Did Meghan inspire her wedding dress designer’s new Uniqlo collection? Clare Waight Keller’s line bares a striking resemblance to pieces worn by the royal
When Clare Waight Keller’s latest Uniqlo:C collection launched last month, her fans were thrilled.
Did Meghan inspire her wedding dress designer’s new Uniqlo collection? Clare Waight Keller’s line bears a striking resemblance to pieces worn by the Royal Family
Meghan Markle has praised Uniqlo’s new designer Clare Waight Keller as a “beautiful friend” and says she has “many pieces” from her new collection.
That may not come as a surprise to eagle-eyed fashion lovers, as many pieces in the line appear to be inspired by the Duchess of Sussex.
Waight Keller, who gained widespread fame after designing Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding dress during her tenure at Givenchy, was recently appointed creative director of Uniqlo.
She now oversees both the Uniqlo:C line, which she was tasked with developing last year, and the brand’s core collections.
The autumn/winter 2024 collection consists of neutral tones, soft fabrics and layered pieces – elements that perfectly suit Meghan’s style.
Clare Waight Keller, who gained widespread fame after designing Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding dress during her tenure at Givenchy, was recently appointed creative director of Uniqlo.
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was designed by Claire Waight Keller. Above: Meghan kisses Prince Harry outside St George’s Chapel on their wedding day, May 2018
During her time as a working royal, Meghan showed strong loyalty to Waight Keller and regularly wore her designs for Givenchy.
She chose the brand for a number of major royal firsts in 2018, including an engagement with Queen Elizabeth, Royal Ascot, a solo event at the Royal Academy of Arts and her royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga with Prince Harry .
It will be interesting to see if Meghan remains loyal to Waight Keller after her move, which could mean a shift to a more casual look in the future.
The ‘C’ in Uniqlo: C represents both a new chapter for the brand and the first initial of its designer, Clare Waight Keller.
In the latest collection, the focus shifts to a more urban aesthetic, inspired by London’s iconic brutalist landmark, the Barbican.
This season also marks the introduction of a menswear capsule alongside the usual womenswear offering, extending Uniqlo and Waight Keller’s fluid, wearable and movement-oriented designs to a wider audience.
“I am excited to launch the new menswear and womenswear collection,” Waight Keller said in a press release.
‘I have always enjoyed the interplay between the utility of menswear and the feminine elements of womenswear. These collections blend the two seamlessly in palette, fabrication and style, creating a wardrobe of truly interchangeable pieces.”
Uniqlo: C’s latest range shifts the focus to a more urban aesthetic, inspired by London’s iconic brutalist landmark, the Barbican.
The collection’s clean lines and slate color palette bring a more androgynous touch to Waight Keller’s quintessential feminine fluidity, creating versatile designs that will fit seamlessly into anyone’s wardrobe – including Meghan Markle’s.
The Duchess, who has a penchant for oversized outerwear and neutral tones, would likely be drawn to these pieces, which closely reflect her signature style.
Meghan has on display numerous wool coats from the likes of Max Mara, Anine Bing, Smythe, Mackage and Erdem, which cost up to £4,198.
As this collection reflects Waight Keller’s high-end aesthetic, Meghan may be drawn to the wool-blend wrap coat that feels much more luxurious than its £109.90 price tag would suggest.
Likewise, the Heattech cashmere-blend turtleneck in olive green bears a resemblance to the one worn by Meghan from The Row in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list.
The Duchess, who has a penchant for wool coats, would likely be drawn to these pieces, which closely reflect her signature style
Meghan often chooses neutral color palettes, with gray or camel
The €20 Heattech cashmere-blend turtleneck in olive green is reminiscent of the one worn by Meghan by The Row in TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people list
The new collection features a balanced color palette of grey, khaki, navy blue and black, with soft pink, white and beige accents, adding a subtle touch of warmth to the neutral colours.
Trench coats have been updated into timeless styles that will quickly become the outerwear of choice.
There are also shorter vests, perfect for layering over knitwear, sleek single-breasted blazers, versatile work dresses and striking accessories.
Uniqlo is the latest addition to Clare Waight Keller’s impressive resume, which includes a number of luxury brands such as Pringle of Scotland, Chloé and of course Givenchy.