Meghan Markle’s sartorial nod to her son Archie

The Sussexes are currently in Canada for the Invictus Games, and one of the Duchess’s looks in particular caught the eye: a Givenchy coat with a simple and elegant cut, which she had already worn in 2018 when she announced her first pregnancy.

Recycling an outfit is never a trivial matter for a public figure. However, some influential women break free from convention by reinterpreting their favorite pieces, transforming their clothing choices into subtle nods to significant moments in their lives. This is the case for Meghan Markle , currently in Canada for the Invictus Games. During a surprise appearance at a hockey game, she opted for a black Givenchy coat with burgundy lapels, an iconic piece of her wardrobe that evokes a particular memory: she had worn it in 2018 during a royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji, alongside Prince Harry . This same coat accompanied her as she boarded a flight to Sydney, the day before the announcement of her first pregnancy (Archie). For this new appearance, she paired it in an almost identical spirit, with a black Valentino turtleneck , sober skinny jeans and matching boots from the same house.

When personalities start recycling 

This gesture, which seems trivial to the average person, is far from being a habit for public women. Subject to strict codes and protocols, they generally wear different outfits for each appearance. However, in recent years, several influential figures have dared to break this unspoken rule. Carla Bruni recently recycled an outfit for the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris , while Kate Middleton and Letizia of Spain are also fans of reusing clothing. But Meghan Markle is particularly distinguished by this habit, regularly bringing out iconic pieces from her wardrobe, thus triggering a wave of speculation about their potential hidden meanings. At the Invictus Games, she reinvested her Givenchy coat, as she did during her tour in Nigeria , where she appeared in a sleeveless yellow Carolina Herrera dress, already worn for Archie’s first birthday and when announcing her second pregnancy. More recently, last October, she chose a red dress with a plunging neckline by Carolina Herrera for a fundraising gala for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a model that she had already worn in 2021 at the Salute to Freedom gala in New York. Such a choice can be interpreted as an eco-responsible approach in the face of the climate emergency and the ravages of textile overconsumption. It can also reflect a desire to get closer to the public by adopting a more accessible attitude, or simply respond to a personal desire not to let your clothes sit in your closet.