Meghan Markle commanded attention in a beautiful soft pink Barbie-style dress this week as she attended the baby shower of her close friend and Soho House's Chief Membership Officer, Samantha Stone.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, looked effortlessly elegant in the 'Alice' linen dress from Posse with a square neckline and straight cut. It is a rarity for Prince Harry's wife to wear the light pink hue but it is a shade that carries a deeper meaning and though quiet aesthetically, speaks loudly about Meghan and her sense of style.
"Wearing soft pink makes one come across as caring, nurturing, warm, and supportive," Marina Thomas, image consultant at Mantis tells HELLO!.
"These are very much traits that Meghan would have been wanting to project to the world while she was making an effort to fit in as a senior royal." As the colour expert highlights, Meghan wore soft pink on several occasions during her time as a working royal.
For example, she was seen in a blush-hued asymmetrical ensemble by Carolina Herrera for Trooping the Colour 2018.
© GettyThe former Suits actress also wore powder pink alongside the late Queen to the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 2018.
In the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, the mother of two spoke about deliberately wearing neutrals during her time as a senior working royal for fear of being seen as trying to overshadow other royal ladies.
© GettyMarina delves deeper into the symbolism in the soft hue she rarely wears now. "Baby pink represents nurture, compassion, empathetic love and self-care. However, it can also symbolise fragility, neediness and weakness," she explains. "Experiments have found pink to be a tranquilising colour that saps your energy and reduces aggression."
© GettyMeghan can be seen as turning a corner in how she tends to stay away from the colour since moving to Montecito in 2020. Though it suits Meghan well, fashion expert and stylist Oriona Robb says that she may steer clear of this hue as "it doesn't carry the same commanding or bold energy as the jewel tones she tends to favour."
© GettyOriona continues: "She often chooses colours like navy, emerald or burgundy, which have a certain gravitas and power perfect for someone in the public eye who's often advocating for important causes. Baby pink, while lovely, might not always align with the statement she wants to make, especially in her more formal or professional roles."
© ShutterstockSoft pink makes a quieter statement, but can be seen as more indicative of Meghan behind closed doors and the energy she radiates in public. Oriona tells us: "Baby pink can evoke a sense of femininity and kindness, which ties into her public image of empathy and warmth."
© GettyThough Meghan embraces bright hues these days, she has proved with her recent outing that soft pink garments can be a useful wardrobe staple.
© GettyDISCOVER: Meghan Markle shows off sculpted shoulders in cut-out dress in new Netflix series
Marina concludes: "People will either suit a more ballet or peachy pinks which are yellow-based if they suit warmer colours whereas people who suit cooler colours would suit more of an icy or dusty pink. Baby pink is a great option for if you haven't had your colours done and don't know which shade of pale pink is best for you because it is sure to look great on everyone."
