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Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle’s fashion sense has inspired a number of style blogs.
Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

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Meghan’s Mirror Can Tell You Every Little Thing About Meghan Markle’s Style

The style blog has become one of the leading authorities on the royal-to-be’s style — it even has the archives of her lifestyle blog, The Tig.

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Want to know which dress Meghan Markle wore to an event? Easy-peasy: Any number of websites will direct you to the designer. But if you’re a Meghan stan who wants to know the nitty-gritty of her wardrobe — down to her sunglasses, yoga gear, or belts — look no further than Meghan’s Mirror. The blog even has the goods on the cellphone accessories and wallets the former Suits star has carried.

Launched in 2016 by Amanda Dishaw and Christine Ross, Meghan’s Mirror has become an authority on all things related to Markle’s style. Four years before, the duo started a blog called What Would Kate Do? chronicling the life and style of Kate Middleton. Now Dishaw and Ross have become experts on the so-called “Markle sparkle.” Publications worldwide, including the Wall Street Journal, Agence France-Presse, Vanity Fair, and Hello magazine, have cited Meghan’s Mirror or quoted its creators. Today, it has a staff of up to 15 people working around the clock to get the deets on what Markle wears.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in London on April 21, 2018.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in April 2018.
Photo: Alastair Grant/Pool/AFP

Racked recently reached out to the founders of Meghan’s Mirror about its namesake’s best style moments. We also discussed the blog’s early days, how much they knew about Markle, and what detective work is required to track down everything, accessories and all, that she wears. Plus, somehow the blog acquired the archives of Markle’s defunct lifestyle site, The Tig; we’re dying to know how and if anyone on staff actually has a personal connection to the soon-to-be royal.

Let’s talk about how Meghan’s Mirror got started. Was Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry the catalyst for the site, or were you all fans before they got involved?*

In early to mid-2016 we started to see a lot of chatter pop up about Meghan Markle as a possible girlfriend of Prince Harry. We started to see many women suddenly become interested in Meghan, and specifically about her style. We were already aware of who Meghan Markle was. She first came onto our radar when we caught a glimpse of her paralegal alter ego Rachel Zane [on Suits]. We were also longtime readers of Meghan’s lifestyle website, The Tig. The messages it shared with women about living an inspired lifestyle really resonated with us.

We decided to take a leap of faith in the relationship between Meghan and Harry and started Meghan’s Mirror in October 2016 (officially launching in November 2016). We wanted to document Meghan’s style choices when we saw so many women curious about the pieces she wore.

What sleuthing do you have to do to find out what Meghan is wearing, down to the smallest details?

We find out what Meghan is wearing through four ways. Our own team’s research and experience. We have a professional celebrity stylist on the team and multiple contributors with in-depth fashion knowledge. We rely on their expertise as well as our own research into lines and brands Meghan prefers in order to quickly identify what she is wearing.

[There are also] our connections through brands and PR companies who will give a nod as to a specific piece Meghan is wearing. [Then there’s] the fashion community on social media [and] Kensington Palace itself. The palace puts out operational notes at many engagements to share what designer Meghan is wearing.

Okay, so I’ve gotta ask. Are you guys strictly Meghan fans, or do you have a personal connection to her or someone in her camp?

We prefer not to divulge our contacts; however, we partner with a wide variety of people to get information and details for our reporting.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Meghan Markle’s ensemble at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto is one of the favorite looks of style blog Meghan’s Mirror.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Hmmm. Well, that’s food for thought. I’m also wondering if you can tell me about any scoops you’ve gotten about Meghan’s style or any of the most popular Meghan’s Mirror stories.

One of the most popular looks is from an arrival at the airport in Austin, Texas, for a Suits event or Meghan arriving at the Invictus Games with Prince Harry [in September]. I think one of my favorite looks has to be the white button-up, distressed jeans and luxe flats that she wore to the games. Meghan’s hair was perfectly blown out. Her white shirt was classic, and her tote and shoes were perfect. But she wore distressed denim to soften the look. If she had worn tailored dark denim, the look would have been ... too perfect.

Our readers are most interested in articles that highlight instances where Meghan may have worn something that they could see themselves wearing. Because Meghan is so relatable, they often find the desire to hunt down the item and see if it’s something they could incorporate into their own wardrobes.

Last spring, Meghan shut down all her social media accounts as well as her blog The Tig. But Meghan’s Mirror managed to get the archives. What have you learned about her from sorting through years of old posts — and how were you able to get the cached version?

We prefer not to divulge our sources for archives; however, what we have learned from reviewing them was that the Meghan we see in front of the cameras today as a soon-to-be member of the royal family is not very different from the Meghan we came to know and love through her social media profiles and website. She is candid, honest, and transparent in her love of family and friends ... and [that’s] permeated all areas of her look and style. We did enjoy uncovering her margarita recipe for Cinco de Mayo, though!

What do you like most about Meghan’s style, and how do you think it lines up with the royal family’s?

We love Meghan’s polished imperfection in her style, and we think it’s why she has had such a mass appeal. One element to her look is always “off,” and therefore there is something more relatable, more approachable, and more attainable for women.

Meghan Markle in coat
Meghan Markle with a messy bun in Belfast, Ireland.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Meghan is very much different from other members of the royal family. The easiest comparison is Meghan’s soon-to-be sister-in-law [Kate Middleton]. As we have shared multiple times on this blog, Meghan is a blend of California cool, modern minimalist, and a lover of the neutral basic. Kate [has] an English country aristocrat look perfected over the years of being a member of the British royal family.

We think the only overlap the two women share is their understanding of the power of the fashion they are wearing. Kate is known for adding local designers when she travels and is seen as an ambassador for British fashion. Meghan is very similar, paying homage to designers from her adopted hometown of Toronto (and Canada), while also being aware, by virtue of her acting experience, of the power of a look.

Meghan has repeatedly broken royal fashion protocol. Do you think we’ll see a muted version of her style once she becomes a royal?

Meghan represents a modern “melting pot” future for the British royal family. It is no longer a staunchly aristocratic bloodline but a mix of commoners like Kate and Meghan. Meghan will bring a relatable, down-to-earth feeling to the monarchy. Her LA roots make her seem approachable, which the monarchy desperately needs to stay connected to the British people.

Since announcing her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan has done a fantastic job of practicing “sartorial diplomacy.” She is taking great care in choosing outfits to make a statement, such as spotlighting local companies or supporting brands with charitable efforts.

She’s also stopped wearing minis or revealing clothes, but that was a transformation in progress since well before the royal engagement announcement. We think she’s implicitly aware of how she looks and now, more than ever, is focused on what her clothes say about her, the monarchy, and her future.

*Questions and answers have been edited for space and clarity.

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