8 Times Meghan Markle Fabulously Inspired Her Own Style (from Wrap Coats to Leather Pencil Skirts)
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
We've always admired Meghan Markle's impeccable sartorial taste. From chic minimalist dresses to monochromatic power suits, the Duchess of Sussex quickly became known for putting a unique twist on royal fashion. When she stepped down as a senior royal, however, fans noticed a shift in her style choices, which, according to Markle, was an intentional move.
In her Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the royal opened up about how strategic she was with her outfit selections. For instance, to avoid standing out amongst the royal family, she said, "I rarely wore color. There was thought in that."
After she and Prince Harry announced that they were stepping down as senior royals, however, she returned to wearing bold colors that would make an impact. Markle said in the Netflix series, "Until that last week in the U.K. I rarely wore color. I never wanted to upstage or ruffle any feathers, so I just tried to blend in. But I wore a lot of color that week. I thought, 'Well, let's just look like a rainbow.'"
As a result, we've seen the 42-year-old mom trade in her classic, upscale looks for California-casual ensembles. Still, it hasn't stopped the royal from recreating some of her best fashion looks. Keep scrolling for all the times Meghan Markle copied her own outfits.
1. The Monochromatic Silk & Leather Combo
Samir Hussein/WireImage/Jeremy Selwyn/Getty Images
The duchess first stepped out in this chic, workwear-inspired ensemble in May 2018, when she visited the University of Chichester's Engineering and Technology Park in England. The forest-green outfit, which includes a silk shirt and a matching leather pencil skirt, was paired with nude heels and a matching purse. But this wasn't the only time she donned this sophisticated look. In October 2019, Markle joined Prince Harry for a Roundtable Discussion on Gender Equality with The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and One Young World, and for the occasion, she wore a similar outfit in red—this time pairing it with matching heels.
2. The Business Casual Shirt Dress
Samir Hussein/WireImage/Karwai Tang/WireImage
Leave it to Markle to have a fresh, elegant take on the corporate-casual shirt dress. While the royal has sported this style multiple times, we're turning our attention to two of her most memorable outfits—including the blue number she sported in 2019 for the royal tour of South Africa. She elevated her look with gorgeous black heels. And similarly, when she wore a white version of the wardrobe staple during the same tour, she donned a pair of nude pumps.
3. The Chic Cape Dress
John Stillwell/Getty Images/David Ramos/Getty Images
In April 2018, Markle turned heads in a navy cape dress by Stella McCartney while attending Queen Elizabeth's 92nd birthday at the Royal Albert Hall. Per usual, she worked some monochromatic magic with matching navy shoes, then completed the outfit with a golden handbag. In 2022, when the duchess attended the funeral of the late queen, she wore the same cape dress in black, along with a matching hat and black heels.
4. The Stylish Wrap Coat
Chris Jackson/Getty Images/Karwai Tang/WireImage
The Duchess stepped out in the exact camel wrap coat by Sentaler twice: while celebrating Christmas in Sandringham in 2017 and in 2019, while attending the WellChild Awards in London. Also in 2019, the duchess opted for a red version of the coat when she joined Prince Harry for a visit to Birkenhead in January.
5. More Sleek Pencil Skirts
Samir Hussein/WireImage/KENA BETANCUR/Getty Image
During her trip to Ireland in 2018, the queen of sleek, monochromatic looks honored the host country by sporting a green, elbow-length top, a matching pencil skirt by Givenchy and a brown Mulberry bag. The royal also repeated the look in 2020, opting for a black Givenchy skirt and a matching top while attending the Nelson Mandela Prize award ceremony at the United Nations.
6. The White Blazer with Jeans
Karwai Tang/Getty Images/Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
The Duchess of Sussex taught us that jeans and blazers are a match made in heaven, and we've been taking plenty of notes. In July 2019, she appeared at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in England, wearing a white striped blazer with dark-wash jeans and a fabulous black-and-white fedora. And three years later, during the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, she put a classy spin on this work-ready look by adding a pair of nude heels to the outfit.
7. The Denim Dress
Karwai Tang/WireImage/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
You might recall seeing Markle in a denim midi-length shirt dress by Carolina Herrera while celebrating Prince Harry's 39th birthday at the Invictus Games in 2023, but this wasn't the first time she rocked this style. At the Sentebale charity polo match in July 2018, Markle stole the show in a similar denim dress—also by Carolina Herrera—and paired it with nude heeled sandals.
8. The Shorts Suit
Ray Tamarra/GC Images/
In 2016—right around the time that she first met Prince Harry—Markle was spotted in a chic striped shorts suit during an appearance in New York. Seven years later, at the Invictus Games, she channeled the same look with a white blazer with black trim from J.Crew and pleated shorts, alongside a black belt and black-and-beige flats.
Stay up-to-date on every breaking royal family story by subscribing here.
