Meghan Markle Reimagines the Power Suit at the Invictus Games

Always the minimalist, Meghan Markle approaches each ensemble from a “less is more” perspective, even when the designer is celebrated for bombast. Though Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli can create jaw-dropping fashion spectacles—the custom gown with a built-in cape he crafted for Beyoncé’s appearance at the Oscars this March is a testament to that—the Duchess prefers his understated creations. After wearing his modish white mini-dress onstage at the Global Citizen Live concert in 2021 and filling her maternity wardrobe with bespoke pieces from the brand, Markle has kept Piccioli’s work in heavy rotation, and this morning she debuted her most elegant Valentino outfit to date.

Visiting the Hague to celebrate the competitors of 2022’s Invictus Games, Markle wore a double-breasted white suit that could have been pulled straight out of Bianca Jagger’s closet. While her tailored look felt timeless, she added new verve by playing with proportion. In an oversized blazer and roomy wide-leg pants, the Duchess’s outfit prioritized comfort without losing any of its visual appeal. Taking her stark color scheme from head to toe, she added on a pair of coordinated heels from Aquazurra, a delicate diamond pendant necklace, and Valentino’s newly minted it-bag, the One Stud.

Piccioli’s designs gave the royal a stylish return to the spotlight. Under the radar since accepting her NAACP Award in a dazzling Christopher John Rogers gown back in February, Markle’s appearance at the Invictus Games ceremony was her first public event in more than a month. Given that the games are the Duke of Sussex’s passion project, we can expect to see even more of her—and her Valentino wardrobe—when the games begin tomorrow.