Meghan Markle’s charity fashion range divides shoppers with some calling it ‘ghastly’ while others love it
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THE MEGHAN Markle effect has been in full swing today, after the Duchess of Sussex launched a clothing collection in aid of the charity, Smart Works.
But while some fans have been gushing that they "love" the range, others have been disappointed, with one calling it "ghastly" while another dubbed it "boring and shapeless".
, is in partnership with Jigsaw, John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer and Meghan's fashion designer pal Misha Nonoo, and will be on sale for "at least two weeks"
Meghan, 38, became a patron of the organisation in January and has been working on the collection - which includes a shirt, blazer, trousers, a dress and a bag - over the last few months.
For each item bought, another will be donated to the charity - which provides clothing, training and interview prep to help unemployed women, helping them get back into the workplace.
But when the collection was released today, fans were divided, with hundreds voicing their mixed opinions online.
Many seemed to be disappointed with the range, labelling it "boring" and "underwhelming".
One person tweeted: "Shapeless, baggy, it's a no from me."
While another commented: "My gawd is this it? These clothes are ghastly."
"A couple of forgettable, underwhelming items," said another.
"I guess that makes them versatile? Does versatile also have to be boring AF?"
Another cruel user wrote: "To be seen on a sale rail near you, anytime soon!"
Many praised the Duchess, however, after one of the items - a leather tote bag from M&S - sold out in a matter of hours.
Fans called the royal "creative" and described the initiative as "brilliant and amazing" with others pointing out it was "for the benefit of the charity" and all for a good cause.
Leaving a review on one of the pieces - a £19.50 crepe shift dress from M&S which was released early - one shopper wrote: "I love the fabric as I believe it will drape well and I like that the cut is generous in all the places that matter e.g the hip and bottom area.
"I particularly love love love the detail around the neckline, it's pretty and bold and feminine all at once.
"Also love the versatility and choice of the different colour offerings. Black, Navy and Pink. Well done to the creative and design team."
- Smart Set Leather Tote Bag in Black, £109 from John Lewis & Partners -
- Smart Set Leather Tote Bag in Tan, £109 from John Lewis & Partners -
- Crepe Shift Dress, £19.50 from M&S -
- Crepe Shift Dress, £19.50 from M&S -
- Crepe Shift Dress, £19.50 from M&S -
- The Smart Set Shirt, £125 from Mischa Nonoo -
- The Smart Set Blazer, £199 from Jigsaw -
- The Smart Set Trousers, £120 from Jigsaw -
Another wrote: "This dress is wonderful. Smart, comfortable and an excellent length.
"The sleeves aren’t clear from the photo, but the cuff may be worn up or down.
"I love a three quarter sleeve. The front opening, because it is an over the head garment, was rather more décolleté than I expected from the photo.
"This garment is versatile and well cut. Hoping to get another in a different colour."
The Duchess visited the charity at the start of the year and became inspired after noticing that Smart Works' clothing donations often lacked the right sizes and choices.
"When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes," she wrote, while guest-editing Vogue.
“Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colours, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.
What is Smart Works?
- provides clothes, confidence and coaching to get women back into the workplace.
- The charity helps over 2,000 women across two offices in London, with over half succeeding at their job interview.
- Each client receives a two-hour appointment where they will receive one complete interview outfit free of charge, which they can keep.
- They then take part in a one-to-one interview coaching session.
- The clothes are a mix of new and slightly worn pieces and if the client is successful in any interview, they are able to return to Smart Works for another appointment where they will receive more items of clothing to help build a working wardrobe.
"To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friend, the designer Misha Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe."
According to the palace: "Her Royal Highness wanted to collaborate on this capsule collection with Smart Works and ensure that its clients are equipped with both the skills and clothes they need to feel job-ready."
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