyone know whether Charles starts giving them money from the engagement phase? For clothes and style, unless she goes Kate’s DIY way re: what @pumpkin fsp said above in this thread. Megan must have loads of clothes but not necessarily fit for a royal to be. And from what I know about Kate, the royals cannot accept freebies. But Meghan is not yet royal so I am a bit confused.
She will need a stylist SoulSPA. You are very right, and it is the smart thing to do. A stylist spends all day looking at collections and has contacts to get views of clothes before anyone else does. Hers will have excellent connections, and I believe she has a good eye.
A lesson she may have to learn though is that her friends are lovely I am sure, but she needs a world-class stylist, and they may not be right for this arena.
Royal fashion is not her area, and she will learn, but it will take some time to understand her body as it looks from every single angle in still photographs. I think she would look good in classic with an edge, but she will have to pay attention to her figure.
I think it will take a solid year before she establishes her signature looks and learns the British brands. It would be great if she championed smaller new designers and became an ambassador for British style, textiles, fashion and products AND gave the economy a little boost in return. The Royals should be true ambassadors for Britain and use their profiles to give back to the economy and create jobs. Tastefully of course.
Carolyn was close to 6ft tall. It’s why the outfit didn’t work. Megan can do this but modify the clean, minimal look for some one who is petite. She needs to change the proportions.
Not sure about this overall thesis, but I agree that Meghan has to dress for her height and body type.
I agree. Besides she has a completely different body structure, different complexion and hair, different features. Bessette was ethereal, misterious and shy. Megan is cheerful and hot. She is another kind of beauty and she needs to find what’s best for her and her personality.
Agreed. For some reason, I find it innocent and sweet and I am glad she didn’t get it perfect at the moment. I love a good improvement story.
CBK was 5’9, MM is 5’7. I thought the color scheme was fine; I don’t think a perfectly polished or matchy look is necessary to visit youth.
by no stretch of the imagination is MM 5ft 7in.
The top of her head barely reaches Harry’s shoulders whilst wearing 4in heels, and he is 6ft 2in
@LAK
You are being really dramatic. I definitely think she’s 5’7; she’s not short.
@LAK – I’m gonna have to agree with Jessica here. Saying “by no stretch of the imagination” means MM is nowhere near 5’7″, and while she may not be that tall,
the shortest I could see her is 5’5″.
There is no way she is 5ft7in. Someone who saw her the other day commented that she was “tiny” and “petite.” Most film and TV actresses are tiny, tiny, tiny with big heads. Think Jane Fonda. For some reason, that works on film.
She is gorgeous, sexy, curvy, but I would bet my mortgage that Meghan is 5ft4in. Tops.
I’m not being overly dramatic. The woman is wearing 4inch heels at the engagement photocall and 3.5in heeled boots at the Nottigham engagement.
If she were 5ft 7in, she would be almost eye level with him whilst hearing heels that high.
HH: i stand by my statement. It’s obvious that MM is not a tall woman. There is an argument to be made for KM’s height because even without her 4in heels, one can see that she’s on the taller side, but you really have to have quite the imagination to put MM at 5ft 7in since she is very obviously short even with the 4in heels.
There is no way she’s 5’7″-she is petite.
Carolyn was pin-thin. Catwalk model thin and tall. Thin to the point of being emaciated. Meghan has different proportions and is definitely not pin-thin and has definitely wider hips.
Google says MM is 5 feet 7 inch or 1,71m. I am not sure – she seems smaller.
I think MM is only around 5 foot 5 inches. Harry is supposed to be 6 feet 2 inches. Meghan looked wonderful in the black sweater, tan skirt. Carolyn was big boned, according to google 5 feet 9 inches, to me she looks taller. She knew what she looked good in, quality, simple classic clothes. She worked in fashion at some point, right? Meghan is much prettier, love her style. The only thing that bothers me is her short, wide waist.
Google often gets people’s heights wrong.
I’d love to see her wear her hair in its natural curls sometime.
She hasn’t worn her hair natural since high school and that won’t change especially now. Some people don’t like curly hair.
As a Black American I wish she’d go full on afro-natural too – girl would have a gorgeous head of hair, (going by her childhood pics) but I doubt she will. She’s working the sleek look.
