10 Of The Duchess Of Sussex's Favourite Brands

Ever since Meghan Markle announced her engagement to Prince Harry, there’s been non-stop discussion about her wardrobe choices. And for good reason – with every royal appearance, we’ve come to expect impeccably styled outfits as she champions big fashion names like Burberry, as well as up-and-coming labels such as Wales Bonner. She shops on the high street, as well as using her platform to champion environmentally conscious labels like Maggie Marilyn and Stella McCartney.

It’s this variety that has helped cement the duchess’ status as one of the most influential women in fashion right now. From her sleek and elegant Givenchy dresses to the laid-back denim looks she sports off-duty, the duchess has nailed the fine balance between demure and daring. We're rounded up 10 of her go-to brands right here.

The Duchess of Sussex is often seen wearing trainers, tailored coats and dresses by one of her favourite sustainable labels, Stella McCartney. But it was the bias-cut, halter-neck evening gown she wore on her wedding day to Prince Harry that proved her real love for the label. It is now available as part of the designer’s debut bridal collection.

Having protested against animal cruelty and unethical production since day one, Stella McCartney was one of the first high-profile conscious designers – long before it became the zeitgeist. Thanks to innovative recycling methods, the designer is now known for her luxe faux fur and vegan leather, that looks just as good as the real thing.

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Always attuned to the new and progressive, Meghan chose to wear emerging London label Wales Bonner at her first public appearance post-childbirth. Posing for photographs inside Windsor Castle with Harry and her two-day-old son, the duchess looked chic in the sleeveless trench dress, which she paired with nude Manolo Blahnik pumps.

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Central Saint Martins graduate Grace Wales Bonner launched her menswear line back in 2014, exploring her mixed-race heritage and notions of gender through her collections. Her androgynous embellished tailoring and impeccably-cut flares had women queueing up to buy long before her women's line had even launched (it did, finally, in 2018).

Givenchy

Ever since designing Meghan's now iconic wedding gown, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy has worked closely with the Duchess of Sussex time and time again, creating custom pieces for her that nod to the house’s 1950s heyday. Meghan even presented Waight Keller with the Womenswear Designer of the Year award at the 2019 Fashion Awards.

The French fashion house was founded in 1952 by Hubert de Givenchy, whose ladylike designs were famously loved by Audrey Hepburn. Clare Waight Keller, who came from Chloé to the label in 2017, has paid homage to the house’s romantic codes in her couture collections – glorious structured dresses in duchess satin, lace and organza – while imbuing her ready-to-wear with a modern attitude (cowboy boots, handkerchief hems and animal print).

Burberry

Burberry is a quintessentially British brand, and Meghan embraced it wholeheartedly when she moved to England. On a visit to Scotland in 2018, she nodded to the country’s heritage in a tartan wool coat by the house and, later on in the year, was spotted in its signature trench coat on a trip to New Zealand.

Founded in 1856, Burberry is a luxury brand that prides itself on its heritage and tradition. But don’t mistake that for an old-fashioned aesthetic. New creative director Riccardo Tisci is shaking things up with his ladylike but rebellious offering – think pussy-bow blouses and pleated midi skirts offset with punky graphics and belt bags.

Missoma

When it comes to jewellery, Meghan has layering nailed. Gold tones and lightweight pieces are her first choice – she stacks rings and delicate bracelets to create a sense of elevated bohemia, without looking too informal – and for this, often turns to independent jewellery label Missoma. Among some of the duchess’ favourites in the affordable range are the interstellar ring, open heart signet and the rainbow moonstone leaf bracelet.

British brand Missoma has been making a case for demi-fine jewellery – pay less and experiment more – since it went from mainly wholesale to retail a few years ago. The brand’s easy-to-layer pieces are loved by A-listers and influencers alike. Last November, founder Marisa Horden promised to plant one tree for every Black Friday sale the brand made (the end number was 50,000), so we can see why it appeals to Meghan.

Brandon Maxwell

It’s no secret that Meghan’s a big fan of American label Brandon Maxwell. The duchess has worn its dresses on several public occasions – a yellow shift at the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception, a pleated shirt style on a visit to Admiralty House in Australia and, most recently, a nude number in London during the end of her pregnancy.

Brandon Maxwell launched his eponymous label in 2015 after years of success as Lady Gaga’s stylist. Michelle Obama, Oprah and Blake Lively are all fans of his fluid tailoring and voluminous full-skirted silhouettes.

Gabriela Hearst

The Duchess of Sussex has championed Uruguayan label Gabriela Hearst on a number of occasions since becoming a member of the royal family, carrying the Nina bag in two different colourways, as well as wearing a chic black dress by the brand as she met the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden on the royal tour. The fashion-forward label is further proof of the duchess' ability to push the style boundaries.

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Celebrated for her elegant tailoring – think peak lapelled trouser suits in rich wool fabrics and sorbet shades – Gabriela Hearst is now best known for her cult handbags. Launching in 2011 with limited availability (Hearst is careful not to waste materials with over-production), Meghan’s Nina bag had a waiting list of over 1,000 within a few months, and now each item is microchipped to prevent fakes.

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera's ladylike silhouettes are fit for a princess. The designer was responsible for that blush off-the-shoulder two-piece Meghan wore to the Queen's birthday parade, the 1950s-inspired full-skirted denim number she wore to the polo and, most recently, the floor-sweeping bohemian blue gown she chose to meet King of Morocco.

As well as being a firm favourite of Meghan’s, Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera has dressed many other high-profile women, including First Ladies Jackie Onassis, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama. Despite being 80 years old, Herrera only handed over her label, known for its bright colour palettes and unapologetically feminine silhouettes, to protégé Wes Gordon last year. She still sits front row with her husband at every show.

Aquazzura

When she’s not wearing Manolos, Meghan is often seen in another of her favourite footwear brands, Aquazzura. The duchess quietly eschews the royals’ favourite nude court shoe for pairs with ankle cuffs, cross-over straps, lace-up ties and embellished detailing. Her preferred styles? The Matilde and the Denueve (she has each in several colours). To say thanks for her loyalty, founder Edgardo Osorio made her a custom design for her wedding day and gave each flower girl a pair of initialled Mary Jane pumps.

 After years of making shoes for the likes of Salvatore Ferragamo, René Caovilla, and Roberto Cavalli, Osorio launched Aquazzura in 2011. The Colombian-born creative prides himself on designing with women in mind, combining comfort with glamour. It pays off – Gigi Hadid, Olivia Palermo, Rihanna and Giovanna Battaglia Englebert are all fans.

Oscar de la Renta

Another New York-based brand that the Duchess of Sussex has turned to on multiple occasions is Oscar de la Renta. Meghan looked like a real-life princess in the label's tulle gown, which she wore to the Australian Geographic Society Awards. She also opted for a ruffled toile de jouy midi from the brand (buy it here) for Harry’s cousin’s wedding last year – and she has also been spotted in the label’s signature origami tops and shift dresses when attending more relaxed events too.

Trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (professionally known as Oscar de la Renta) rose to fame in the 1960s when his couture pieces were repeatedly worn by Jackie Kennedy. The Dominican designer died in 2014 aged 82 but his successors, Monse co-creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, have continued his legacy by always using vibrant colours, ornate embellishment and hand-crafted embroidery in their collections.

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This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR UK.