How Meghan Markle Is Channeling Audrey Hepburn’s Timeless Elegance – From Fashion to Lifestyle!
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
As of March 2025, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is increasingly being compared to one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons, Audrey Hepburn. While the transformation is not literal, the stylistic and cultural parallels between the two are striking, highlighting Meghan’s evolving public persona and how she is consciously shaping her image to evoke the timeless elegance and grace that Hepburn embodied throughout her career. From fashion choices to lifestyle, gardening, and beauty treatments, here’s a closer look at the ways Meghan Markle is channeling the spirit of Audrey Hepburn.
Fashion and Style Parallels
One of the most significant aspects of Meghan’s transformation lies in her fashion. Just like Hepburn, whose collaboration with the fashion house Givenchy became legendary, Meghan has also aligned herself with the brand. Hepburn was often seen wearing Givenchy’s minimalist, elegant designs, notably in films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Meghan made a statement by choosing Givenchy for her royal wedding in 2018, and her subsequent appearances have continued to feature the brand, reflecting her admiration for Hepburn’s classic, understated style.
Articles have frequently compared Meghan’s wardrobe choices to Hepburn’s, highlighting the similarities in their minimalist and feminine fashion. As People Magazine pointed out, Meghan’s preference for elegant, timeless pieces and a minimalist approach to fashion “drew many comparisons to Hepburn’s timeless style,” solidifying the visual connection between the two women.
Gardening and Lifestyle Connections
Another shared passion between Meghan and Audrey Hepburn is gardening. In a March 14, 2025, Instagram post for her lifestyle brand As Ever, Meghan shared a serene moment picking lemons in her Montecito garden, wearing a chambray sundress and wide-brimmed hat. She captioned the post with a quote from Hepburn: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,” reinforcing the connection between their love for nature and the nurturing qualities they both display.
Hepburn, known for her humanitarian work and her love of gardens, hosted the Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn TV series in 1993, which won a Primetime Emmy. Similarly, Meghan’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025, features her preparing meals from her garden, a direct nod to Hepburn’s appreciation of homegrown food and her connection to nature. In the series, Meghan even states, “I love feeding people. I think it’s probably my love language,” underscoring her affinity for nurturing and hospitality, a sentiment that aligns with Hepburn’s persona.
Beauty Treatments and Aesthetic Choices
Meghan’s beauty choices, too, reflect Hepburn’s influence. In 2017, she underwent the “Audrey Brow” treatment at the Nails and Brow salon in Mayfair, London. This natural brow treatment, named after Hepburn, was designed to enhance Meghan’s features in a way that evoked Hepburn’s iconic, natural beauty. Sherrille Riley, her brow stylist, noted that the treatment particularly complemented Meghan’s features, emphasizing a timeless, understated elegance that echoed Hepburn’s own aesthetic.
Public Persona and Media Presence
Beyond her fashion and beauty choices, Meghan’s public persona and media presence have increasingly drawn from Hepburn’s legacy. Meghan’s engagement photos in December 2017, taken at Frogmore House, were inspired by a famous Hepburn photograph, capturing a similar grace and poise. This deliberate photographic choice reinforced Meghan’s desire to present herself with the same elegance and dignity that defined Hepburn’s public image.
Additionally, Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever (formerly known as American Riviera Orchard) further evokes Hepburn’s timeless charm. Products like lemons in jam baskets, herbal teas, shortbread cookies, and raspberry jam—set to hit U.S. markets in spring 2025—are reflective of a vintage, Hepburn-esque aesthetic. These items, along with her approach to branding, tie into the same cultural nostalgia and old-world charm that Hepburn symbolized.
Cultural Impact and Influence
Meghan’s evolution also parallels Hepburn’s broader cultural impact, with some media outlets likening Meghan’s influence to that of Hepburn in her prime. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos commented on Meghan’s underestimated role as a cultural influencer, similar to Hepburn’s impact as a style icon and humanitarian. Like Hepburn, Meghan has used her platform to promote positive change, including her advocacy for gender equality and social justice. This connection highlights the powerful influence both women have had in shaping cultural conversations.
Conclusion
Meghan Markle’s transformation into a modern-day Audrey Hepburn is both subtle and intentional, drawing on Hepburn’s style, lifestyle, and cultural influence. Whether through her fashion choices, passion for gardening, or beauty aesthetic, Meghan channels Hepburn’s timeless elegance while forging her own path as a cultural and philanthropic figure. As Meghan continues to evolve her public persona, it’s clear that the Duchess of Sussex is not only following in the footsteps of a beloved icon but also redefining what it means to be a modern-day humanitarian and cultural influencer.