Have you noticed how Meghan Markle has been channeling Princess Diana’s sense of style in the sweetest ways? Most recently, she was spotted wearing a breathtaking floral dress that reminded everyone of Diana’s own “caring dress.” It looks as if Meghan isn’t just following in Diana’s fashionable footsteps; it is also emulating Diana’s caring approach.
Years ago, Princess Diana wore a shift dress by Bellville Sassoon in cobalt blue with bright watercolor carnations. She called it her “caring dress” because it brought cheer to her visits, especially during that time that she visited children in hospitals. As designer David Sassoon says, “She happened to wear that dress when visiting a hospital, and children seemed to clamour round and like it. If you are like the Princess of Wales, who loved children, you don’t want a strictly formal suit for a hospital visit. You pick a very informal dress with bright colours, which that dress was. The reaction is one of awe from young children.”
Fast-forward to March 2024, Meghan Markle chose a similar path when she visited a children’s hospital in Los Angeles. She went for a chiffon Oscar de la Renta dress, worth around £2,776, with a floral landscape and bold stems. It’s not just another garment hanging in her wardrobe; it’s one Meghan has worn in more personal moments with her children, as seen in the 2022 Netflix documentary series “Harry & Meghan.” It’s touching to see how she links gaps between public duties and personal memories, making her fashion choices all the more heartfelt.
Meghan’s take on the “caring dress” brings modernity to Diana’s legacy. Whereas Diana had taken some heat for repeating her dress, Meghan’s floral ensemble feels decidedly new. Picture her barefoot, holding her son Archie with his little feet kicking every which way, just as she was in those Netflix scenes. Moments like that make her seem relatable, even when she’s in designer duds.
Furthermore, Meghan’s latest fashion gestures are tributes to Diana’s memorable looks: from chic business attire in the form of a slick blazer ensemble, which brings one back to memories of Diana’s chic shopping outfit in 1994, to the choice of accessories like Diana’s aquamarine ring, Meghan is keeping Diana alive in subtle ways but powerful in meaning. During her trip to Nigeria, Meghan donned gold earrings and a Cartier Tank Française watch, both previously owned by Diana. This watch is a particular favorite of Meghan’s, and she was spotted wearing it frequently. Its inclusion in her outfit really gave her overall demeanor an added touch of Diana’s timeless elegance.
At yet another function, the one during which the Ripple of Hope Awards took place, Meghan managed to look stunning in a Louis Vuitton bardot dress, but it was really an aquamarine ring that stole the show. This is an heirloom ring from Diana, featuring an impressive emerald-cut aquamarine set between delicate solitaire diamonds on a band of 24-carat yellow gold. It may amount to as much as $90,000 but symbolizes inestimable sentimental value for not only the beauty it possesses but because this was a special piece for Diana too.
The first time Princess Diana wore the aquamarine ring was at the 1996 preview reception for Christie’s Auction of her dresses, followed by some fundraising dinner in Sydney, also in 1996. That Meghan wore this very ring to enormous events her evening wedding reception and Ripple of Hope Awards speaks volumes about how she feels with regard to Diana.
These touches are not confined to jewelry alone. Meghan appeared at her wedding reception in a Stella McCartney halter dress a beautiful gesture toward Diana’s rather famous penchant for evening gowns that showed off arms and figure very well. Obviously, Meghan’s choices here are not about fashion alone; they are Legacy in style, grace, and compassion.
If any of you are onto Meghan working her floral dress vibe without the associated hefty price tag, then ample alternatives are available on the high street. John Lewis, & Other Stories, and H&M have some beautiful florals and landscapes that will bring a touch of royalty into your wardrobe.
Whether in a highly decorated floral dress or through an item of jewelry that is meaningful to her, Meghan Markle continues to pay tribute through her fashion choices to Princess Diana. This really stands to remind us how stylishness can be beyond the cloth; sometimes, it’s even in honor of those left behind.