Co-ords have been everywhere this summer, from Glastonbury to Vogue HQ, Wimbledon to Copenhagen Fashion Week, and now: Colombia, care of the Duchess of Sussex, who packed a smart take on the staples for day one of a four-day visit to the country with Prince Harry.
As you might expect, Meghan swerved the ubiquitous east London version of the look (boxer shorts and a breezy shirt) for something a little more polished: a fitted navy halter-neck vest by Veronica Beard with matching cropped trousers. She added a structured white handbag and the kind of classic suede Manolo Blahniks that were a constant in her wardrobe back in the couple’s Kensington Palace days, and still enjoy the occasional outing now that her focus is motherhood and building her lifestyle brand in Montecito.
The Duchess of Sussex wearing Veronica Beard separates in Colombia.
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The overall effect was very much in keeping with her post-Palace style when in “business” mode. Where laid-back girls’ lunches at Tre Lune call for white shirts, denim and designer flats, the Duchess still favours tailoring for public appearances (see her cashmere Loro Piana suit for a school visit in Harlem, or the linen St Agni separates she wore to attend a business summit in the Hamptons).
It’s all still a long way from the pencil skirts and pillbox hats that Meghan had on regular rotation just a few years ago. These days, her public-facing looks deliberately semaphore relaxed, rather than regal. Key to her California-CEO-in-the-making wardrobe? A touch more skin on show (today’s subtly sexy halter-neck might not have passed muster in Westminster Abbey), editor-approved brands and in-the-know accessories – the Duchess still wears her heirloom Cartier Tank watch, but nowadays she’s likely to throw a Cult Gaia clutch into the mix, too.