Meghan Markle gives fashion advice on solo royal outing

This week marked the first week back at work for many, including Meghan Markle.

On Thursday the Duchess of Sussex made her first appearance of 2019, paying a visit to one of her first patronages, Smart Works.

The charity helps long-term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews so they can return to employment, this includes assisting women to find outfits.

Former actress Meghan turned stylist for the visit and helped to select clothes for one of the charity’s clients, Patsy Wardally.

During a round-table chat, the Duchess also spoke about how important is it to restore confidence through coaching and clothes.

“It’s not just donating your clothes and seeing where they land, it’s really being part of each other’s success stories as women, right?” she said.

“It’s not just hand-me-downs, it’s saying this is the blazer I wore that helped me win that interview and I want this to be the piece that helps this woman to have that part of her story.”

For her first solo royal outing of 2019, the pregnant royal donned a $4,400 (£2,492.63) sand-coloured cotton-twill coat from Oscar de la Renta with a more affordable $218 (£170) black dress by US maternity label Hatch.

She accessorised with a pair of $558 (£315) statement earrings by ethical brand Kimai, a $1560 (£900) Victoria Beckham tote bag and a pair of eye-catching cow-print heels thought to be from Gianvito Rossi.

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