Personally I think she’s got great style due to her beauty and carriage, same as Bessette. Neither is/was doing anything particularly interesting but it has to do more with their personal charisma.
Man, I just read a ton of stuff about Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy recently and it was heartbreaking. I ❤️ her style-I had a long, camel suede skirt that I wore with a black turtleneck and black knee high boots and felt very chic. 😂
I have Pinterest board dedicated to her style. Everything she wore could be worn today. It was terrible when they were killed. My bff and I were in comolete denial. They were the most beautiful couple ever.
I could look at photos of her all day. She was magnetic.
Her outfits and style were a big contrast to the grunge and over the top colors, hairstyles and fashions of the late 1980s-1990s.
For younger folks, this contrast might not be as apparent. While big hair and florals were still around, she choose sleek and classic, in muted colors. It was different from the era’s trends, and it has stood the test of time.
I wanna Kate in that. She has that boyish figure and height.
Markle is skinny yet curvy and petite, she could make Kate’s little dresses feminine…
I think Meghan would look odd in those flouncy dresses that blew up that Kate used to wear.
https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/kate-middletons-wardrobe-malfunction-marilyn-monroe-moment-picture-20142110/
Meghan isn’t “girly” looking at all – she is more sophisticated, glamorous, so those flouncy dresses would look wrong. And she isn’t long-waisted, so those coat dresses Kate loves would look bad on her.
She is going to have to really work at this. I am long legged, short waisted, tend to put my weight in my mid-section when I gain weight, and can look boxy and I think this type of body, which Meghan seems to have, too, is the hardest body to dress.
🙂 You probably looked tres chic and gorgeous. It is a winner for sure.
HOLY SH*T IT’S TRUE. I so approve of it 110% too. Well played, Meg!!
Go ahead, more gossip fodder and fashion analysis for us hahaha
i think it is too early to tell. Let’s wait for the wedding dress 🙂 And as far as I understood the outfit from last Friday was picked by her stylist J. Mulroney.
In any case Carolyn Bessette had such an innate sense of style, you can try to recreate looks, but the it factor that she had will be difficult to copy.
I could see Jessica Mulroney copying ideas from Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Jessica Mulroney isn’t really innately stylish when it comes to more conservative clothing — she’d have to look to others to get her ideas.
JM’s style is tacky.
For some reason I see her in a bateau neck 3/4 sleeve lace bodice with an A-line silhouette. Soft middle part with a soft loose chignon and loose curls framing her face.
Carolyn B had catwalk model proportions and a rather interesting beautiful face. As elfin as Kate Blanchett but with stronger features and a bit “edgy”. Fashion industry liked her looks.
It’s true but it matches her set style already. I’m okay with it. She’s never been super flashy or anything. She’s very classic with a little flare.
Carolyn Bessette had such style and wore the clothes, never the clothes wearing her. Who wouldn’t try to emulate it? But I don’t get that Meghan’s outfit for her first outing was copying. Carolyn’s outfit was much more stylish from the boots, to lines of the skirt,. Meghan’s outfit just happened to be the same colors used for a winter outfit, is all.
And Carolyn had the height to pull off so many great looks, but it always felt understated while stylish. I love the photo of Carolyn in that red coat and jeans with the winter cap.
I love that photo too and I could swear it single-handedly brought flared/bootcut jeans back into style. Everyone else was still wearing 80s tapered-leg jeans when she wore those.
I am tall and can carry off a lot of things because of it but some things look better on shorter women or curvier women. For some reason, to me at least I think shorter mini dresses look better on petite women and I think certain necklines look better on curvier women. Certain drapey clothes need some hips, butt, and chest. I look like someone wrapped an upside down broom in too much fabric.
When she showed up in the beige and black, my immediate thought was “CBK.” Smart move, if you ask me — she had classic style that will work in Meg’s role.
The day of celebitchy post on this outfit said it sucked & she needs a stylist! Now that she’s single white femaling (haha, sorry) cbk, its suddenly fabulous? Anyway, I personally love it.
Well I think the look she is going for is CBK but as previous posters said, the proportions are off because they are different heights, different builds. Meg has a little fine-tuning to do of her style thus far. I like both outfits in theory that she wore w Harry, I just think they didn’t quite work in final implementation. That white coat could have looked great on—hate to say it—someone taller or with a longer torso. She’s so petite it seemed to overwhelm her.
