The Duchess of Sussex’s charity clothing range was launched online this morning hours before its official launch – and it’s already selling out.
Meghan, 38, formally presented the five-piece capsule collection, which benefits the Smart Works charity, at an event this afternoon, marking her return to official engagements following the birth of son Archie in May.
However this morning Marks & Spencer and John Lewis – two of the four retailers taking part in the project – put two of the five pieces from the collection on sale.
The M&S website has a £19.50 ‘Smart Set’ crepe shift dress available in two colours – blue and black. John Lewis unveiled a £109 tote bag from the ‘Smart Set Capsule Collection’ in tan and black but it has already sold out in both colours.
Both items, thought to have been released on the retailers’ websites this morning, reference the Duchess of Sussex and the Smart Works charity in the product description, alongside a quote from the royal: ‘Not a handout, a hand, held.’
Jigsaw soon followed, releasing a tailored one-button jacket costing £199, and a pair of slim tapered trousers, retailing at £120.
The final item from the capsule collection to drop was the husband shirt, costing £125, and designed by Meghan and Harry’s close mutual friend Misha Nonoo – rumoured to have set them up on their first date.
The first pieces from the Duchess of Sussex’s charity clothing range are available to buy online Among them is this £19.50 shift dress from M&S (pictured)
Jigsaw soon followed, releasing a tailored one-button jacket costing £199, and a pair of slim tapered trousers, retailing at £120
The final item from the capsule collection to drop, was the husband shirt, costing £125, and designed by Meghan and Harry’s close mutual friend Misha Nonoo
The range has been created in collaboration with M&S, John Lewis, Jigsaw, and Meghan’s designer friend Misha Nonoo.
For every item bought during the sale of the collection, expected to last at least two weeks, one will be donated to Smart Works, which offers clothing and interview coaching to unemployed women.
It was already known the collection would include professional pieces like a shirt, trousers, blazer, dress and bag, but the exact designs had been kept a closely guarded secret. Today it was also announced that there are just five pieces in total.
The dress and tote bag seen online suggest the collection aims to deliver a ‘classic’ aesthetic that caters to a range of body types, according to celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage.
The Duchess made her first public engagement since the birth of son Archie today to launch the limited edition clothing
The M&S Smart Set dress comes in three different colours: blue, black (pictured) and red
Both items, thought to have been released on the retailers’ websites this morning, reference the Duchess of Sussex by name in the product description. John Lewis (top) and M&S
Made from ‘subtly grained and soft-to-touch leather’, the bag is described as ‘a lightweight, versatile and practical weekday accessory for the modern woman’.
The ‘generously-sized bag’ has an open-top design with ‘plenty of room to fit whatever you need to get you through the working day’.
It has a large exterior slip pocket and two phone-sized slip pockets, one card slot and a zipped pocket inside, and two shoulder straps and a detachable and adjustable crossbody strap.
A spokesperson for John Lewis & Partners said: ‘The first release of the Smart Set Tote has sold out online, with a second release coming shortly. However we have plenty of stock in our shops across the country.
‘Customers can also download the app to check which stores have availability.’
Elsewhere, described as ‘a staple in your autumn wardrobe’ and ‘a perfect choice all year round too’, the dress is ‘cut from crepe that handily doesn’t require ironing, the shift shape flatters your figure with its clean and simple lines’.
Speaking to Femail, celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage said: ‘Meghan Markle is known for her love of the form fitting and attention grabbing dresses so to see such a departure from her all eyes on me philosophy is a welcome step for me.
‘The shift dress is maybe underwhelming from a fashion point of view but it’s a dress that will look great on most body shapes.
‘The gathers round the neckline add some welcome detail and the loose fitting sleeve is a firm favourite for M&S shoppers.’
He added: ‘A classic leather tote is a bag every woman needs and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s classic styling makes it the perfect all round bag.’
It was previously noted that the bag was designed so that it could fit a laptop – a must for many busy professional women on-the-go.
According to BAZAAR, Meghan contacted the retailers directly with a surprise call, after pitching the idea of creating the collection to be accessible for every woman.
