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Original poster

To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist

278 replies

LateAF · 12/05/2024 07:33

For her Nigerian tour. Whoever put the outfits together for her has no clue on culturally appropriate attire. When I was a child it was drummed into me to cover my shoulders- especially in formal settings. So far all her dresses have been strappy or shoulder less (even backless!), while all the women in the photos with her have their shoulders covered as is the norm.

Also the relentless neutrals are uninspiring in a country where colourful clothing is standard. There are many amazing Nigerian or west African designers she could have highlighted on this tour (one of the images is from Lagos fashion week).

Please this is NOT a Meghan bashing thread so take your nasty comments to the Royal Family board (hence why I didn’t post on there). I think she looks stunning and her hair and makeup have been spot on. I also like how welcoming the Nigerian community have been- and I know they will give her a pass for her outfits since she’s an outsider. Just wondering what the consensus is.

YABU- she’s a foreigner so can dress how she likes
YANBU- clothing on a “royal” tour should be culturally appropriate and tailored to that region

To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist
To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist
To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist
To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist
To think Meghan should have chosen a Nigerian stylist
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
rainbowunicorn · 12/05/2024 11:16

Scintella · 12/05/2024 09:28

Why were they there?
Seems like a Royal tour by a non royal. Did a google search but no one says why it’s happening.

You must be pretty crap at googling then as there are lots of articles explaining.

Willmafrockfit · 12/05/2024 11:18

you dont need an actual stylist
just a guide book

rainbowunicorn · 12/05/2024 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I can't believe yoy have actually written this and can't see what is wrong with it. You have actually put the words 'I mean she just isnt' in relation to her being black. You should be bloody ashamed of yourself.

HollyKnight · 12/05/2024 11:23

Do you think you are being critical of her because she's mixed race? Like she should know this stuff or take more interest than other people.

A lot of people are ignorant of other cultures. Don't forget that Meghan is very American. I think you are expecting too much from a woman who grew up in Hollywood. She probably doesn't even know what she doesn't know.

Riversideandrelax · 12/05/2024 11:26

Higglings · 12/05/2024 08:25

It matters that one dresses approximately in the country they're visiting.

She's not Royal - she's just a US B Class actress, so I guess she felt it didn't matter if she was respectful or not.

That's not true, though. She's not a working royal but she's still part of the British royal family.

Oriunda · 12/05/2024 11:27

Not going to post pic, but freely available on Twitter. Meghan arrived in Lagos today wearing the traditional wrap she was gifted only yesterday. Great move on her part. No room for the critics now, surely?

Original poster
LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:29

HollyKnight · 12/05/2024 11:23

Do you think you are being critical of her because she's mixed race? Like she should know this stuff or take more interest than other people.

A lot of people are ignorant of other cultures. Don't forget that Meghan is very American. I think you are expecting too much from a woman who grew up in Hollywood. She probably doesn't even know what she doesn't know.

What does being mixed race have to do with it?

It’s just an expectation of anyone at an official function regardless of country - and I’ve taken an interest because I’m Nigerian and I love Meghans style so my expectations for her outfits were very high.

OP posts:
Original poster
LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:33

Bellevu · 12/05/2024 11:13

I'm Nigerian by background and nothing Meghan wore was disrespectful or against 'cultural norms.

There are some Conservative sectors and some incredibly (more so than even in the UK) progressive ones. In the arena and people she was mixing with during her visit and for the purpose, Meghan would not have caused negative comment.

Nigeria has a very rich sense of self and culture. Please stop imposing some lazy, backwards sharia shorthand on the people and aspirations

All those people faux sighing about the missed opportunity for a Nigerian stylist 🙄 Kate and the rest of the Royal family haven't used non white stylists for tours, and the Royal family and household are infamous for a) employment tribunals brought by black staff for racism at work and b) using their exemptions from the race and later equality acts to avoid declaring how many non white staff they have (clie, bet they're cleaning or filing and no where near styling unless there's an emergency photo opportunity to help how how the royals do reflect life in C21 Britain by letting black and brown people come within arms length of them)

Sharia?? You sound very out of touch with Nigeria.

And it’s not backwards it’s just traditional/ culture. You assuming that any culture that’s different or more conservative than Western Europe/ America is backwards is offensive to be fair. Nigeria traditional and occasion wear is elite - not backwards at all. Attend a Nigerian wedding and the guests will be better dressed than most brides and grooms in the UK.

OP posts:
coupdetonnerre · 12/05/2024 11:35

Why don't we asked the Nigerian officials who visit here to remove their Nigerian clothing and wear western clothing?

CharlotteRumpling · 12/05/2024 11:35

Maybe you should have posted in S and B. I am not interested in either the royals or the former royals, but I travel a lot foe work and pleasure. The subject of what to wear in different cultures is interesting to me in an S and B way, but this thread has gone off on a tangent.

JaneJeffer · 12/05/2024 11:36

She should have worn a slip

SpringerFall · 12/05/2024 11:37

LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:33

Sharia?? You sound very out of touch with Nigeria.

And it’s not backwards it’s just traditional/ culture. You assuming that any culture that’s different or more conservative than Western Europe/ America is backwards is offensive to be fair. Nigeria traditional and occasion wear is elite - not backwards at all. Attend a Nigerian wedding and the guests will be better dressed than most brides and grooms in the UK.