Boy, a person’s life can really change dramatically in a year and a half.
I think Meghan looks way more stylish in her black polo and beige skirt than Caroline’s supposed equivalent. Not seeing anything to suggest she’s being influenced by anything other than her own innate pared back style.
Respectfully disagree, CBK was in a class by herself. Her height alone made everything she wore look chic.
I agree. That picture is twenty years old and Carolyn could still pull off that look today and look sleek and stylish, while look at how dated JFK Jr’s suit looks.
She was 5’9. That’s a pretty average height, to be fair.
I’m 5′ 11″ and I wouldn’t call 5′ 9″(in bare feet) average height lol!
I don’t consider 5’9″ average at all. Cindy Crawford is 5’9″. Since when is Cindy’s height ever been considered average?
I’m 5’3″! I’m a shortie. Heck, I’d be willing to trade my height just to be 5’5″ ! I’ll take whatever I can get!
I agree minx. I am 5’10+ and 5’9 is taller than average.
@Whoopsy maybe in the Netherlands or Germany is 5’9″ average for a woman, even then I doubt it, but the average American woman is only 5’4″! Average height for an American MAN is right around 5’9″ or 5’10”!
I’m 5’9″, in the US that’s 95th percentile of height for women. I am taller than most women I know and also taller than a good chunk of the men I work with. For a supermodel or a women’s basketball player it’s probably a pretty average height, but for the general population it’s definitely on the taller side. People do comment on my height, probably not as much as they do for women who are 6’+, but it happens fairly regularly.
5’9″ here too, and am always getting height comments — I have to rely on better clothing, a mix of classics and my v good tailor because while I am slim with a small waist (except after a burrito, lol) I do have boobs and somewhat broader shoulders. I tend to wear CBK styling, now that I think of it. Probably because it is minimalist, which I like, and so easy to translate in any situation or country, and easy to travel with. And yes, as someone said, quality matters when you go simple. i prefer fewer good pieces to a closet of problems.
Side note: a psychologist couple had the flat above my condo in Boston when I lived there, and the wife told me that CBK worked at CK at the Chestnut Hill Mall and styled her and helped her shop (same age as she was at the time) and was brilliant at it.
Yes, I’m not saying she wasn’t stylish, just that I prefer Meghan’s ‘debut’ look and don’t see it as derivative or an attempt to mimic Carolyn’s.
Umm homaging or flat out copying?
As long as its work, better copy tried and tested formula than failing in your own choice.
Anyway these are safe , elegant choices
It’s staggering to think that kids today have no idea about this chic icon and JFK Jr! They were major…
CBK’s style is so easily copied in any decade because she never followed trends. Meg would be wise to look to her image as a guide.
CBK had true style. Not a knock on Meghan, but nahhh….not happening.
I think it’s very possible Meghan is simply dressing in a classy, appropriate way that fits her new role in life.
I was 20 when Diana died. I did watch the coverage and the funeral. At the time I remember knowing the boys were very young but that was pretty much it. I don’t think a 16 yr old girl would have known everything about them.
I agree. I am the same age as MM and I remember William and having a celebrity crush on him because he was really “cute” back then. I also remember not paying really any attention to Harry because he was a few years younger and when you are that young a few years is a lot. He also wasn’t as good looking as William to me. So yeah I believe her when she says she didn’t know much about him.
It’s true, William got much more of the attention back then for sure.
I also recall how the boys were a bit sheltered from public view for several years after Diana’s death. I can believe she missed crushing on them for that reason.
I don’t think she would have had a crush on Harry because he was sort of a kid in comparison to her then. But I do think it’s possible she might have been aware about William or of William and Harry as a unit. Everyone tried to link William to Britney Spears. The boys were given their privacy, but they were still referenced in the media at various points. Celebrities were asked about whether they’d be interested in William. I vaguely remember Keira Knightley saying Prince William wasn’t his type because he was too horsey-looking. I guess my point is that they were covered in the media — you just couldn’t use extremely long lenses on them. That doesn’t mean nobody talked about them.
