Penny Mordaunt reveals she took painkillers before coronation - but was Meghan Markle her style inspiration?

Let's be honest. Penny Mordaunt stole the show at King Charles’s coronation and seemed to have taken inspiration from Meghan Markle

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Did Penny Mordaunt take her style inspiration for her coronation outfit from Meghan Markle who is also a fan of Safiyaa? Photographs by GettyDid Penny Mordaunt take her style inspiration for her coronation outfit from Meghan Markle who is also a fan of Safiyaa? Photographs by Getty
Did Penny Mordaunt take her style inspiration for her coronation outfit from Meghan Markle who is also a fan of Safiyaa? Photographs by Getty

Penny Mordaunt and Meghan Markle. Perhaps two names that you wouldn’t immediately think would end up in the same sentence? Although the current talk is around Penny Mordaunt’s admission that she took a couple of painkillers to help manage carrying the ceremonial swords during the coronation, I am going to discuss her outfit in more detail.

Whilst Alexander McQueen (the designer behind Kate Middleton’s dress) and Bruce Oldfield (the designer behind Queen Camilla’s dress) were the names dominating coronation day, not much attention was given over to Safiyaa. Although I am very familiar with the designer brand, I do appreciate that it is not a household name.

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However, Penny Mordaunt’s bespoke teal dress, cape and headband were by Safiyaa, and the whole look was nothing short of a triumph. Penny of course featured on my best-dressed list from the coronation, a name I have to be honest that I was not expecting to include before the day’s events unfolded.

Although Safiyaa is not a household name, I can assure you that it is a brand that not only the fashion pack are familiar with, but one that is admired and worn by celebrities and royalty alike, including none other than, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.

The Duchess of Sussex actually has worn Safiyaa on several occasions.

She wore a breathtaking red dress by the label to the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in 2020 and it worked perfectly with Prince Harry’s red and black Captain General of the Royal Marines uniform. 

Meghan Markle dazzled in a Safiyaa dress, accompanied by Prince Harry, back in 2020. Photographs by GettyMeghan Markle dazzled in a Safiyaa dress, accompanied by Prince Harry, back in 2020. Photographs by Getty
Meghan Markle dazzled in a Safiyaa dress, accompanied by Prince Harry, back in 2020. Photographs by Getty
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Meghan is clearly a fan of that exact dress as she also has it in blue and wore it to a state dinner in Fiji back in 2018. Meghan also wore a black and white two-piece outfit by Safiyaa to The Royal Variety Performance in the same year. Harper’s Bazaar described it as a “sequined top with white floral prints-which appears to be the brand’s Malaya style with an additional strap=paired with a black floor-length skirt.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19:  Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That greet Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at The Royal Variety Performance 2018 at London Palladium on November 19, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by WPA Pool/Getty Images)LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19:  Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That greet Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at The Royal Variety Performance 2018 at London Palladium on November 19, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by WPA Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That greet Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at The Royal Variety Performance 2018 at London Palladium on November 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Safiyaa’s other high profile fans include Michelle Obama, so Penny is in esteemed company. According to Safiyaa’s website, “Daniela Karnuts founded Safiyaa in 2011 with a bespoke take on modern elegance.” It goes on to say that “Defining her own unconventional path to success, she craved an inclusive brand that would redefine the concept of demi-couture by offering women accessible bespoke style solutions and reestablishing the lost connection with a garment’s lifestyle.”

What stands out for me when it comes to Safiyaa is that their clothes are neither ‘too out there’ or ‘too fashionable.’ both positives. They clearly understand the nuances of a woman’s body and understand how to flatter it. 

During my own street ‘coronation’ party, as my neighbours were passing around ‘coronation chicken’ and various quiches, the talk was very much about Penny Mordaunt. Although the conversation centred around ‘admiring her physical strength’ I think if she hadn’t worn the sensational Safiyaa dress, she wouldn’t have attracted nearly as much attention.

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