Meghan’s Pleated Trousers

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Y’all, it’s almost officially fall, which means it’s time for fall fashion. One thing I did not have on my shopping list: pleated trousers. But Meghan changed that! The Duchess of Sussex appeared on the cover of Time this week in the most fabulous (still-unidentified) white pleated pair. Two additional photos released by the magazine show Meghan sporting a charcoal version by The Row. So chic.

Pleated skirts and dresses have always had a spot in my closet. Pleated trousers, I’m afraid, are a different story. They remind me of that infamous SNL Mom Jeans skit, with frumptastic jeans boasting “a nine-inch zipper and casual front pleats.” Pleats make me think: You want to add more fabric...where? At least a few of you have felt the same, according to my Instagram DMs. “Big mad at Megs for making me consider pleated trousers again after I already had decided it was not a fit for my body,” one follower wrote. “Girlllll why you gotta look so good and make me reevaluate my stance.”

Clearly, it’s time to rethink this style! The duchess’s pleated pants were formal and fresh without feeling stuffy. Can pleats be powerful? Because they felt damn powerful on Meghan's cover. Paired with a simple blouse in one shot and a solid turtleneck in the other, the trousers were the discernible style statement of both Meghan's looks.

Turns out, we can learn a thing or two about pleats from the gents. My former Wall Street Journal colleague Jacob Gallagher penned a piece for the paper a few years ago about the return of pleats in menswear: “The key difference is a revamped fit that has nothing to do with dumpy couch potatoes but references another piece of produce: the carrot." A tapered leg helps to slim the silhouette into more of a triangle. Here’s one tempting aspect he called out: pleated pants are much more comfortable.

Ready to try a pair for yourself? My friend Abby Arad, who is a stylist in Los Angeles, says to keep the pleat count to a minimum. “It can make your midsection look bigger, even on a smaller person,” she told me. “Meghan did it right — one nice pleat on each side.” Try tucking in your tops, too. “If you don’t, you run the risk of the shirt ballooning out on top of the pleat," Arad added.

A few of my own Thoughts on how to ease into pleats, with links to examples:

Darker colors, like black, navy, or charcoal, help the pleats blend (Marks & Spencer / love how these are styled with sneakers)
Lighter fabrics hang a bit easier than, say, denim (COS / in a linen-cotton blend)
Ankle length or cropped trousers take away a bit of the weight (Mango / these might be my fall faves!)
An elastic waist camouflages the pleats a bit, too, and ups the comfort factor (Nordstrom / an easy slimmer leg here)

But mostly: Your eye might need a minute to adjust. Trousers are in the midst of a major re-think right now. The style pendulum is swinging dramatically. Skinny jeans are being replaced by straight and wider legs. The scourge of low rise is over; long live the high rise! These changes, however welcome, can take some getting used to because a new silhouette (especially with trousers) means new proportions. Play around with pleats and let me know what you think.

Note: I use affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small percentage at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

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SMT Royal News Roundup

Meghan and Harry were on the cover of Time this week as part of the magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The photographs were accompanied by a brief piece from Chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, who has worked with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (Time)
Kate visited a Royal Air Force base to learn more about the efforts to evacuate more than 15,000 people out of Afghanistan. Inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, I asked the SMT community on Instagram for ways to help refugees. Here are some of your excellent suggestions:

Miry’s List welcomes refugee families with the supplies they need to resettle. Each has a dedicated wishlist, you can shop them directly here.
International Rescue Committee needs funding to support its work on the ground in Afghanistan, including improving healthcare and education programs, as well as refugee resettlement.
Women for Afghan Women has temporarily suspended its work in Afghanistan, where it has been for more than two decades. But it has an incredible list of ways to help, including city-by-city organizations, which you can find here.
Welcome.US, which has an extensive refugee resettlement program, has volunteer programs to help or sponsor an arriving family, as well as host one in an Airbnb.
Several people suggested contacting mosques, churches, or other organizations gathering supplies for refugees who are arriving in your area, too.

On Friday, William announced the 15 finalists for the Earthshot Prize, the global environmental award the prince announced last fall. Five winners will be chosen next month and receive a £1 million grant to tackle climate change. (Associated Press)
Prince Charles’s foundation chair, Douglas Connell, resigned amid questions over whether the organization accepted a £100,000 donation from a Russian donor in exchange for a meeting with the future king. The chief executive and the development director of the Prince’s Foundation, which provides education and training programs, have also temporarily stepped down. A spokesman for Clarence House told the BBC, “The Prince of Wales fully supports the investigation now under way at the foundation.” (BBC)
Britain’s High Court agreed to serve papers to Prince Andrew on behalf of Virginia Giuffre if the two parties “did not work out a way to do so.” Giuffre is suing the Queen’s son, alleging he sexually abused her at Jeffrey Epstein’s homes in New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (New York Times)
Naomi Campbell has been named an ambassador for the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. (People)

Have a wonderful weekend! I’ll see you back in your inbox next week and on Instagram always.

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Meghan’s Pleated Trousers

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