I agree. Sorry Kaiser, but I was a teenager living in the US in the 90s (graduated in 99) and I vaguely recall anything about Harry from the that time. He was just Prince William’s little brother. I Remember that Diana’s death was a big deal in the media but for me and my friends it wasn’t something that affected us nor we mourned. Different memories for that time.
I like Meghan’s skirt. It may be a bit much fabric for her frame, but it was perfect for her event walking around, bending over or squatting to greet children, sitting in public. Easy to move, easy to stay ‘modest.’ Must have helped her feel comfortable. The purse, however, had to go – and she’ll likely now know how to handle that situation.
Who wants to walk around with me today and collect bundles of flowers from cute little kids? It must be such a lift.
When that picture of MM was posted a few days ago I said that I liked the outfit, and still do. But now, seeing it next to CBK, I agree that it’s just a little too much fabric and too long for her figure. I get why she wanted a full skirt.
Nope. They’re a cute couple, but can’t stand in the shadow of John John and Carolyn. They were aesthetically perfect. Tragic.
Particularly comparing Harry to JFK Jr? No!
Definitely not!
CBK was effortless, or appeared to be. Meghan is always trying in her red carpet pictures, the way actresses must. Every picture of her is posed, legs crossed at ankles, hip thrusts, etc. That was her job. Lots of effort.
Harry vs JFK Jr.?? No. Never. JFK was handsome, educated, funny, self-deprecating. And did I say handsome?? He also wasn’t like Harry in that he wasn’t a spoiled, petulant brat who was basically unemployed and uneducated.
No. Just no.
That is funny, because then I also channelled CBK without knowing it. That beige skirt black top combo that both women wore (even both of their shoes!) could have been straight out of my closest. I am wearing it since 2000 and it always works.
I tend to go for a more classic, streamlined look as my default “dressy” look – but I’m not actively trying to copy CBK. I think its just because CBK was popular as I was sort of figuring out my style so she influenced me in a way. (I’m nowhere near as chic as she was, ha.) But I imagine the same is true for MM. She is probably not “copying” CBK but I’m sure she was influenced by her style at some point.
Meh, I’m 35 and I couldn’t tell you much about Diana or any of the royals, aside from what gets printed on here nowadays. I don’t recall anything about that Dodi stuff, except they crashed in a tunnel.
I didn’t know much about them either. It’s only when I started reading gossip that really got the royals. All that I knew was Diana/ Charles marriage ending because of Camilla. Then Diana philanthropy and Dody and car crash. I knew there were two sons but that’s all.
So I don’t have problem believing Meghan about not knowing much on Harry.
My own sister couldn’t even tell you all this. And she’s 35.
I’m going to be the lone dissenter here, but I definitely prefer Meghan’s outfits to CBK’s here. I find the two examples you’re showing here particulary lacking in fit (draglines on the skirt, blouse a size too large, you can see how the shoulder sags over her upper arm). To me they seem dated too because of the fit, they’re far from sleek. Is it because Carolyn was your American royalty that everyone loves her outfits?
You’re not lone, I said the same above for more of less the same reasons you give. While I think Carolyn was stylish, I’ve never really seen her as exceptionally so or iconic in the way so many Americans seem to.
I think her look was seen before the internet so it looked especially chic and she did look outstanding. I hope Meghan adds a quirk of her own though.
The white shirt and skirt were Yohji Yamamoto the tailoring is not big, it is modeled this way. His designs might look on the surface to the untrained eye look classic, but his designs are rooted in avant-garde tailoring combined with Japanese aesthetics. CBK shirt isn’t a basic white shirt or black skirt. This is why fashion people found her more fascinating than I think some do in retrospective. While other socialites were wearing flashy Versace or Oscar to black-tie events she wore Yohji.
Absolutely true. The Japanese designers are known for their architectural approach to design that elevates a classic. I love his clothes and a coat from years ago that still looks chic. In fact, everything I have from him still looks good. I just got a black pleated jacket I like and will likely be able to wear it as long as I want.
Issey Miyake and Comme des Garcons are other favorites.
I don’t like Meghan’s boots with that skirt.
Same here. The sweater and skirt are nice, but the boots look dated and too bulky for her height.
She should have worn a sleeker boot. There’s too much bulk around her knee/calf area.