An insider said: ‘She wanted the basics of a capsule collection to always be available. Pieces that were more mix and match-able rather than just one new outfit.
‘She brought it to life immediately. After consulting with Smart Works about their needs, she contacted bosses from each of the brands directly—cold calls!’.
And according to the source, Meghan has the whole collection in her own wardrobe, with the sold-out tote among her favourites.
An insider working on the bag with her revealed: ‘The most important thing was it had to fit a CV [resume]’.
Revealed: Stylist’s take on the first designs
Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage said: ‘Meghan Markle is known for her love of the form fitting and attention grabbing dresses so to see such a departure from her all eyes on me philosophy is a welcome step for me
The shift dress is maybe underwhelming from a fashion point of view but it’s a dress that will look great on most body shapes.
‘The gathers round the neckline add some welcome detail and the loose fitting sleeve is a firm favourite for M&S shoppers.’
He added: ‘A classic leather tote is a bag every woman needs and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s classic styling makes it the perfect all round bag.’
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White added: ‘The style of Meghans collection I think has an essence of her and her style. ‘They have a nice balance of modern, casual and trendy and items that can be worn everyday.
‘I feel that she has really thought about what items are in this collection and made it affordable and wearable for every day women.
‘The price suits the brands/ stores that she has partnered with and I feel represents that type of people who are inspired by/ and are like Megan.
‘I do believe that this collection will go down well with items selling out and that there will be a high demand for the collection.
‘Megan has become a fashion icon in not just the UK but around the world.’
And the anticipated collection has racked up a mixed reaction from followers, with many welcoming the Duchess back and praising the ‘simple and sleek’ style.
One follower wrote: ‘Impressive Duchess Meghan! I like the simplicity and sleek design clothing. A confidence building to women who are going back to work.’
Another added: ‘Congrats Meghan and @smartworkscharityfor this amazing initiative. It’s practical, thoughtful and gorgeous too. You and Harry are the Forces for Change that we need.’
‘Gorgeous pieces! Congratulations on a very successful endeavor!’, another said, while one wrote: ‘The clothing are well tailored..nothing cheap about a well made affordable for all .’
However some claimed the collection was ‘boring’, and pointed out Oxfam’s initiative challenging consumers not to buy clothes throughout September, in order to reduce clothes waste and the carbon footprint.
One follower wrote: ‘A couple of forgettable, underwhelming items. I guess that makes them versatile? Does versatile also have to be boring AF (sic)?’.
Another said: ‘Oxfam is challenging people to buy no new clothing for the 30 days of September in an effort to reduce this environmental impact.
‘They hope that the campaign will draw attention to the problem of clothing waste but also show consumers that second-hand clothes can be fashionable too.UK charity, Oxfam, has launched a campaign to get shoppers to stop buying new clothes this September.
‘Secondhand September asks consumers to take a pledge to buy no new pieces of apparel for 30 days.’
And the anticipated collection has racked up a mixed reaction from followers, with many welcoming the Duchess back and praising the ‘simple and sleek’ style
However some claimed the collection was ‘boring’, and pointed out Oxfam’s initiative challenging consumers not to buy clothes throughout September, in order to reduce clothes waste and the carbon footprint
The full collection was launched by the Duchess of Sussex in person this afternoon.
Meghan privately visited Smart Works several times before being named as its royal patron in January and has a long-standing commitment to supporting women’s empowerment.
She announced the project benefiting the charity in her September issue of British Vogue, which was given the tagline ‘Forces For Change’.
Writing in the fashion bible she said: ‘The reason I was drawn to Smart Works is that it re-frames the idea of charity as community, which, for me, is incredibly important: it’s a network of women supporting and empowering other women in their professional pursuits.’
Smart Works has helped more than 11,000 women and aims to dress 3,500 this year across their two London offices, and additional bases in Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham and Newcastle.
It has a team of 300 trained volunteers and helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives.
Meghan, 38, formally presents the five-piece capsule collection, which benefits the Smart Works charity, at an event this afternoon, marking her return to official engagements following the birth of son Archie in May
The Duchess of Sussex arrives to launch the Smart Works capsule collection at John Lewis in Oxford Street, London