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Better dressed? That is rude, I would say differently I do not automatically assume any collective group is better than another just each does things differently

ReadySetSit · 12/05/2024 11:38

FaeryRing · 12/05/2024 10:46

Because it’s not appropriate. She has chosen - despite no longer being royal and wanting privacy apparently - to do an international ‘royal’ tour, and therefore to put herself in the spotlight and attract publicity. Saying ‘poor woman’ like we are criticising her choice of dog walking outfit is just silly.

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She looks beautiful and well dressed. A whole thread criticising and nitpicking her perfectly reasonable choice of outfits is ‘silly’.

Original poster
LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:38

SpringerFall · 12/05/2024 11:37

Better dressed? That is rude, I would say differently I do not automatically assume any collective group is better than another just each does things differently

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Yes, better dressed - we go all out. Not rude, just a fact.

The only comparison would be black tie in the UK.

OP posts:
NoOneFellOffTheirChair · 12/05/2024 11:39

Wait... what's this... A woman telling another woman how crap her choice of clothes is... Shocking.
YABU to find criticism in what she is wearing

Policing women’s bodies is shit I agree. If I was going to a school in a part of the world where the majority of staff and students were Muslim though, I would cover my arms and shoulders out of respect, regardless of whether I personally agree.

FaeryRing · 12/05/2024 11:39

ReadySetSit · 12/05/2024 11:38

She looks beautiful and well dressed. A whole thread criticising and nitpicking her perfectly reasonable choice of outfits is ‘silly’.

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Meghan is not stupid and puts a lot of value into fashion (hence her work with Smartworks). Her type of ‘employment’ relies on getting people talking about her, her life, her clothes and so on. She knows this.

ReadySetSit · 12/05/2024 11:40

Right. So these threads are for the benefit of raising her profile. Sure.

blackcherryconserve · 12/05/2024 11:41

Sorry you are getting flack OP. I didn't see your remark as critical but it was a lost opportunity as some beautiful Nigerian inspired clothing would have looked fantastic.

Bellevu · 12/05/2024 11:43

NoOneFellOffTheirChair · 12/05/2024 11:39

Wait... what's this... A woman telling another woman how crap her choice of clothes is... Shocking.
YABU to find criticism in what she is wearing

Policing women’s bodies is shit I agree. If I was going to a school in a part of the world where the majority of staff and students were Muslim though, I would cover my arms and shoulders out of respect, regardless of whether I personally agree.

The majority of people in Nigeria are NOT Muslim and people in the South zealously guard against the encroachment on culture and daily life.

The big cities are incredibly cosmopolitan and it is unhelpful to suggest that her dress should assume Nigeria is reactionary or Conservative in the same way as the muslim theocracies.

SherlockHomies · 12/05/2024 11:43

LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:38

Yes, better dressed - we go all out. Not rude, just a fact.

The only comparison would be black tie in the UK.

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That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I think the problem is you're stating it like a fact?

Either way, I'm sure she got a 'free pass' (to use your phrase) because all the Nigerians around her are adult enough to know that people from different countries, tend to have different styles.

I'm sure (at least I bloody hope) they wouldn't be expected to ditch what they like to wear when visiting the UK?

SpringerFall · 12/05/2024 11:44

LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:38

Yes, better dressed - we go all out. Not rude, just a fact.

The only comparison would be black tie in the UK.

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According to you, who is coming across extremely judgemental

rainbowunicorn · 12/05/2024 11:45

Arraminta · 12/05/2024 11:07

Also I noticed that her self tan had been applied really badly. Her face and decolletage was several shades darker than her back and shoulders, and you could see it was very patchy on her hands. She usually looks very, very groomed but in Nigeria she looks like she's just hanging out at the beach.

You are coming across as more unpleasant with each post.

Bellevu · 12/05/2024 11:46

LateAF · 12/05/2024 11:33

Sharia?? You sound very out of touch with Nigeria.

And it’s not backwards it’s just traditional/ culture. You assuming that any culture that’s different or more conservative than Western Europe/ America is backwards is offensive to be fair. Nigeria traditional and occasion wear is elite - not backwards at all. Attend a Nigerian wedding and the guests will be better dressed than most brides and grooms in the UK.

Show quote history

I mean I only got back from a 3 week visit to the country last month, so what do I know about what family were wearing to dinner, parties and conferences?

SuncreamAndIceCream · 12/05/2024 11:50

I don't know enough about Nigeria to say whether Meghan & Harry should have worn Nigerian traditional clothing or outfits by a Nigerian designer but I do think at a formal event, the norm is covered shoulders/arms, tailored clothing at a minimum.

I think this is true no matter where in the world you are. You can't go wrong with long sleeves and below the knee attire. It's respectful to your audience.

But this isn't the first time M&H have seen fit to wear things that don't meet the brief. The PP who said they were wearing their holiday clothes got it bang on.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 12/05/2024 11:50

WittiestUsernameEver · 12/05/2024 08:11

And I'm fairly sure Harry is wearing neutrals... nobody has pointed out him wearing neutrals and looking scruffy with his shirt buttons undone , shirt untucked etc

Nobody has called for him to have a Nigerian stylist...

The woman behind Meghan Markle has uncovered shoulders as well!!

are uncovered arms and shoulders really that culturally insensitive? Is it possible attitudes might have changed?

If bare arms and shoulders are indeed offensive, she should have covered them.

but why shouldn’t she wear the colours and patterns she wants? Let her wear beige, for goodness sake!!