Agreed. It’s the bulk of the slouchy boots that throws the proportions off, I think. She definitely needed a sleeker boot, and I think leather would’ve worked better than suede, it would’ve provided some contrast and texture. But I like Meg’s skirt more than CBK’s, and I’m not crazy about her boots being brown either. For me, the boots are the sticking point in both outfits!
I used to wear a black turtleneck and camel skirt (although it was more tulip shaped (Liz Clairborne-anyone remember her?) to work with black tights and black heels. It was my favorite, classic, outfit. This was in the late 80s. CBK was copying me!
Do you remember the Liz Claiborne perfume in the triangle shaped bottle? Good times!
Yes!!
Lol I pointed this out (to myself!) after that appearance as well. I was racking my brain trying to figure out this “classic American” style of hers. It’s not “trendy” it’s just very classic, and I realized that she reminded me of Carolyn Besette.
Jeez. There was nothing distinct about CBK’s style, nothing! She simply had a classic style, classic because it was not trendy, as in women have dressed like that for ages.
She wore clothes extremely well though.
Yeah, you must be too young to remember CBK helped bring minimalism to the forefront in the 90’s — “the classic look” at the time was not this sleek with a satorial edge.
CBK wore Calvin Klein, Prada, Yohji Yamamoto –at their height. When Calvin was still the head designer and she put Narciso Rodriquez on the map with her biased cut wedding gown.
That mid-calf camel skirt CBK wore was an odd length at the time, CBK paired it with Prada boots and bingo!
Minimalism requires lux fabrics and expert tailoring plus great skin and hair usually tall thin bodies. (Cheap minimalism looks cheap in person. Inferior fabrics and poor construction.) Plus, there are no bells and whistles. CBK style is the opposite of the Kim K more is more in Herve L bodycon or tacky 90’s rehash that millennials like Bella Hadid favor.
Flesh and more flesh to distract. Clashing prints.
Clean skin. Not micro bladed brows and a pound of contouring. CBK in every way was the opposite of Instagram Millennial fashion.
My cousin worked with CBK at Calvin Klein, all of them had to dress this way. But CBK had the skin, hair, and bod — so everything clicked.
Exactly! People also forget what wedding gowns looked like before CBK’s. Not many people can, or should, wear a slip wedding dress but she helped bring a sleeker, less fussy look Into fashion. The 80s were a horror show of big shoulders, ruffles and too much fabric.
You articulate this so well! Agree 100% The word iconic is thrown around too much these days, but CBK was.
Exactly. Again I agree.
I hate face contouring and pounds of artifice. Fresh and glowy wins every time no matter age or color.
I loved CBK’s style. She was magnetic!
Meghan said in an interview that CBK’s wedding dress was perfection, so it’s not a reach to say she is inspired by her style.
I don’t see it.Also daily mail is actively trashing Meghan in subtle and not so subtle ways every single day. Can we not further their agenda? I swear even the sun comes across less racist
There is something definitely very odd about the tone of the DM article. Almost like they’re saying one thing, but implying something else, something very unkind and disparaging.
If so her interpretation of CBK’s style is dated that flared skirt is horrible.
Have you seen the hem? Strings are coming off of it….
You mean the thread?
Oh no I just noticed that. The hem does have a tattered ‘style’ (using the latter word loosely).
Meghan sweetie fire your stylist.
I never understood the fascination with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. She was tall, skinny, and blonde. Of course people were going to think that anything she wore looked amazing. I always thought that her “minimalist” style was just flat out uninspired and, quite honestly, boring. She never seemed overly into fashion, or even the attention she was getting at the time.
I don’t know if Meghan is homage-ing her or not. If she is, great. I think there are a lot of people who would get on board with her for that alone.
One of the things she hated was the public attention, and both of them were sporty. I want Meghan to find a look that suits her. She is in London with some of the best tailors in the world so her clothes should always fit well.
I am drawn to textiles, materials, and designs, but I don’t like super fussy looks. My mother gets away with her unusual jewelry, but I tend to like a little less.
I think Meghan has a certain character and personality to her that will, hopefully, allow her to shine in her own right and with her own ideas. I think the fit issues have to do mostly with the fact that she’s new in town and hasn’t exactly had a chance to really plan these things out. I also hope she ditches her stylist at some point.
