Meghan Markle Embraces Old Hollywood Glamour To Go Solo at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala

It was a glitzy, glamorous, gaiety-filled evening at the 2026 Fifteen Percent Pledge fundraising gala in Los Angeles last night. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, chose to fly solo and match the star-studded crowd’s vibe with her own striking gown.

Meghan walked the minty green carpet wearing a strapless, oyster-colored gown by Harbison Studio, with a black-piped sweetheart neckline and structured column skirt. A dramatic add-on was a voluminous black velvet and silk shawl with an extra-long and undulating train, with black strappy Stuart Weitzman sandals and black and diamond drop earrings. Her glam was kept simple and elegant: fluttery black lashes and a soft smoky eye, a glossy pink-nude lip, and her hair pulled back in a chic chignon.

It was a dramatic look for the Duchess, who spends most of her time in a more whimsical, domestic style rhythm: organic hues and linens, Sézane and Dôen separates—albeit elevated with Cartier bracelets and Hermès sandals. As seen on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan and when she’s promoting her companion lifestyle brand As Ever on IG, the Meghan Markle-Montecito mom staples reign supreme.

Last month, Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, made a surprise royal cameo at Sundance Film Festival in Utah. While Sundance’s red carpet often sees celebrities in their most subversive winter fashions and cozy but cool looks, the royals opted to have a more muted, monochromatic, matching couples style moment: Meghan, for one, in a chocolate brown Anine Bing wrap coat and black flared skinny jeans from Veronica Beard. The couple attended the premiere of Cookie Queens, a movie produced by the their very own Archewell Productions.

That’s not to say the royal has lost her touch for a glitzy outing or striking red carpet moment when it matters. Back in November, she opted to combine a black turtleneck and high-slitted Brandon Maxwell skirt for Kris Jenner’s black tie 70th birthday celebrations. She also made her Paris Fashion Week debut for the special occasion of Pierpaolo Piccioli’s first runway show at Balenciaga, dressing in a sleek and silky white caped look.

The 2026 Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala (which encourages major retailers to dedicate 15 percent of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses) saw Markle join the likes of Law Roach, Emma Grede, Halle Bailey, Olandria Carthen, Winnie Harlow, Keke Palmer, and Kelly Rowland. The evening was hosted by founder Abby Phillip and honored Tina Knowles for her work in empowering Black communities and creators.