Meghan Markle Used Her Luxurious Wardrobe to 'Project Hollywood Success' at the Invictus Games
Is Meghan Markle using the art of fashion to rebrand herself? The Duchess of Sussex sported a pricey wardrobe while attending the Invictus Games, but experts think the message could be seen as insensitive.
Susie Nelson discussed the Suits star's luxury items while at the sporting event.
"I think the possible motivation behind the outfits is to try and project an image of a successful Hollywood celebrity," Nelson said during a GB News appearance. "By choosing to wear expensive designer items, it indicates they can afford it."
"It should be noted that these were, in some cases, combined with items from the high street, such as Banana Republic. The jewelry was also expensive," Nelson added.
Nelson pointed out that the rise in global financial concerns makes Meghan's once approachable brand out of touch with her targeted audience.
"In the current tough economic times, it may have been more considerate to wear more relatable items," the style expert explained. "What truly added to the cost of the overall wardrobe was the estimated value of the jewelry she wore during these games."
"For instance, the Cartier-Bresson watch which once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, or the Lorraine Schwartz ring which was gifted," she added.
This wouldn't be the first time critics depicted the Sussexes as out of touch with reality. The Royal Observer previously reported Kuba Shand-Baptiste wrote a nuanced opinion piece dissecting the duke and duchess' public image.
"We should never have entertained debates about the veracity of her mental health issues," Baptiste said in reference to the pushback Meghan received after admitting to having suicidal thoughts while living in the U.K.
Baptiste later analyzed Meghan's ability to articulate the difference in experiences she had as a biracial woman growing up in America and how it failed to prepare her for her life in England.
"Nor should we, especially after their corny, at times tone-deaf but still illuminating Netflix documentary, have criticized her for coming to understand her blackness after being subjected to racism in the U.K., having been mistaken for a white woman in the U.S. for the majority of her life," the editor wrote.
When Baptiste's article was published, it followed the public fallout between the Sussexes and Spotify. The loss of the multimillion-dollar deal highlighted the cracks within the couple's Archewell brand. The streaming giant's executive Bill Simmons slammed the Sussexes and called them "grifters" during an episode of his podcast, but Baptiste saw the accusation as extreme.
"I don’t think recent charges of Meghan and Harry being 'grifters' or attention seekers — especially after that car chase — are fair either," she admitted.
Since leaving the U.K. for California, Meghan and Harry have transitioned from being working royals to American A-listers. The commentator later noted that the couple is financially dependent on their newfound celebrity status and their reputation.
"Whether we want them around or not, they do have to make a living somehow," the writer explained. "Unfortunately, they are stumbling over how best to do that. And that’s OK too. They are simply out of their depth."