Meghan Markle May Be About to Enter a Luxurious Fashion Era We’ve Never Seen Before, per Insiders

Meghan Markle is typically someone who knows how to be tactful. Case in point? Her decision to delay the release of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, which was supposed to come out Jan. 15, following the devastating wildfires in Southern California. While fans admired seeing the former royal on the ground helping out, as she and Prince Harry did in Pasadena following the Eaton Fire, it seems even Markle isn’t immune to a little peer pressure — or at least the challenge of keeping up with the Joneses in her affluent Montecito neighborhood.

Living in a nearly $15 million estate in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country, Markle is surrounded by a world few of us can imagine. And according to insiders, her sense of style is about to reflect that shift. “Meghan has always loved designer clothes and fancy things, but the crowd she’s fallen in with in Montecito are next-level rich, and that has absolutely raised the bar for her when it comes to her own style,” an insider shared with InTouch Weekly. 

If you caught the Netflix trailer teasing her upcoming series (which also marked her return to social media), you probably noticed just how elevated Meghan’s style has become. A $13,400 Cartier necklace here, a $396 cashmere sweater layered over a $1,325 crewneck there — it’s a masterclass in what’s known as “quiet luxury.”

Think of it as the ultra-wealthy’s way of saying, “I’m rich, but I don’t need to shout about it.” It’s all about high-quality, understated clothing and accessories with barely-there branding, focusing on impeccable materials and craftsmanship over flashy logos. Subtle, but undeniably (and for most of us, prohibitively) expensive.

“She feels the need to keep up with her affluent neighbors as it’s part of her brand,” an insider explains. “She feels a lot of pressure to embody this royal image that she’s clinging to.” And maintaining that image comes with a hefty cost. Back in 2018, Markle reportedly spent $509,278 on clothes — more than five times what Kate Middleton shelled out that same year, mind you. Today, Markle’s wardrobe evolution has reached a new phase, and it seems she’s bringing in the pros to make it happen.

“That’s why she hired an A-list stylist,” the source adds. “She needs to exude quiet luxury at all times. It takes a lot of effort — and a ton of money — but in her view, it’s crucial to building this aspirational brand. People need to want to emulate her.”

As far as to whether or not that strategy will woo audiences or alienate them, only time will tell. With Love, Meghan premieres on Netflix on March 4. 

Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best fashion moments as a royal.