Meghan Markle's recent three-day trip to Nigeria showcased not only her elegance but also a willingness to embrace vibrant colors and styles. During her visit, the Duchess of Sussex vowed to incorporate more color into her wardrobe to better align with the local fashion scene. "I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more color, so I can fit in with all of you and your incredible fashion," Markle shared at a panel conference in Lagos.
Let's delve into some of her most memorable looks from the trip.
A Nod to Neutrality
Markle kickstarted her trip to Nigeria on a high sartorial note with a nude Heidi Merrick maxi dress. In addition to her go-to jewelry and her beaded wooden necklace, chocolate Emme Parsons sandals and vintage Lanvin earrings rounded out her first of eight ensembles.
While en route to a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja, Markle re-wore a white matching suit set from Altuzarra - a co-ord she’s worn for various press-related events throughout the years. Underneath her flared trousers peeped a tan pair of suede Manolo Blahniks which added a bit of color to her final ‘fit.
Solidifying her second outfit of the day, Markle attended a special reception at the Defense Headquarters Officers Mess in Abuja in a timeless little white column dress from St. Agni (that you can still shop online). She paid another homage to Princess Diana with her jewelry - this time with a diamond cross necklace from the late Princess’ personal collection.
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Meghan Markle in a white dress from St. Agni, paying homage to Princess Diana with a diamond cross necklace.
Embracing Color and Culture
Departing from her neutral-loving ways, Markle co-hosted a Women in Leadership event in a vibrant red maxi dress courtesy of Oríré that’s surprisingly still available to shop.
A few hours later, at the Lagos State Governor's Office, Markle was photographed in her most elevated look of the weekend - a yellow floor-length maxi dress from Carolina Herrera. The Suits alum was gifted a striped green shawl from the governor’s wife, which she draped over her shoulder. From there, Markle opted for nude Aquazzura peep-toe pumps, a 14k gold choker necklace from Aurate, hammered disc earrings from Jennifer Meyer, and an assortment of chic bracelets, of course.
She paired the wrap skirt with a classic white button-down from Carolina Herrera as well as the same bronze Burberry sandals.
Meghan Markle in a vibrant red maxi dress from Oríré.
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The Halter-Neck Silk Maxi Dress
For her final event at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos, Markle was the picture of elegance in a halter-neck silk maxi dress from Johanna Ortiz. She accessorized with bow-embellished Burberry sandals, her must-have Heidi Merrick sunglasses, and her trademark bracelet stack (with the Cartier Love Bracelet front and center).
Meghan Markle in a halter-neck silk maxi dress from Johanna Ortiz at a charity polo game.
A few hours later, at the Lagos State Governor's Office, Markle was photographed in her most elevated look of the weekend - a yellow floor-length maxi dress from Carolina Herrera. The Suits alum was gifted a striped green shawl from the governor’s wife, which she draped over her shoulder. From there, Markle opted for nude Aquazzura peep-toe pumps, a 14k gold choker necklace from Aurate, hammered disc earrings from Jennifer Meyer, and an assortment of chic bracelets, of course.
On the same day, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a charity polo match, for which Markle changed into another Johanna Ortiz dress. (Do I sense a new favorite designer?) Instead of black-and-white like the day before, this dress has a taupe floral pattern, with a plunging halter neckline and a matching scarf, which Megan wore loosely around her neck. She finished the ensemble with a pair of red beaded earrings and her favorite Heidi Merrick sunglasses.
Meghan Markle donned a breezy beige floor-length dress with a deep V-neck and a halter neckline for day three's polo match at the Lagos Polo Club. The gorgeous gown had a subtle floral pattern and a matching scarf that Meghan dangled backward over her neck. She wore her hair in a chic updo with some tendrils framing her face.
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First Lady of Nigeria Comments on Meghan Markle’s Fashion Choices
People are debating whether the First Lady of Nigeria subtly criticized Meghan Markle for her clothing choices at an event celebrating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year in office. Some people believed the mention of “nakedness” was a reference to Meghan Markle’s outfits in Nigeria, particularly a halter-style dress with a V-neck and a separate black-and-white dress with cut-out details below the chest and a front slit, both designed by Johanna Ortiz.
