Meghan Markle arrived at the Time 100 Summit with Prince Harry, but it wasn’t her speech that captured everyone's attention—it was her Ralph Lauren suit. She wore a light brown silk-linen blend ensemble that cost nearly £3,700, paired with accessories so extravagant, it looked more like the launch of a fashion house than an appearance at a panel discussion.
Breaking it down, the Ralph Lauren blazer and wide-leg trousers totaled £3,650, her Veronica Beard belt cost £135, her Stuart Weitzman heels were £370, Princess Diana’s Cartier watch was valued at £21,000, her Tabayer gold earrings added another £450, her Cartier bracelet was worth £7,000, and she wore a Bentley & Skinner tennis bracelet, a gift from King Charles, priced at £4,900. In total, Meghan walked in draped in over £41,000 worth of fashion, but despite the hefty price tag, the look didn’t exactly serve.
The outfit's vibe felt confused, and the wrinkles were plentiful. Honestly, it looked as though Meghan had pulled the suit from a laundry basket moments before stepping on stage. This is where the inevitable comparison to Angelina Jolie comes in. Jolie, often hailed as the queen of quiet luxury, has also worn oversized suits, but with a mastery that turns simple pieces into high fashion. Whether she's in neutral tones or sharp whites, Jolie’s suits are always tailored, structured, and crucially, properly pressed. You’ll never catch her looking like she's about to mop the floor after brunch.
Even fashion enthusiasts agreed: while Jolie’s suits may feature relaxed silhouettes, they are worn with deliberate elegance. Sleeves are rolled with intention, not bunched up like she's prepping to scrub dishes. Her trousers skim the floor gracefully rather than dragging like an old curtain. There’s a clear distinction between wearing an oversized outfit and being overwhelmed by it, and unfortunately, Meghan’s look fell firmly into the latter category.
The irony here is impossible to ignore. This is the same Meghan Markle who once voiced frustration over being restricted to neutral tones as a working royal, and now she’s out here wrapped head-to-toe in beige, resembling a crumpled burrito more than a polished speaker. The disconnect between the cost of her outfit and the final presentation was louder than the applause she received on stage.
Many have noted that Meghan's petite frame demands careful styling when it comes to voluminous pieces. Wide-leg trousers and a boxy blazer can be a powerful fashion statement, but only when the tailoring is precise and the fabric behaves. Linen, in particular, is notoriously difficult to manage—it wrinkles if you so much as look at it wrong. Without a proper ironing session and a bit of starch, even the most luxurious linen suit can end up looking like a discount rack find. Even Angelina, with her statuesque frame and minimalist aesthetic, only makes it work when every detail is perfect.
That's the real lesson: know your body, understand your fabrics, and realize that style doesn’t come from throwing money at a problem. It requires thought, effort, and understanding. Angelina didn’t just wear her suits—she owned them. She didn’t need £40,000 in jewelry to distract from poor tailoring; her elegance spoke for itself. Meghan, by contrast, looked like she was playacting at being a fashion icon without fully committing to the role. In the end, it’s not about the designer label—it’s about the fit, the fabric, and the finesse. Meghan may have the resources, but Angelina clearly has the mastery.
