Meghan Markle wears clothing from smaller design houses that’s ‘not possible to alter’ while being ‘too controversial’ for bigger fashion brands, experts claim

Meghan Markle is wearing clothes from smaller brands that are “not adaptable” and “too controversial” for the bigger fashion houses, experts claim.

The 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex has often opted for floor-length pieces over the past six years, most recently wearing a pair of £360 trousers to a business conference in the Hamptons over the weekend.

For the occasion, the mother of two, who is gearing up to launch her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, paired the beige linen trousers with a matching single-breasted cardigan, also from Australian brand St Agni.

At one point, Meghan posed for photos with makeup mogul Bobbi Brown and fashion designer Misha Nonoo. Fans noticed that the duchess’ feet were completely covered by her pants.

Speaking to FEMAIL, celebrity stylist Rochelle White claimed that Meghan’s trousers may have been a sample from St Agni and therefore could not be tailored to her 1.68m frame. This is because the trousers either have to be returned or were given to the stylist rather than Meghan herself to keep.

The expert said: ‘I know wide, long trousers are in fashion at the moment and a trend piece. They’re dominating Instagram and the catwalk, so I think she likes the style.

‘They are great for cinching in the waist but also add depth and leg length to an outfit. They can also be flattering and comfortable and not so restrictive.

‘But the Duchess could also be working with a designer, fashion house or stylist, where it might not be possible to make alterations to better suit her leg length. So, as a result, they are longer.’

Furthermore, fashion expert Giorgina Ramazzotti claimed that although Meghan has worn Dior and Givenchy in the past, she could be seen as too “controversial” a figure to receive free samples from some major fashion houses.

Giorgina said: ‘As a celebrity and actress before joining the royals, Meghan was very used to a world where everything was loaned out for photo shoots, a performance or borrowed from wardrobe as part of her character in Suits.

‘Celebrities rarely have to shell out cash in exchange for fashion items. Often, items are given as gifts, loaned out for special events, or the star is given a steep discount to shop from the brand, and while Meghan wasn’t a famous actress before she met Prince Harry, she has reportedly received freebies — albeit from smaller brands.

‘When she joined the royal family, she quickly discovered that loans and gifts from designers were forbidden. The star was undoubtedly given an allowance to dress herself, something she was no doubt happy to throw out the window when she left the royal family.

‘It’s fair to say that Meghan rarely wears clothes from big designer brands like French fashion houses Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Saint Laurent etc. These brands are very careful with their image and getting loans from them for smaller or controversial stars (as Meghan is now in some circles) is like taking blood from a stone.’

In June 2023, French fashion house Dior denied that they had signed a deal worth “megadollars” with the Duchess, who was rumored to become the face of the brand.

There was speculation that any deal could be worth the couple as much as £15million.

Moreover, the stylist argued, the Duchess likes to wear long trousers and skirts because she wants to exude an ‘old money’ aesthetic with them.

Giorgina explains: ‘Meghan favours minimalist, understated luxury; simple separates, neutral colours and classic cuts – think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy meets 21st century style – and her latest look for St. Agni encapsulates all of this to perfection.’

According to the expert, Meghan could be creating her own version of “quiet luxury,” which has proven to be a popular trend in recent years and sees her favoring no-brand designer clothes in neutral color palettes.

Giorgina continues: ‘Larger amounts of fabric have long been a sign of wealth – the epitome of the ‘old money’ style so popular with Gen Z and Millennials.

‘Where a maxi dress on the high street is usually tight and rarely goes below the calf, luxury stores use a lot more fabric in their summer dresses to create volume and length – often flowing and floor-length. Where lower price points skimp on fabric, luxury brands know that their customers want to look put together without skimping on costs.’

While Meghan’s pant and skirt length may be ‘mocked’ by some, Giorgina says her style is always ‘chic and on point’.

Following Meghan and Harry’s ‘tour’ of Nigeria in May, Rochelle argued that the Duchess often wears floor-length dresses to give the illusion of length.

She said: ‘Long dresses and trousers can elongate the body and shape, depending on the body type.

‘They can make you look taller and, depending on your style, they can help accentuate or cover certain parts of your body.’

When the royal couple spent a week in Frankfurt last summer attending the Invictus Games, Meghan wore an all-brown ensemble. They both watched sports matches and attended a NATO meeting that day.

It consisted of a chocolate-colored blouse and crinkled taupe-colored pants that fell to the floor.

She stood next to Prince Harry, who is a whopping 6ft 2in tall. Although she barely reached his shoulder, Rochelle says her outfit choice made her look taller.

She said: ‘When I look at Meghan, I think these styles make her look longer and accentuate her silhouette. I think they make her look taller.

“I feel like she knows her body and what things or items suit her best, and she plays into that with her appearance.”

In 2018, during Meghan’s trip to Edinburgh with Harry, she proudly wore long, flared black trousers that were too long for her, despite the fact that she was wearing heels.

As the Duchess was busy greeting those who braved the unpredictable Scottish weather to meet the former royals, the trousers were pulled across the wet concrete, with soil collecting at the bottom.