Here's a summary of the key points:
- Some believe the mention of "nakedness" in Senator Tinubu's speech was a reference to Meghan's outfits during her visit.
- During the visit, the Duchess of Sussex wore a cream halter-style dress with a V-neck, which many considered too revealing
- In her speech, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s culture from a young age instead of idolizing foreign trends.
In her speech, Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the importance of “salvaging” Nigerian children from what she perceived as the “nakedness” of American culture. She said, “The message here is that we have to salvage our children. We see the way they dress. They keep forgetting that Nigeria, we are beautiful. You can see what they showcase on the stage. I said, ‘We are fashionable; we see what is going on.’“We are not having the Met Gala. And everyone, the nakedness, is just everywhere, and the men are well-clothed. So we have to do something. Tell them we don’t accept nakedness in our culture. That is not beautiful. It’s not beautiful at all.“And they’re all beautiful girls, but they should be confident in who they are.“They do not want to mimic and try to emulate film stars from America. They don’t know where they come from.“Why did Meghan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with us. We know who we are. Don’t lose who you are.”
However, others jumped in defense of the Duchess of Sussex, arguing that the “nakedness” part of the speech wasn’t a reference to her. “She’s talking about Nigerian girls dressing like the Kardashians. She even said, ‘Look at Meghan, who came here,’ implying even M was interested in the country. She was talking in praise. Letting girls know they can be proud of their country. Stop twisting her words,” penned a separate X user.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria.
Meghan's Nigerian Heritage
In 2022, Meghan said she had found through a DNA test that she was 43% Nigerian. During a panel discussion with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, on May 11, the 42-year-oldreferred to the West African nation as her "country."
“Being African-American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage or background, where you come from specifically,” she said during a panel for women leaders on May 11, per People.
When asked how she felt to discover she was 43% Nigerian, Meghan responded: “Being African-American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage or background, where you come from specifically. It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know this is just the beginning of that discovery.”
During their stay, the couple participated in various activities, such as a meeting with the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, and a visit to the Lights Academy, a school supported by their foundation.
Here's a table summarizing Meghan Markle's outfits during her Nigeria trip:
| Date | Event | Outfit | Designer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10 | Arrival in Nigeria | Nude maxi dress | Heidi Merrick |
| May 11 | Meeting with Chief of Defence Staff | White suit set | Altuzarra |
| May 11 | Special reception at the Defense Headquarters Officers Mess in Abuja | Little white column dress | St. Agni |
| May 11 | Women in Leadership event | Red maxi dress | Oríré |
| May 11 | Lagos State Governor's Office | Yellow floor-length maxi dress with green shawl | Carolina Herrera |
| May 12 | Charity polo game | Halter-neck silk maxi dress | Johanna Ortiz |
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's trip to Nigeria may be over, but fans are still getting peeks into their latest tour, including a new, never-before-seen clip from an appointment that wasn't shared in their itinerary. People reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to Save the Children while they were in Abuja.
Meghan Markle glowed alongside Serena Williams, who is a close friend.
It's one of her favorite shades for formal events and press appearances, in the form of dresses by designers including St. Agni, Valentino, and more. White suiting is another of her go-to wardrobe moves.
Then, the couple set off on a three-day tour of Nigeria-and Meghan Markle packed outfits for onlookers to decode for weeks on end. A short sample of her meaningful choices included a sultry, side-slit dress by Johanna Ortiz and a peachy sundress by Heidi Merrick.
The ESPY Awards are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first joint public appearance since their whirlwind tour of Nigeria. Markle's attendance at the 2024 ESPY Awards wasn't always guaranteed.
Loose, breezy dresses were a staple in Meghan's Nigeria wardrobe, and she also honored the country - as well as her heritage - by wearing a traditional Nigerian skirt.
In summary, Meghan Markle's trip to Nigeria was a vibrant display of fashion, culture, and personal connection. Her willingness to embrace color and local designs, while staying true to her elegant style, made a lasting impression.
