Meghan Markle Wears Jeans & T-Shirt in Rare Casual Outfit

Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games wearing a collarless jacket and t-shirt

(Image credit: Getty Images)

last updated 18 April 2024

These days, it's rare to see Meghan Markle in a look as simple as jeans and a T-shirt. On Wednesday, April 17, the Duchess of Sussex wore her most casual outfit formula to support a friend's charity.

Markle appeared in a series of Instagram photos posted by the non-profit organization Alliance of Moms and its co-founder, Kelly McKee Zajfen, yesterday. Alongside McKee Zajfen and Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, Markle appeared a white T-shirt with the slogan "Love Like a Mother" and a pair of medium-wash, high-rise jeans. It's the exactly the sort of laidback look one could imagine her wearing to assemble jam jars for American Riviera Orchard in her Montecito, California, kitchen, and it's for a cause close to her heart.

Meghan Markle wears jeans and a tshirt with a close friend — Markle appeared in jeans and a charity slogan T-shirt to raise funds for the Alliance of Moms organization.

Love Like a Mother T-Shirt

Mother The Hiker Hover Straight Leg Jeans

The Alliance of Moms is a Los Angeles-based organization supporting pregnant and parenting teens within the city's foster care system. This spring, proceeds from Markle's T-shirt will benefit advocacy, education, and essential healthcare services for teens in the Alliance of Moms network.

Co-founder McKee Zajfen wrote about her friendship with Markle and Spencer in the campaign photos' caption. "When we speak about the people in our lives who lift us up when you need it with undeniable force of pure love, I think of these two. You inspire me. You pick me up when I need it and you Love Like A Mother," she wrote.

Markle has been getting involved with philanthropic causes around Southern California this spring. In March, she visited Children's Hospital Los Angeles to read stories to patients, re-wearing one of her favorite Oscar de la Renta dresses for the occasion.

Meghan Markle sits with Abigail Spencer and the founder of the Alliance of Moms — Markle appeared in the casual shots with friends Kelly McKee Zajfen and Abigail Spencer.

The low-key outfit couldn't be more different from the backless black dress and white cutout halter Markle has worn for recent outings. After teaming up with stylist Jamie Mizrahi, Markle's outfits have veered in a quiet luxury direction with subtly sexy twists.

However, casual denim has been a cornerstone of Markle's elevated-yet-accessible personal style ever since her first appearance with Prince Harry in 2017. Back then, she wore a pair of distressed jeans and a white button-down shirt to appear by his side at the Invictus Games. For official engagements following their marriage, she would also occasionally wear straight-leg and skinny jeans, often from brands like Mother Denim. Earlier this year, she showed her enduring support for skinny jeans in an outfit she wore out to lunch with a Hollywood executive.

Meghan Markle wears ripped jeans and a button down shirt at the Invictus Games with Prince Harry — Meghan Markle's outfit for her very first appearance with Prince Harry included a pair of well-worn jeans and a white button-down shirt.

Meghan Markle wears jeans, a collarless jacket, and a tshirt while at a charity event in 2020 — Two years later, Markle found opportunities to mix casual denim with more polished pieces, like the collarless jacket she wore to the 2020 Invictus Games.

Before and during her time as a working royal, Markle dressed in designers and brands with more to offer than her polished, clean aesthetic. Often, she'd also select women-led labels with ties to the places she visited or the charitable work she supported, even for more casual outfits. Clearly, her ethos isn't changing for her Los Angeles chapter.

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Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders including stylist Alison Bornstein and J.Crew womenswear creative director Olympia Gayot, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what trends—like the rise of doll-like Mary Janes or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. Halie has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self-Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she was awarded the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.