Meghan could take CBK’s minimalism and do wonders with it if she adds her own spin. If she settles for straight up borrowing her looks, it’s going to look boring on Meghan. Against all odds, I did like the coat she wore, even though the length was a bit much. So more of that sort of thing, but fine tuned to MM’s personal style, with co-ordination and better fit.
@ A
I completely agree with you……i find all this minimalism boring as hell. Having said that, if Meghan is going to channel anyone at all, I’m glad its an American and not a Brit.
@Magnoliarose:
I’m a bit of a magpie + hoarder which means I am and have always been obsessed with vintage items…..both in fashion and decor. One of my favorite pastimes is traipsing through the old, dusty charity shops in Hampstead and Highgate (london), looking for beautiful, old, unexpected jewellery (brooches, bracelets,rings, necklaces etc) to pair with more contemporary stuff……I think I would love your mothers style! 🙂
I don’t remember CBK at all (I was too young to care about celebrity gossip then) though I do remember when Kennedy Jr. was killed in the plane crash. It seemed every few years for awhile a member of the Kennedy family would die in tragic circumstances. Quick google image of CBK and I don’t see anything that remarkable. Clean, classic looks but I’m not sure why this is so note worthy. Honestly if she were alive today, she would probably be referred as a basic five letter word I won’t repeat here, just another skinny white blonde. I might be alone here but I don’t like the outfit Meghan “copied” on CBK. I might be alone but I really like Meghan’s take on the outfit, even if she was inspired by CBK.
CBK had a certain mystery to her and didn’t seem to go out of her way to call attention to herself. Granted, she lived in a different era, but I suspect that’s what people liked her. It’s the women who don’t *seem* like they’re trying too hard or don’t look desperate that usually seem to command more …adulation? I don’t know if that’s the right word to use here, but she wasn’t really try-hard, and in today’s era where everyone is trying to pose to the side and do that weird thing with their lips, that’s a hard thing to come by. The more mysterious she seemed, the more you wanted to know more about her.
The ones who crave the most attention like that Emily Ratjkakowski are usually the types people wind up less interested in, kind of like those people on Facebook who share everything. It’s the quiet ones I find I usually want to know more about.
Maybe dying early helped though. I think it would be hard to go an entire lifetime being that mysterious. At some point in life, you’re required to open up. She might have had to if her husband went into politics.
@perplexed, let’s not confuse “having a personality” with “being desperate for attention.” There’s a lot of disparaging comments on this thread about the Instagram generation/millennials or what have you, and while I don’t disagree that there are definitely those who are more fame hungry than others, it’s a massive stretch of every sort to insinuate that Emily Ratajkowski of all people is somehow the emblem of this generation lol.
I just used Emily R as an example of someone who craves attention, not someone who is the emblem of the millennial generation. She’s the most extreme example I could think of and the polar opposite of CBK. If I had someone somebody people actually like, or as you say, someone who “has a personality,” there would have been more controversy.
I also think it’s necessary for stars today to post on Instagram to maintain their careers, so I didn’t want to cite someone like Taylor Swift or Selena Gomez, who genuinely have fans. Emily R seemed like the best example of someone who craves attention but nobody wants to pay attention to.
I do too. There’s a lot of hubbub about the “magnetism” that CBK supposedly had. But Meghan has a charisma of a different type, something that’s a lot more vivid and personable than CBK could have ever hoped for. She was, essentially, the ice queen trope personified, but that was about it. Otherwise, her personality was as clean cut as the lines of her outfits.
Meghan is more vivacious and warm. Carolyn wasn’t a particularly nice person and had some drug problems. I remember her because of proximity, but I think it might be a Gen X thing. I am in the much maligned Millenial crew too. lol
I think it was her time and she had good taste. I preferred more edge and like Kate Moss, but it was later.
@magnoliarose, yes, I was just thinking about Kate Moss when thinking about CBK. Two very similar ladies, who carried a very similar style that was of the time. But Kate Moss had an edge to her that CBK didn’t have. The minimalism worked differently on her; not exactly elegant, but somehow just as magnetic, if not more.
Wrong place for comment.
most of us don’t refer to tall, thin, white women as just another basic bitch. 🙂 why would you even say that?
