My fashion queens: Meghan Markle shares new pictures of her secret trips to women's charity after revealing plans to support it by launching her own clothing line at Marks & Spencer
- Sussex Royal Instagram account posted a series of new photos online today for the charity collaboration
- The new initiative was announced following the launch of Meghan's British Vogue campaign this week
- After 'quiet visits' to the charity, the Duchess decided to support the project which helps vulnerable women
The Sussex Royal Instagram account has posted a series of new photos, focusing on Meghan Markle's collaboration with Smart Works.
It comes as the Duchess revealed plans to launch her own women's clothing line with retailers including Marks & Spencer.
The new line will be in aid of charity and was announced following the launch of Meghan's Vogue magazine campaign.
The caption below the photos states that after some 'quiet visits' to the charity over the last year, the Duchess was keen to help to charity which helps vulnerable women find jobs.
Meghan Markle pictured above with a representitative of Smart Works while she is heavily pregnant. The charity Smart Works is in place to help vulnerable woman have the tools to suceeed in job interviews
The account posted a series of photos in which Meghan seems to be pregnant in most. In the picture above she seems to be browsing through clothing rails
Keep the cold at bay like Meghan in a vintage Courrèges coat
Much like the Duchess of Cambridge did in the months after her marriage, the Duchess of Sussex is really starting to establish a signature style.
These Aquazzura shoes are a flat version of the court heels she loves so much, and this coat is something we've spotted before!
It's the Courreges design that Meghan was pictured wearing when in New York for her baby shower, sourced at celebrity favorite William Vintage. It's the perfect piece for layering over skinny jeans, and the oversized fit means it was ideal for accommodating the royal bump! How pretty is the matelasse silk fabric and dipped hem too?
Of course, this retro treasure from the 1960's isn't readily available to buy, but click (right) to shop William Vintage.
Or layer up like Meghan with the help of our edit below instead. We've mixed maternity and non-maternity options to make copying this look a doddle!
Meghan (pictured above embracing people from the charity) has been praised for her work with female oriented campaigns
It states: 'The Duchess was moved by the impactful work being done by this non profit organisation that helps women into the workforce, equipping them with both the skills and clothes they need to feel job-ready.
'Throughout her visits she noticed that while the donations were plentiful, they were also notably a combination of mismatched items and colours which weren't always the right stylistic choices or sizes that didn't necessarily 'suit' the job at hand: to make a woman feel confident and inspired as she walked into her job interview.
'As a result, launching this autumn, The Duchess will be supporting a collective to help equip the women of Smart Works with the key workwear essentials they need as they enter into the workplace.'
The post stated highlighted an article which will appear in this month's British Vogue - which Meghan is guest editing. Meghan is pictured above with the CEO of Smart Works, Kate Stephens
The inspirational post states that the new initiative will remind people that they are 'in it together' and said that brands have come together to work for a 'force for good
The post added that the initiative will be supported by 'four generous brands who share the vision to empower the women of Smart Works' as they venture into the job market.
It continued: 'The brands have come together to work towards this united force for good, '[reframing] the idea of charity as community,' as The Duchess writes in a piece for this month's British Vogue.
'They will follow the 1:1 model where an item from the collection purchased is an item shared with a woman of Smart Works because 'not only does this allow us to be part of each other's story; it reminds us we are in it together.'
The post then went on to thank brands such as John Lewis and Partners, Marks & Spencer, Misha NoNoo and Jigsaw.
Meghan Markle (left) and Misha Nonoo at an awards ceremony in 2015. Meghan has persuaded major British retailers Marks & Spencer , John Lewis and Jigsaw - along with her designer friend, Mischa Nonoo - to create a ‘capsule’ collection of women’s workwear
Signing off the post, it encourages social media users to check out the September issue of Vogue to find out more information about the campaign.
In the new posts she is wearing the Courreges William Vintage coat, which she had also worn to her baby shower, as well as a pair of flat shoes by Aquazzura.
However despite the charitable post from the Duchess, they tagged the Smart Works Charity incorrectly in the post tagging it @SmartWorksChairity, rather than @SmartWorksCharity.
In January the Duchess was appointed as the Royal patron of the Charity.
The new photos with Smart Works comes as it was accounced that the Duchess had persuaded major British retailers Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw - along with her designer friend, Mischa Nonoo - to create a ‘capsule’ collection of women’s workwear which will benefit the charity.
Each time a piece is bought from one of the retailers, a ‘like for like’ item will be donated to the charity.
Meghan Markle (pictured above) is said to have been working on her project for Vogue whilst on maternity leave and PR experts have said it was an opportunity that could not be missed
Meghan herself has said she will not be on the cover of the magazine. Her guest edits have been described as a 'win win' for both parties
Smart Works, one of Meghan’s first patronages, helps women, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, get interview-ready by providing them with a new outfit and coaching from a team of volunteer mentors.
Further details of the clothing line will be released in the autumn, according to a spokesman for the duchess.
But it is not Meghan’s first foray into fashion.
