Markle has worn Birdies’ velvet Starling slippers since her “Suits” days — well before they sparked a 15,000-person waitlist as part of her Duchess of Sussex wardrobe. From royal tours to casual outings, her loyalty to the structured slip-on helped define Birdies’ rise. The brand even made her custom slippers for her and Prince Harry’s wedding day.

After Markle was first photographed wearing the Starling in the mid-2010s, Birdies experienced what’s now referred to internally as the “duchess effect.” According to cofounder Marisa Sharkey, the brand sold out its classic black Starling shortly after Markle was seen wearing it.

“We had people emailing every day to ask, ‘When are they coming back?’” she told People at the time. According to her, at one point, the waitlist topped 15,000.

In October 2018, Markle’s Starling slippers stepped into the royal spotlight while she was pregnant with Archie, pairing them with slim jeans and a puffer jacket to explore New Zealand’s redwood canopy walk. The shoes’ structured softness made them well-suited for uneven paths and public-facing press.

During a royal tour stop in Morocco in February 2019, Meghan again wore the Starling — this time with black jeans and a navy jacket while visiting a youth cooking demonstration.

More recently, in March 2025, Markle wore her signature velvet Birdies for her Netflix show “With Love, Meghan.” She paired a different silhouette from the brand, Birdie’s Phoebe slipper in black velvet and faux fur, with La Ligne’s Molly jeans, in Episode Three.

Birdies Starling slippers are available in a range of finishes, materials and colors, available starting at $110 up to $165 on birdies.com and retailers like Nordstrom and Zappos.