On September 20, 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the One805Live! benefit concert in Santa Barbara to support first responders.

Meghan wore an elegant Carolina Herrera halterneck dress with

faux tortoiseshell buttons and a waist-cinching sash; Harry chose

a relaxed ensemble of dark jeans and a black jacket.

The couple’s attire prompted mixed reactions online: some praised Meghan’s

California-chic look as “stunning,” while others criticized

the dress’s fit and appearance, calling it wrinkled or unflattering.

Observers compared Meghan’s style to Melania Trump’s recent

Carolina Herrera gown at a royal state banquet hosted by King Charles III.

Melania’s floor-length, strapless design followed formal

white-tie protocol and drew both admiration for the bold color choice and critiques

about suitability. Fashion commentators noted that both women

adhered to the event dress codes—Meghan to a casual outdoor concert aesthetic,

Melania to formal royal protocol—illustrating how context shapes reception.

While the concert’s purpose was to honor local heroes,

much of the conversation shifted to fashion analysis. Ultimately,

the evening highlighted how public figures’ personal styles spark debate,

reveal differing expectations for modern elegance, and show the public’s appetite for comparing

high-profile wardrobes across events. The discussion underscored

celebrity influence on culture and public conversation.