Sometimes when royals wear trends we’re a little unsure. We kind of hope we never see Kate Middleton don boyfriend jeans, or for Meghan Markle to embrace neon, for example. But when it comes to a subtle fashion forward nod, we’re all for it. Case in point: the Duchess of Sussex’s latest shoe selection.
Always impeccably dressed, Markle’s latest outfit was no different, with the Duchess opting for a sleek dress from maternity label Hatch, a cotton trench by Oscar de la Renta and a boxy bag from Victoria Beckham for her visit to Smart Works in London. But it was her Gianvito Rossi shoes which really caught our attention.
Tall in their style (as is her signature) the pumps feature a patent plastic detail and a cowhide print, an unusual choice for the usually restrained royal. In fact, we’ve hardly ever seen the Duchess in a print — especially not in winter.
One of the biggest trends of the 2018 street style seasons, animal print was everywhere in New York, London, Milan and Paris. It showed up on skirts (made mass market famous by Realisation Par’s Naomi skirt), jackets (faux fur, of course), shoes and even T-shirts, with fashion girls embracing their wild side for the duration of the year. Now, everyone from your neighbour to your best friend is picking up on the trend, turning cities into veritable concrete jungles.
Their prints of choice? Leopard, snake and tiger are having moments, with virtually every designer opting with one of these three versions of stripes, dots and slithering scales. Cowhide was notably missing — until now.
Does Markle’s fashion forward take on the trend usher in a new era for animal print lovers? Perhaps the royal tick of approval will rocket the humble cowhide into leopard’s currently reigning spot. The Duchess does have certain swaying power with millions of women, so we certainly wouldn’t be surprised — and with February’s fashion month looming closer, we’ll be waiting!
