The royal family’s fashion, from the brands they choose to the outfits they like to rewear, is often a source of fascination for the public. The UK-based fashion brand Me+Em has become a royal favorite in recent years. Kate Middleton has reworn a pink dress from Me+Em to royal engagements, and Meghan Markle sported a jacket from the brand in 2020.Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was even spotted wearing the same Me+Em dress Queen Camilla owns in 2023, as Hello! reported.
Kate Middleton at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023.
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Clare Hornby founded Me+Em in 2009, and the brand has made a name for itself in part thanks to its direct-to-consumer business model. Because Me+Em does all its merchandising in-house, its customers don’t have to “choose between luxury and cost,” its website says.Me+Em sells 14 collections a year, and its lines contain mostly elevated casual looks like the dresses royals often wear to daytime events.
Meghan Markle in March 2020.
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Hornby told The New York Times she designs clothes for people who are “socially busy, working and juggling a family.””We give them the wardrobe solutions that they need but don’t have time to hunt for,” she said.The royals might not be your average working parent, but they have become some of the most visible champions of Hornby’s designs. The brand has been expanding in recent years, particularly after it received £55 million, or about $70 million, in funding in 2022, as Fashion Network reported.
Queen Camilla attends a “mini-Carnival” in July 2022.
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As part of its growth, Me+Em opened three brick-and-mortar stores in New York in 2024: a flagship store on Madison Avenue in February and two boutiques in SoHo and East Hampton in May.I checked out the flagship store to see if it lived up to the royal hype.The store had a luxe feelAs I walked up to the Madison Ave store, which had glass windows and a bold silver sign letting me know I’d found my destination, I couldn’t help noticing Me+Em sat directly across from The Carlyle, one of the most exclusive hotels in New York.
The exterior of Me+Em.
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The Carlyle is the go-to hotel for royals when they visit New York, so it makes sense that one of their favorite fashion destinations is near it. Walking toward the boutique’s entrance, I could easily imagine the royals popping into the store the next time they stayed at the hotel.Because of its high-end location, Me+Em exuded glamorous energy before I even stepped inside the store, and I was delighted that the interior didn’t disappoint.Much of the store had curved walls painted dark cream, drawing the eye to the clothes organized by color.
I also noticed immediately that the store had an inviting aroma, which a staffer told me was thanks to a Diptyque candle burning near the entrance.
The clothes were organized by color.
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Two salespeople greeted me when I walked in, offering me water and letting me know they could start a room for me at any time as I browsed through the clothing racks. They were attentive without being overbearing, and I felt at ease as I browsed the clothes in the store.I was surprised to see that the racks lining the edges of the store weren’t stuffed with items. There was typically only one size of each garment on a rack, so I had to ask a staff member to get a size for me if I wanted to try something on.The apparent scarcity of items on the floor added to the space’s luxury feel, though it did seem inconvenient for the staff to run back and forth to a back room anytime someone was interested in a garment.Despite the unusual setup, I found several pieces I wanted to try.I see why the royals love Me+Em’s clothesI brought two dresses, a top, and a pair of pants to the dressing room.The dressing room was just as inviting as the rest of the store. It was spacious, with a heavy curtain providing privacy and modern racks floating on the walls.
The dressing room at Me+Em.
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The mirror was huge, and the lighting was built into the walls to save space. There was even an outlet set up with phone chargers for shoppers who needed to charge their phones.The clothes didn’t disappoint, either. My favorite piece was the Cheesecloth Modern Daisy Print Maxi Dress, which retails for $325.I loved the soft feel of the floral-print maxi’s fabric, which was also sturdy enough to give the halter neckline some structure.
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The details in the dress, from the ruching on the waist to the pockets in the skirt, made it feel high-end.I also liked the $465 Cotton Scribbled Flower Print Maxi Dress I tried on, another floral dress that had pockets and structure in the bodice.It wasn’t quite as comfortable as the halter dress, as it was structured in a way that made it hard to imagine wearing it to dinner or a party. But the structure and material made it feel fancier, so the hefty price tag made sense to me. I could see a royal family member slipping into it for a summertime engagement, as they wouldn’t be wearing it to relax.
The clothes were all comfortable.
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My least favorite piece I tried on was the $165 Cotton Delicate Broderie Shirred Top, as the ruffles and textured bodice felt a little too thick for summer.But it was still pretty, and the wide-legged pants I paired with it were some of the most comfortable trousers I had ever worn. They were also versatile because of their shape. I could see myself wearing them on a flight or to the office.After seeing the Me+Em store and its clothes, I understood why it had charmed the royals. The clothes were effortlessly luxurious without feeling unattainable for the average buyer, just as members of the monarchy have aimed to seem to the public.Whether you’re a royal fan or not, I think Me+Em is worth the visit.