CBK’s style in all pictures I’ve seen her in is pretty basic. Basic bitch refers to a whole subculture of predominantly white, middle-class women who wear preppy clothes and follow the main fashion trends. It’s not just skinny white blonde women though that is the stereotype. CBK worked for Calvin Klein, the epitome of white American prep. I’m also very familiar with the area CBK (Greenwich, CT and Westchester County) grew up in as I grew up in Westchester County myself. I knew so many girls like CBK growing up. Looking at younger pictures of CBK is like looking at my high school yearbook. I’m just meh at her style because to me it is nothing special.
@Amelie, bless you for saying that. I didn’t want to get into CBK’s background or just how much she epitomizes white, middle-to-upper class women. But yes, a lot of what people refer to as her “innate elegance” and “effortless style” just always seemed like the same types of things that white, middle-class women who shop at Ann Taylor with their moms/daughters have been wearing for years. Just amped up for high fashion tastes.
Another thing I loved about CBK…while I’m sure it took lots of effort and time and planning (and dieting!), she always looked effortless. Never over done. Never looked like these instagram starlets who try too hard to get attention. She’d die before she did some kind of ridiculous duck face pose. She abhorred the attention she got, from what I read, and I hate that she suffered so, but man, she really had that effortless thing down which is aspirational to me.
I agree.
I also agree. And I would be perfectly happy to see minimalist 90s chic make a comeback–which I guess it is via Everlane (a label Markle evidently favors). Go away, weird cold shoulder tops!
@Tracking, your comment made me laugh! I hate those weird cold shoulders too!
What is with them!?
Yep, straight hair with a center part, maxi skirt and a collar shirt with no jacket. Wow, a turtleneck. Her ‘style’ is flat-out homage to Basic Bitch. This reporting cannot be paralleled.
why is it ok to call a woman a basic bitch???
Looking back at CBK, she was really gaunt. Wow.
Yeah but those slouchy boots 🙁 they make me sad 🙁
I so hope that with her influence that length comes back into vogue! I feel so out of date wearing my hemlines at that length.
Hell, even I knew who William and Harry were when I was a teenager. Possibly because I remember seeing pictures of them in the numerous teeny bopper magazines I’d religiously buy every month to quite wallpaper my ceiling and walls in Hanson posters. Maybe Meghan had better things to do than read Bop, Teen and Tiger Beat, unlike myself.
Yeah, they were teeny bopper magazines. That’s why when people claim they weren’t covered as much, I sort of don’t buy it. The media even tried to make a thing happen between William and Britney Spears.
Were they covered as much as their mom? No, but nobody has been since her death. But they were still covered to some degree. and especially by People magazine.
If she wears a Narciso Rodriguez slip dress for her wedding we’ll know. Throw in Calvin, etc.
Her build and entire bearing are very different from Bessette’s so any clothing homages aren’t going to have the same effect.
I think MM marries a strong (and needed and fun and appreciated) dose of California free spirit to a vaguely minimalist style. She’s not a true east coast stark minimalist – which wouldn’t work for royalty anyway. They have to dress to be seen, and once Meghan gets going she’ll be wearing too much old family jewelry, orders and sashes to hew to a true minimalist style.
That being said
RIP JFK and Carolyn. Easily one of the most attractive couple ever, their wedding picture perfectly sums up their affection for each other.
Meghan carries herself so well, I think she wears the clothes and it’s not a case of the clothes wearing her. In Kate’s case, it’s all about the clothes and they often overwhelm or eclipse her.
I wonder how high maintenance Meghan’s hair is – is it just a simple blow out or does she have to resort to more heavy duty styling to get the straight look?
Are they seriously going to pick apart everything this girl does? She looks beautiful and appropriate. I’m sure she is able to put on an outfit and not have to copy cat Caroline Kennedy. Both beautiful women.
I think both had/gave great style and I’m sure she’s taking some of Caroline’s looks. Of course she is!
Meghan aspires to the styling of French women and has said that her style icon is Emmanuelle Alt. Interestingly, I heard Alt gave her a thumbs up on instagramm after her first outing to Nottingham. So Meghan will be over the moon with her endorsement.
Why not, she is a ROYAL now.