While working as an actress on the legal drama Suits in Toronto, before her marriage to Prince Harry, she had her own clothing line with local retailer, Reitmans, featuring vegan leather trousers.
In the September issue of British Vogue, which she has guest edited, Meghan writes: ‘When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes. Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colours, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.
‘To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe.
‘Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together. ‘
A royal source said confirmed the idea had been Meghan’s and said the collection would be available later this year but no further details could be given at present.
This is while one of the interviews in Meghan's September issue of Vogue was revealed to have been a candid conversation between Prince Harry and Dr Jane Goodall.
The conversation tapped on how many children he and the Duchess would have as well as important matters such as race and the environment.
For Meghan's September issue of Vogue, Prince Harry spoke with Dr. Jane Goodall for a conversation on the environment
The pair met in Windsor and discussed key issues such as race and even tapped on how many children the Duke and Duchess would have
The interview also touched on the huge amount of conservation work that the Duke and Duchess do for animal charities around the world
This is while the go-getting duchess’s idea with Smart Works follows on from her collaboration with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London, a communal kitchen that supports members of the community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to bring out a cookbook that has raised more than £500,000 so far,
Smart works offers a two hour dressing and coaching service for unemployed women with confirmed job interviews.
Each client has a personalised styling session with two Smart Works volunteer stylists, receiving a complete outfit of high quality clothes and accessories for their specific job interview, which are free and hers to keep.
After her dressing, each client receives a one-to-one interview preparation and coaching session with an experienced HR professional or senior manager.
Once a client is successful at interview, they are welcomed back to receive five additional pieces of clothing. This means that they can start their new role with a capsule working wardrobe which will see them through until their first pay cheque.
Meghan writes of the charity: ‘The reason why I was drawn to Smart Works is that it reframed the idea of charity as community.....it’s a network of women supporting and empowering other women in their professional pursuits.’
It’s was Meghan’s passion for Smart Works that set the whole British Vogue ball rolling and promoted her to approach its editor in chief, Edward Enninful, she has revealed.
She writes:‘It’s the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the earnestness of the staff and, most of all, the blushing, bashful and beautiful smile that crosses a client’s face when she sees herself in the mirror, that I have found so profoundly compelling.’
Mischa Nonoo is one of Meghan’s closest friends and is rumoured to have introduced her to Prince Harry as she was once married to Alexander Gilkes, a royal pal.
Meghan famously wore her £135 white ‘husband’ shirt the first time she publicly stepped out with the prince at the Toronto Invictus Games.
But she has been accused of cashing in on the friendship by advertising items worn by Meghan and her royal connection.
The husband shirt was advertised as the ‘one that sealed the deal’ with with a princess emoji in a sponsored post on Instagram.
The Duchess has had a whirlwind 48 hours following the various articles which are being released for the September issue of Vogue which is set to be a boost for the Duchess's publicity as well as a money maker for both the royal family and the Vogue brand.
PR experts yesterday said that the Duchess of Sussex's editorship of Vogue is a huge triumph for her 'global brand', but will jar with many of the Royal Family's traditional followers.
Meghan has sent shockwaves through the showbiz world this week by using a front page of the fashion magazine to promote 15 female 'trailblazers' who stand for causes including body positivity, transgender rights and climate change.
The move is a radical break from the front covers of the Duchess and Cambridge and Princess Diana and has caused some controversy among many royal fans.
It emerged today that, despite trumpeting a number of good causes, none of the money made from the worldwide sales of the magazine will go to charity, despite the fact that some experts have said it's a deal that could rake in the pounds for both parties.
Speaking to MailOnline PR expert Anthony Burr said: 'It's a figure that runs in to the millions. British Vogue now has made a statement on what direction the new editor will take it and that opens it up to a whole new audience.
'This edition alone will undoubtedly be a big seller. Advertisers would have paid top billing for prime space.
'And for the Duchess of Sussex it means she will be taken even more seriously as an agent of change - and this will help her charities financially. It's a win win for both parties.'
This is while PR expert Mark Borkowski also told MailOnline the Vogue editorship and the huge global response was 'priceless' in PR terms, but contrasted sharply with what the Royal Family has traditional represented.
He said: 'It is very on-brand for what we are seeing, this is a change brand at the heart of the Royal Family.
'She continues to virtue signal, but the question is what the hard-edged royal followers who have come to expect certain access will think of the lack of pictures of the royal baby and the business around Frogmore House.'
He said the move towards a message of change rather than tradition would chime better with younger people, but risked upsetting an older generation.
He added: 'This is similar to Lady Diana, who was very different, at that time, to what the public were used to, and caused some disruption. It is very different from what say Sophie Wessex or Kate Middleton have offered.'
Vogue, which is edited by Edward Enninful has confirmed Meghan was not paid for her guest editorship and none of the money raised by magazine's advertising or cover price will go to charity.
Vogue's owner Conde Nast however contributes to good causes throughout the year. For example, last year they supported an event at which clothes worn by celebrities were auctioned for the LGBT youth homelessness charity the Albert Kennedy Trust.
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