There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History: All-Star Edition‘ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks from the stylish stars who make regular appearances on best-dressed lists.
We’ve followed Meghan Markle’s style in our column, “Meghan Markle Wore a Thing” since her engagement to Prince Harry in 2018 — and the Meghan Markle Effect™ has yet to waiver, six years later.
While Harry and Megan have stepped back from their royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are still modernizing the Royal Family from afar. And Markle has a proven power of bringing under-the-radar brands to stardom with a single look.
Photo: KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images
Since their move to Montecito, Calif., she’s leveled up her style game: Instead of the neutrals and straight-lined outfits of her time in London, she now favors color and freeform cuts — and that sartorial approach was on full display during her and the Duke’s recent tour of Nigeria. (To one event, the Duchess wore a backless Heidi Merrick dress with simple glam and loosely braided hair, allowing her Cali girl roots to shine at the event.)
The couple now focuses on humanitarian work, as well as a variety of business ventures (including Markle’s soon-to-launch American Riviera Orchard). In this chapter, the Duchess’ looks are reminiscent of her business-professional days on “Suits,” but with a confident edge that one can only develop by stepping fully into the spotlight.
Browse our favorite looks below, then shop our roundup of Markle-inspired picks.
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Meghan Markle wearing Marchesa to the Elle Women in Television Celebration in 2013.
Photo: Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Meghan Markle attending the American Ballet Theatre Opening Night Gala in 2013.
Photo: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing a Line the Label coat and P.A.R.O.S.H. dress for the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017.
Photo: Owen Humphries – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing her custom wedding gown by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Goat to the then-Prince of Wales’ 70th Birthday Patronage in 2018.
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing custom Givenchy to her first royal engagement with Queen Elizabeth in 2018.
Photo: Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Brandon Maxwell to a Commonwealth Secretariat reception in 2018.
Photo: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing custom Dior for the RAF100 service in 2018.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Ralph Lauren to Wimbledon in 2018.
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Givenchy to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2018.
Photo: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Boss on a trip to Sussex in 2018.
Photo: Ian Vogler – Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Safiyaa to a Fiji state dinner in 2018.
Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing custom Theia during a trip to Tonga in 2018.
Photo: James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Australian Geographic
Meghan Markle wearing Oscar de la Renta to the Australia Geographic Society Awards in 2018.
Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth – Pool /Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Gabriela Hearst during a 2018 visit to New Zealand.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Safiyaa to the annual Royal Variety Performance in 2018.
Photo: Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images
Meghan Markle in Givenchy at the 2018 British Fashion Awards.
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing a Soia & Kyo coat to the Royal Variety Charity’s Brinsworth House in Twickenham in 2018.
Photo: Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing an Amanda Wakely coat and Paul Andrew heels to the 50th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
Photo: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Aritzia at the 2019 One Young World Summit Opening Ceremony in London.
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Scanlan Theodore Cravat at a meeting with Association of Commonwealth Universities scholarship recipients in 2020.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Massimo Dutti at Canada House in 2020.
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Victoria Beckham at the 2020 Endeavor Fund Awards in London.
Photo: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Emilia Wickstead at a Commonwealth Day celebration in 2020.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World in 2021.
Photo: Gotham/GC Images
Meghan Markle wearing Loro Piana during a 2021 visit to NYC.
Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum
Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at the Salute To Freedom Gala in 2021.
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Khaite to the Invictus Games in 2022.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation
Meghan Markle wearing Valentino at the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Meghan Markle wearing Another Tomorrow at the One Young World Summit in 2022.
Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Bleusalt during the One Year To Go Event in 2022 prior to the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
Meghan Markle wearing custom Louis Vuitton to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in 2022.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women
Meghan Markle wearing Johanna Ortiz to the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in 2023. Markle took home the “Women of Vision” award.
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing a J. Crew cardigan with Staud shorts and Chanel flats at the 2023 Invictus Games.
Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation
Meghan Markle wearing Cult Gaia at the 2023 Invictus Games closing ceremony.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds
Meghan Markle wearing Altuzarra at the Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit in 2023.
Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix
Meghan Markle wearing pants and a blazer by Valentino to a talk during The After LA Tastemaker.
Photo by Unique Nicole/WireImage
Meghan Markle wearing Proenza Schouler at the 2023 Variety Power of Women red carpet.
Photo: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Meghan Markle wearing Carolina Herrera at the 2024 premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love.”
Photo: Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
Meghan Markle wearing Heidi Merrick on a visit to Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria in 2024.
