From a dainty pair of ballet flats to a flowy, burgundy wrap dress, Meghan Markleâs fashion choices during the Invictus Games in Toronto has style-watchers taking note.
âShe just has a great sense of style and a wonderful, natural kind of sense of style,â Canadian fashion expert Jeanne Beker told CTVNews.ca on Thursday.
Opening ceremony
Even though she was seated rows away from her boyfriend Prince Harry, the founder of the eight-day event for injured military personnel and veterans, during the opening ceremony on Sept. 23, Markle stole the spotlight with a flirty burgundy chiffon dress from the Canadian boutique Aritzia.
with a pleated skirt retails for the price of $185.
Although the âtruffleâ shade Markle sported in the stands has since sold out, fans of the U.S. actor can still purchase the same midi dress in black, grey or pink.
Markle covered her shoulders with an on-trend matching leather jacket from Mackage. The 100 per cent lamb leather moto-style jacket is currently only available in black for around $860, according to the labelâs website.
However, Markleâs plum-coloured style from is expected to debut soon.
Meghan Markle wore a jacket. Via
â What Meghan Wore (@WhatMeghanWore)
Beker said she was thrilled to see the actor supporting two Canadian fashion brands at the highly publicized event.
âSheâs not really Canadian so itâs not like I can expect her to wear tons of Canadian labels, but every time she does Iâll sure be cheering from the sidelines because I think itâs a great platform for them,â she said.
In keeping with her monochromatic palette, the Toronto-based Suits actor also held a burgundy, velvet clutch as she clapped and cheered throughout the ceremony.
First official outing with Prince Harry
Two days later, the prince and his 36-year-old girlfriend caused a firestorm of attention when they casually strolled down the sidewalk hand-in-hand on their way to a wheelchair tennis event on Monday. The lovebirds were in plain view for the cameras of photographers and fans who managed to capture every inch of Markleâs chic ensemble.
With an expertly-tucked oversized white button-down shirt and ripped jeans, Markle was the epitome of classic cool as she walked alongside Prince Harry, Beker said.
âItâs just her being very real. She looked smashing,â the fashion expert said. âShe doesnât look like anyone styled her.â
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle make first official public appearance together
â Âéśš´ŤĂ˝ (@CTVNews)
The actorâs $230 cotton poplin attracted the most attention for its suggestive name âThe Husband Shirt.â
The excitable British media, who have predicted an imminent royal engagement for months now, were quick to interpret Markleâs fashion choice as a not-so-subtle message alluding to the coupleâs future. Beker, on the other hand, dismissed the notion as nonsense.
âI donât think she was sending any secret messages there,â she said. âThatâs really a little too contrived.â
Perhaps the second-most buzzed-about item Markle wore that day was her fashionably . The labelâs Looker Fray ankle jeansâ feature a raw hem and a strategic ripped hole in one knee.
Headlines questioning the actorâs choice of jeans as the girlfriend of a prince ran wild in the days following the coupleâs outing in Toronto. Some online commenters derided the jeans as being unfit for a potential future royal while others compared her to Prince Williamâs wife Kate Middleton and her famous polished style.
I'm thinking that you shouldn't be wearing ripped jeans while out walking in public with a Prince.
â Lucy Tantalo (@littlelu1976)
"Kate Middleton has not only never worn ripped jeans, she doesnât understand the question."
â Becca Skoch (@RebeccaSkoch)
Even though she wasnât a fan of the ripped jeans herself, Beker said she wished the public wouldnât compare Markle and Middleton because theyâre âtwo strong individuals.â
Markle topped off her look with a pair of $200 from Finlay & Co. and a $617 from Sarah Flint, which has sold out in every size of the âSaddle Vachettaâ colour she wore.
The $205 the actor carted during her appearance with the prince has also, unsurprisingly, sold out.
âSheâs becoming a bona fide fashion icon,â Beker said of Markle.
Closing ceremony
Markle celebrated the end of the week-long Invictus event at the closing ceremony held at the Air Canada Centre. The American actor arrived in a long trench coat, which she shed to reveal a dark top and jeans combination.