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I Went to Kinda Crazy Lengths to Get My Hands on Meghan Markle’s $55 Puffy Sleeve Shirt—This Is My Story

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It was nearly noon on a Friday when I happened to take a 30-second break to do my once-an-hour scan of the latest Meghan Markle news. After all, she was in the U.K. with Prince Harry for her swan song as a senior member of the royal family. With only a handful of “official” appearances to go, I wanted to stay up to speed.

That’s when I spotted it: Right there on Meghan and Harry’s @SussexRoyal Instagram account, Meghan debuted the most gorgeous (and striking) sheer-sleeve blouse in white for an appearance at the National Theatre, one of her patronages as the Duchess of Sussex. My curiosity was piqued. A quick Google search later and I found it: The top was a cool $55 from Topshop. Affordable and royal? I knew I had to have it.

Bonus: Time was on my side since Meghan’s post was only 30 minutes old, so I sprung into action.

My first move was to click over to the Topshop website. The U.S. version of the site still had a size 2 in stock. My internal dialogue began: Hmmm...could my larger-than-a-size-two self make a size two work? Decidedly not, so it was back to the retail drawing board. Was the blouse still in stock on the U.K. site? It was! And in a size 6, which—based on all the available Topshop sizing information I could dig up—sounded much better suited to my bod. 

Just like that, the shirt was in my cart! I was ahead of the world, scooping up what would soon be a Meghan Markle style classic before it ceremoniously sells out!

Not so fast, the Topshop site seemed to say, even as I had my wallet out. I was being redirected back to the U.S. site. Apparently, Topshop U.K. does not—I repeat—does not ship to the U.S. Le sigh.

I paused for a second, then decided I was in too deep to give up now. I re-opened Instagram and pulled up the account of my Brooklyn-turned-Londonite pal. “This is the weirdest request!” I said as I passed along the shot from @SussexRoyal via DM. “I am obsessed with this top that Meghan Markle wore today. It’s still available in the U.K. Can I order, have it delivered to you, then have you send to me?” But as soon as I hit send, I peeped her IG Stories feed. She was on vacation in Portugal! Thwarted again.

But I had one final card to play. I dialed my ever-supportive husband at work. “Everything OK?” he answered. (I never call him at work.) 

My reply: “Don’t ask questions, but I need you to get the address of your friend in London so I can mail him a Meghan Markle top that he will then ship to me in the U.S. Cool?”

My superhero husband didn’t miss a beat. “OK, hang on.” He messaged his friend on Slack. Miraculously, especially given the six-hour time difference, he got an immediate reply. I now had an address. Seconds later, I had an order confirmation—and a delivery date for the royal shirt I had to have.

Later that afternoon, with the retail pressure off, I messaged my husband’s friend—who, to be fair, I’ve met twice before—myself: “Thanks for indulging my crazy. Also, the shirt will be at your flat on March 17.”

His reply? “Just call me the discrete South London fixer.” Royal mission accomplished.


rachel bowie christine han photography 100

Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College

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