We Now Know Why Meghan Markle Wears Shoes Two Sizes Too Big
If the shoe fits wear it — unless you are Meghan Markle, that is.
Many onlookers were perplexed when they noticed that the Duchess of Sussex kept turning up to appearances in shoes that were way too big for her. Imagine wearing ill-fitting footwear in the presence of actual royalty! Could this be an accident? Did her ladies in waiting simply order the wrong size for her? Or is she borrowing from her royal sister-in-law's closet? Nope. According to fashion editor Harriet Davey who spoke with The Sun, this was most likely a pre-emptive move on Markle's part to avoid blisters. "Celebs often go a size up, or even two, in the shoe department when they're at an event or on the red carpet and it's for one reason we can all relate to — to avoid blisters," Davey explained.
But what's the big deal about a blister or two, anyway? As the Duchess of Sussex, we are sure Markle's entitled to a leisurely foot rub from time to time, right? Well, apparently it's not that simple. According to Davey, blisters can cause even further troubles down the line. "There's nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes (we've all been there on a night out) and when celebs like Meghan are wearing heels for a long period of time their feet can often swell up. The swelling can cause blisters and in the long run bunions — like long-time heel fan Victoria Beckham has been rumoured to suffer with." Bunions?! No, thanks!
There's a science to wearing ill-fitting shoes
Okay, okay, we get it. Blisters are no good. But that does not explain how high profile celebrities manage to walk around in shoes two sizes too big for their feet while being photographed all day long. Imagine the likes of Meghan Markle clomping around like a toddler modeling her mother's finest pair of high heels while her proud parents stand back and clap — only instead, she's at a royal event and it's the Queen of England looking on a few feet away (and, unfortunately, she is most certainly not amused).
Harriet Davey told The Sun that there's an easy way to get around that predicament: "A trick of the trade is to stuff the toe with padding like tissue or cotton wool, and this can be taken out once they feel like they need a bit more room in their shoes." Ahh, clever!
But are we really surprised that the royals have a trick for everything? As it turns out, Kate Middleton is also known for taking fashion matters into her own hands. As reported by The Sun, the Duchess of Cambridge — and every other female member of the royal family — is required to wear tights, but as we all know, tights and heels can be a recipe for disaster as they almost always cause pesky sliding. But Middleton has nipped that problem in the bud, as photos reveal that she uses sticky pads in the bottom of her shoes to remedy the issue.
The royals have a fashion hack for everything!
So, what are some other fashion hacks that the royals swear by?
Let's take a walk down memory lane and focus on the late Princess Diana, shall we? As reported by Cosmopolitan, the Princess of Wales cleverly used her clutch as a way to hide her cleavage as she was papped while climbing in and out of the car. Genius! But that's not all — it was reported that she also hid combs in her fancy hats. Hey, why haven't we mere mortals ever thought of that?
And to prevent one of those racy Marilyn Monroe moments on a windy day? Simple! Stewart Parvin, the Queen's couturier, admitted to Daily Mail that he has been known to sew small curtain weights into the Queen's skirts in an effort to keep them hanging nicely and to combat any wardrobe malfunctions. "The beauty of a handmade outfit is that it hangs just right but, of course, we have a few tricks up our sleeve," Parvin revealed. "I just pop a couple into the hemline of her dresses and coats and it makes them hang beautifully. If there is a flap in the coat then I will sew in one on each side of the split to even it up," he added. "And sometimes if she is wearing a lightweight chiffon skirt I will sew in an even smaller lead weight the size of a pea or even a length of chain, rather like a dog's chain. But the curtain weights work beautifully."