Meghan Markle’s Netflix Series Offers Glimpse of Luxury Brand Preferences
In “With Love, Meghan,” the Netflix docuseries featuring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, viewers are invited into her opulent home life. While largely avoiding explicit brand mentions, the program subtly showcases certain luxury items.
Subtle Product Placements in Meghan’s World
Despite the series’ general avoidance of brand names, astute viewers can spot glimpses of designer items within Meghan’s environment. In one episode, while detailing her attire, Meghan names fashion labels like Loro Piana, Zara, and Jenni Kayne, signaling her penchant for blending high-end and accessible fashion.
Later, another product is identified – a doll belonging to her daughter, Lilibet. This toy, described by Meghan, projects an image of upscale indulgence.
Stella Al Fresco: The “Elevated Doll”
“It has a small baguette and a bit of cheese,” Meghan remarks, “and the doll’s name is Stella Al Fresco.” The doll is formally known as Wee Baby Stella peach Al Fresco.
These soft toys, aimed at toddlers, are part of the ‘Love, Stella’ collection. Their design, featuring round faces and chubby limbs, evokes a classic doll aesthetic. Stella dolls enjoy significant popularity among patrons of The Acorn Store, a toy retailer located in Santa Monica, California, approximately 80 miles from Meghan and Prince Harry’s residence in Montecito.
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Baguette Toys: A Southern California Trend
Toys that incorporate bread and cheese motifs are also highly sought-after.
“Baguette toys are incredibly popular right now,” states Heather Hamilton, 53, owner of The Acorn Store. “Across Southern California, baguettes, charcuterie, and cheese boards are trending. Children like to mimic their everyday experiences, and if they observe these items on their parents’ patios, they incorporate them into their play.”
Love, Stella Doll Line: Features and Appeal
Stella dolls, with prices starting around $20, are available in diverse styles, including toddler and newborn representations. All dolls include magnetic pacifiers. The product line also features various clothing and accessory collections, such as a deluxe picnic set priced at $35, complete with a patterned blanket and plush food items like a sandwich and watermelon slice.
Parent Testimonials: Charm and “Elevated” Design
Rachel Sawatsky, 29, mother to a 3-year-old son and 7-month-old daughter, owns a Stella doll and multiple accessory sets. Ms. Sawatsky, a social media manager residing outside Toronto, was drawn to the toy partly because of its aesthetically pleasing design.
“They are simply more appealing than traditional baby dolls,” she commented. Learning about Meghan’s preference for Stella dolls was not surprising to Ms. Sawatsky. “Of course Meghan would like it,” she recalled thinking, “It’s just a more refined doll.”
“Hip and Cool”: Stella Dolls’ Modern Appeal
Lindsey White, 34, living outside Chicago, also cited the toy’s appearance as a key factor in purchasing one for her son around his second birthday. “It seemed trendy and stylish, yet still a baby doll,” said Ms. White, who works part-time in marketing for local dining establishments.
She added that her son, now 6, “was always fascinated by babies,” and the Stella doll allowed him to engage in nurturing play.
Promoting Nurturing Play: Stella Dolls as a Recommended Choice
Gloria Pruett, a mother of two young sons from Lawrence County, Tennessee, mentioned Stella toys were frequently recommended for fostering nurturing behavior when she was researching dolls for her elder son as a baby. “I conducted extensive research,” Ms. Pruett, 25, stated. “Many videos highlighting the Stella doll appeared in my search results.”
Manhattan Toy and the Design Philosophy
The Love, Stella line is produced by Manhattan Toy, a Minneapolis-based company founded in 1978. While the Al Fresco doll is no longer in production, some remain available for purchase. Previously priced at $49, it was among the higher-priced options in the range.
Amanda Molstad, Manhattan Toy’s product marketing and brand manager, explained that the Al Fresco doll and other Stella products are deliberately created to mirror actions children observe in their parents.
Imitative Play: Learning Through Mimicry
“Play is a form of learning,” Ms. Molstad, 36, explained. “Children use play to learn and build skills by imitating real-life scenarios they witness, particularly those involving their parents.”
Reflecting Lifestyle Aspirations
Accessories like plush pacifiers, cheeses, and fruits are designed to encourage imitative play, she added. Toddlers can simulate feeding their dolls in the same manner they are fed by caregivers. (Meghan, in her Netflix series, repeatedly mentions that providing food is her “love language.”)
Ms. Molstad characterized the Al Fresco doll as embodying the aspirational lifestyle promoted by Meghan in her series.
“She exists in a unique sphere, yet she maintains a sense of relevance for contemporary mothers,” Ms. Molstad observed. “She has cultivated a perfect balance between relatability and aspirational ideals.”
Elevating the Everyday: Adventure in Routine
One Love, Stella accessory set, a $20 “travel adventures” kit, includes flower-shaped sunglasses, a miniature passport, and soft stamps. Instead of international destinations, the passport stamps feature common locations: “my home,” “the market,” and “grandma and grandpa’s house.” By presenting everyday outings as adventures, these stamps echo another principle Meghan advocates in her series: finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.