Meghan Markle arrives for charity clothing range launch as maternity leave ends

Meghan Markle is marking her first official public engagement since Archie's birth today by launching her Smart Works charity clothing range.

Arriving at the launch, Meghan looked stunning in a crisp white shirt paired with black, tapered trousers and heels – two pieces from her capsule wardrobe.

The Duchess has worked with her designer friend Misha Nonoo on the collection – as well as High Street stores Jigsaw, John Lewis and Partners, Marks and Spencer.

The timeless series of outfits – known as a capsule collection – that can be worn in the workplace have been created in aid of Smart Works, a charity providing training and interview clothes to unemployed women in need, and has Meghan as its royal patron.

The essential Smart Set work wear includes a shirt, trousers, blazer, dress and bag – and for every item bought during the sale of the collection, expected to last at least two weeks, one will be donated to Smart Works.


Meghan appeared to be wearing the Misha Nonoo shirt and Jigsaw trousers from the collection – with a pair of Diana's butterfly earrings for accessories – as she arrived at the John Lewis department store in London's Oxford Street.

Speaking about the project, Meghan said on her and Harry's Instagram account: "Since moving to the UK, it has been deeply important to me to meet with communities and organisations on the ground doing meaningful work and to try to do whatever I can to help them amplify their impact.

"It was just last September that we launched the ‘Together’ cookbook with the women of the Hubb Kitchen in Grenfell. Today, a year later, I am excited to celebrate the launch of another initiative of women supporting women, and communities working together for the greater good.

Meghan announced the project during her guest editorship of British Vogue.


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."

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.

The Duchess's friend Nonoo is credited with introducing Harry to his future wife via a blind date and she had a VIP seat at the royal wedding.



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