Meghan Markle Makes Me Want to Be a ‘Ring Person’
It doesn’t take a royal expert to notice that Meghan Markle’s life—and wardrobe—has changed since becoming a Duchess. Gone are the bodycon dresses and bubble skirts she wore on her Suits press tour just two years ago. Now, it’s strictly prim bateau necklines and sensible footwear, or whatever protocol might call for. There’s one sartorial habit, though, that Markle brought with her to Kensington Palace (and soon Frogmore House): always stepping out in a perfectly-mismatched selection of stacked rings.
It’s an accessorizing technique of the Instagram age, wearing an assortment of delicate but distinct rings in a way that makes it seem like you didn’t really plan it—you just threw them on. And even with the Crown Jewels at her disposal, Markle continues to fall back on the signets and stackable bands from her pre-royalty days, from brands like Catbird and BaubleBar.
“Meghan has worn her stacking rings for many years now, long before she met Prince Harry,” Susan Courter, author of royal fashion blog What Meghan Wore and Markle style expert, tells Glamour. “I don’t ever recall Kate or another royal wearing similar rings, so it is certainly unique in regards to royal fashion.”
Whenever Markle is photographed, my eyes go straight to her hands for that very reason: No other royal seems to do this—and though it’s an easily missable detail, it feels incredibly relatable and easy to copy. (The custom Givenchy looks, not so much.)
“This is Meghan’s way of injecting some of her personal style into royal fashion,” Courter says. “I think it’s another way for her to show how you can still be yourself, keep a bit of that fashion flair she is known for and at the same time show respect for royal dressing practices, like wearing longer hemlines.”
I have to agree—and that’s what draws me to Markle’s ring collection. They’re a testament to authentic style in an environment where, as far as I can see, personal style has professional ramifications. With Markle as a guide, I’m looking to start my own collection of rings for tiny, personal touches to my wardrobe. Shop some of the jewels I’m eyeing—all under $100!—ahead.