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When Meghan Markle arrived in Australia two weeks ago, the world was yet to know she was pregnant.
But just 24 hours later, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Sussex was expecting her first child with Prince Harry in spring (Australia’s autumn), 2019.
Immediately, the usual preoccupation with the 37-year-old’s style choices became even more intense.
Her outfits – dresses, evening gowns, jeans, shirts and blazers – now had to accommodate a tiny royal growing in her uterus, and therefore, the conversation was no longer about Meghan Markle’s style, but Meghan Markle’s maternity style.
Such as this gorgeous maternity gown:
And these maternity jeans:
And this chill maternity day dress:
Headlines on publications from Harper's Bazaar to Vogue to Hello Magazine have referenced Markle's enviable maternity style, putting together galleries of her best maternity looks while on the royal tour.
There's just one problem.
These are not maternity looks.
These are just beautiful Meghan Markle looks.
That most of us couldn't pull off normally, let alone pregnant.
On Monday, The Sun ran a story about the 'hack' the Duchess just might be using to "squeeze into her skinny jeans". The 'waistband cheat' involves tying an elastic band around both the button of your jeans and the button hole, to give you a few extra inches of waist room.
Guys, pls. SHE'S HARDLY SHOWING.
ALSO, SHE CAN PROBABLY AFFORD TO BUY A PAIR OF JEANS ONE SIZE LARGER WHEN SHE NEEDS TO.
The 37-year-old is reportedly four months pregnant, and has only just started to show. For the most part, her clothing doesn't fit into the category of 'maternity wear' at all. She's wearing stunning designer outfits that would have likely been chosen even if she wasn't pregnant.
There is nothing maternity about them. Which is fine.
The Collins Dictionary defines maternity wear as clothing "worn by a pregnant woman and which is designed to allow for the changes in body size which take place during pregnancy," but I just don't think anyone purchased this dress with Markle's eight-month pregnant belly in mind.
Why?
Because she'll likely never wear any of these clothes ever again.
A pregnant woman wearing clothes does not a 'maternity fashion' make. To comment on Markle's 'maternity style' is to imply that it has somehow changed to accommodate her pregnancy, or that these clothes are designed specifically for pregnant women - neither of which are true.
This isn't what maternity style looks like, because most pregnant women have to buy clothing they'll be able to wear throughout the later stages of pregnancy. We're talking elastic waistbands (great for non-pregnant bellies too), roomy dresses and skirts, and lots of stretchy material.
You won't find this in a maternity range, because it's not... practical.
Look, I know we're excited.
We're all excited.
But we're not at the maternity fashion stage yet.
Watch Meghan and Harry: From birth til now.
Top Comments
Not all of us.
I want to believe articles like this are written in the spirit of not wanting to set unrealistic standards, yet they come off as rather mean-spirited. I did not have a graceful pregnancy, and even though I was between a US size 8/10 when I got pregnant, I just looked sort of fatter all over until well into my second trimester. I *still* bought maternity pants at three months for comfort (and because that hairband button thing would have just sproinged across the room had I tried it).
Does this make me look at the Duchess and feel anything but delighted? NO! If the Duchess wore ill-fitting pants with a big elastic panel (like me) she'd be ridiculed. If she wears a 00 for the duration of her pregnancy, she'll be accused of malnourishing her baby. When (SPOILER ALERT) she exits the Lindo Wing looking put together and with a smile that suggests she feels no discomfort, she'll get picked apart as well (with a side order of ugliness that will no doubt be spewed by racist trolls) AND she'll most likely be worrying about her garbage sister showing up dressed like the cartoon Maleficent to steal her baby.
I guess my point is, if you're a feminist, be FOR women, even the well-heeled and tiny-bumped ones.
No, honey, we're not all excited. In fact, I'd wager most of us are actually totally over the hype.